Cinematic Adventures: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

The skies of Victorian London, once full of clouds, welcomed a nice gentle breeze wafting over the air. While not the most ideal setting for a picnic, this was exactly how Mrs. Lovett, Mr. Todd, Toby, and even Chrysalis decided to spend the day. Three months went by since Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop reopened its door while the Mane Six and Spike had been on the run from the police. For now, the terrible trio and their young companion decided to take some time for themselves and just enjoy the day.

At least… that’s what Mrs. Lovett did.

The trio sat along a picnic blanket under an old oak tree along Hampstead Heath. To the naked eye, Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd appeared to be like any other couple enjoying this fine day. The remains of a nice picnic lunch lay scattered about while Toby was flying a kite high into the sky off the distance. Mrs. Lovett smiled while watching happy couples moving about, dogs and kids running hither and yonder, military officers squiring their ladies, nurses with prams, and all other forms of life happening around them.

Meanwhile, Mr. Todd and Chrysalis sat near one another with stone cold looks on their faces. Todd was distinctively ill at ease, brooding the whole time. Three months went by and still they were no closer to either the Judge or the Beadle. All this weighed heavily on their minds despite the insistence to take a break.

“This is growing very tiring really fast,” Chrysalis grumbled. “How long are we expected to wait?”

“I wonder the same thing, my dear,” Sweeney responded lowly. “The seasons change yet my revenge is left untouched.”

Then Sweeney’s expression, while still cold and emotionless, also added something somber within those eyes just the same.

“The more days go by, the less I find myself missing my dear Johanna,” Todd admitted. “I’m beginning to lose hope of ever seeing her again.”

This caused Chrysalis to shift her direction to his, laying one hand atop his own. Sweeney slowly turned his head to look down at her hand before slowly turning back toward her eyes.

“Worry not, Mr. Todd,” Chrysalis assured him. “If it’s the last thing I do in this life, we’ll exact your revenge, and you’ll get your Johanna back. I stake my life on it.”

Sweeney just stared at the changeling-in-disguise for a few moments, as though contemplating something.

“How is it possible someone like you exists?” Todd asked lowly.

“What do you mean?” Chrysalis responded.

“It’s not often in this world, or any world, to meet someone who you share so much in common with,” Sweeney explained. “We’ve had love stolen from us and we wish to exact revenge on those who wronged us. How is that possible?”

Chrysalis contemplated his question in her head. It certainly seemed coincidental they had both met with the same goals in mind.

“I suppose we just got lucky,” She shrugged.

Sweeney merely gave a slow nod before returning to his deep contemplative stare into space. All the while, Mrs. Lovett, who seemed to have chattered about the whole time, continued on.

“… We still got to keep an eye on household expenditure,” She spoke. “Which isn’t to say we couldn’t get some nice taxidermy animals to bring a touch of gentility to the place. You know, a boar’s head or two…”

Turning over to Mr. Todd at her side, her smile instantly vanished when she noticed he was paying absolutely no attention to her at all. In fact, Mrs. Lovett was rather turned off by his unresponsive behavior.

“Mr. T, are you listening to me?” She asked.

“Of course,” Sweeney responded uninterested.

“Then what did I just say?”

Sweeney seemed to ignore her entirely, as he turned his attention back to Chrysalis.

“There must be a way to the Judge!” He told her.

“No doubt there is,” Chrysalis nodded. ‘One way or another, we’ll find it.”

Hearing the pair talk about Judge Turpin again, Mrs. Lovett rolled her eyes in annoyance.

“The bloody old Judge,” Lovett sighed. “Always harpin’ on about the bloody ol’ judge. We got a nice respectable business now, money coming in regular and – since we’re careful to pick and choose – only strangers and such like wot won’t be missed – who’s going to catch on?”

But no response emerged from Todd. As if massaging Todd’s neck wasn’t enough, next thing Chrysalis knew, much to her own annoyance, Mrs. Lovett started to break out in song while casually pecking him along the cheek.

Mrs. Lovett (Sings):
Oooh, Mr. Todd! (Kiss)
I’m so happy! (Kiss)
I could (Kiss)
Eat you up, I really could!
You know what I’d like to do, Mr. Todd? (Kiss)
What I dream (Kiss)
If the business stays as good,
Where I’d really like to go… (No response)
In a year or so… (No response)
Don’t you want to know?

“Of course,” Sweeney replied nonchalantly.

Mrs. Lovett (Sings):
Do you really want to know?

“Yes, yes, I do, I do,” Sweeney answered, forcing a pained smile.

Mrs. Lovett leaned back comfortably, beginning to imagine a wonderful, domestic future…

“I’ve always had this dream of living at the seaside… I got a picture postcard from me Aunt Nettie once. Oh, it seems like such a grand place…”

Lovett briefly noted Toby flying his kite, a small smile upon her face.

“And all that fresh aquatic air’s bound to be good for the lad’s poxy lungs…” Lovett concluded softly.

Mrs. Lovett stared dreamily into the sky as she contemplated what the future could hold should business remain good as it was. Once more using her power, Chrysalis closed her eyes so she could channel this vision for herself.

<>

Chrysalis’ glowing green eyes opened to embrace the vision. Looking around, she found herself standing on some beach somewhere in the English Channel. Turning to her left, she saw young Toby near the edge of the water throwing a ball in the air and a lot of other families playing on the beach. Only, the boy was not consumptively pale but rather overly rosy-cheeked in this fantasy. Even a recently built sandcastle stood nearby.

She then took notice of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett sitting in the exact same positions as in Hampstead Heath. Only now they are sitting on a blanket at the beach, with a nice picnic spread about. What really made Chrysalis chuckle was that Mr. Todd was wearing a long striped Victorian bathing suit, fashionable seaside bathing attire. Mrs. Lovett sat with her Dream Todd who, much like in the real world, sat there with the same dark vacant look on his face. There was just something unnatural about this settle, something vaguely unreal and stilted about the entire fantasy…

Seeing the scenario of which Mr. Todd was envisioned, Chrysalis couldn’t help but cringe at the whole scenario and how uncomfortable it was just to watch. Especially when Lovett was preparing to serve what appeared to be herring along the picnic blanket, as she sat with Toby beckoning Todd to join.

Next thing Chrysalis knew, she was standing on the English Channel boardwalk watching Mr. Todd, now in a nice white suite, strolling down the boardwalk with Mrs. Lovett, now wearing a striped pinkish red dress. She carried an umbrella while holding Todd’s arm, looking up at Mr. Todd with such adoration and longing while Mr. Todd maintained his cold look. An artificially lovely couple, like rotogravure magazine pictures. Toby ran along ahead of them like a son to them.

The next vision showed Mrs. Lovett and Todd reclining on comfortable deck chairs, a tray of tea and scones between them.

Soon Chrysalis saw Mrs. Lovett’s notion of a fashionable little seaside cottage, crushing in its bourgeois blandness. Lovett was making Toby try on a sweater, while Todd was writing a letter.

The vision is the transitioned as Chrysalis found herself standing in the dining room of that nice house by the seaside. Mr. Todd sat at the table, still with the same look on his face, along with some unnaturally jolly chums as Lovett carried a tray of goodies to the table.

Once more, everything transitioned and Chrysalis this time found herself standing in the midst of what looked like a seaside chapel. At the end of the aisle, Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett stood at the altar dressed for a wedding with a preacher officiating the ceremony. This being her fantasy, after all, Lovett wore white. Todd was in a constricting morning coat with a rakish top hat. Toby, the best man, looked on ‘proudly’. While Mrs. Lovett looked so happy and in love, Mr. Todd had a look on his face like he was being held hostage. When asked if he took Mrs. Lovett as his wife, the nod he gave was as forced as the kiss they shared.

Though all of this was merely a vision of what ‘could be’, Chrysalis couldn’t control the sneer over the scene taking place before her. She had absolutely no idea as to ‘why’ she was feeling it. She had held a groom hostage at a wedding before… so, why was she feeling jealous over this?

Thankfully, the vision was coming to an end. The last to be seen was Mrs. Lovett placing a plate of kippers on the table amidst a proper English breakfast. A guest stood, leaning against a wall, waiting to eat. A dark shape quickly moved past the guest – Todd – then the guest slid down the wall – a splash of blood on the wallpaper—

Back at the beach, Mrs. Lovett, Todd, and Toby sat comfortably watching an unnaturally gorgeous sunset. A picture postcard of a ‘happy’ family.

She threw her arms affectionately around her two men. Eventually the visions cut back to—

<>

Mrs. Lovett sitting in the exact same position as Todd under the oak tree. A deadly silence filled the atmosphere. Her smile faded as she considered him. The grim, brooding reality so clear next to her lovely dream. Chrysalis watched Mrs. Lovett in silence, staring daggers toward the dreamy woman. She didn’t know ‘why’ she felt the way she was nor why it bothered her so much that Mrs. Lovett even cared for Mr. Todd. But she refused to stand idly by and let that vision come to pass. One way or another, she needed to figure out how to get Lovett out of the picture.

<>

The next day, at the barber shop, Sweeney stood at his usual post by the large window, gazing intently down Fleet Street in contemplation. Chrysalis was sharpening the blades for when business picked up as she stood by his side.

“How do you figure we get the judge to come back?” Sweeney asked, keeping his gaze straight.

“If only I knew,” Chrysalis replied. “No doubt the man’s dead set against every returning again after that idiot boy barged in last time. Personally, you should have slit his stupid throat then and there.”

“Turpin or Anthony?” Sweeney questioned.

“… Both,” Chrysalis replied.

At that moment, the bell to the barber shop dinged as the door opened and Mrs. Lovett entered the shop with a tray of food. Neither Chrysalis nor Sweeney looked back to acknowledge her entering the room as they continued their business.

“Brought you both some breakfast,” She spoke, setting the tray down.

“If it’s more pies, I’m not eating unless those stupid ponies and that dragon are the filling,” Chrysalis replied coldly.

“’Fraid not dearie,” Mrs. Lovett shrugged. “Just simple farm fresh eggs and a dollop of lovely, clotted cream, only the best for…”

She stopped when she realized they weren’t even listening to her. Lovett’s heart sank seeing them at the window, especially Mr. Todd, who wore his obsession like a cloak. And yet, even as he just stared out the window, she couldn’t really look away.

“Mr. T, might I ask you a question?” She asked.

“Mm?” Sweeney replied, not even turning.

“What did your Lucy look like?”

The question alone caused a sneer to appear on Sweeney’s face, as well as Chrysalis’s. How dare this woman had the audacity to ask such a question regarding his late wife? Although, if Mr. Todd was being completely honest, he couldn’t even answer the question. He could barely even remember. It seemed with time and everything that’s happened as of late, it was as though her memory had almost entirely faded save for a few minor details.

“You heard me…” Mrs. Lovett spoke, approaching his side. “Can’t really remember, can you?”

“She had yellow hair,” Sweeney replied, facing Chrysalis. “Much like yours, or rather your disguise.”

“Can you remember nothing else?” Chrysalis asked him.

This only caused Sweeney to turn back toward the window, returning the cold vacant stare to his face.

“You’ve got to leave all this behind you now,” Mrs. Lovett commented, leaning against Sweeney. “She’s gone… you keep looking down into the grave, you’re never gonna look up. And life will just pass right by… life is for the alive, my dear.”

Sweeney Todd did not answer, but even Chrysalis could tell what he was thinking.

“We could have a life, us two…” Mrs. Lovett continued. “Maybe not like I dreamed; maybe not like you remember… but we could get by.”

Behind their backs, an angry look came to Chrysalis’s face as she stared at Lovett leaning against Mr. Todd.

“Come away from the window,” Mrs. Lovett instructed.

After a long pause, Todd finally turned from the window almost as if to leave his demons behind. Lovett smiled quietly and held out her hand. She began to cross to him… SUDDENLY REVEALING--- the Gentleman! One of Todd’s past customers, standing right behind Mrs. Lovett, glaring at Todd, relentless and accusatory—blood pouring from his throat—a shocking vision like that of a horror movie—

All of a sudden, the sound of footsteps coming up the back stairs, followed by the ringing bell outside the shop, caused the group to turn their attention to the door. Mrs. Lovett remained standing, her hand out to Todd, as Anthony, along with the Mane Six and Spike, entered the shop absolutely exhausted.

“Mr. Todd… Mrs. Lovett, mum…” Anthony called, sinking into the chair. “Seems I’ve not slept in a week – but it’s done—”

“What is it, Anthony?” Sweeney questioned.

“He has her locked in a madhouse,” Anthony told the man, solemnly.

Todd’s head snapped toward Anthony, riveted.

“You’ve found Johanna?” Sweeney questioned.

“Yes, Mr. Todd,” Twilight Sparkle nodded. “We followed them the night they took Johanna away and found her locked up behind iron bars.

“We wanted to get in and help her right away,” Rainbow Dash added. “But some p— ‘somebody’suggested we lie low since that jerk Turpin has us hunted down like dogs.”

“While we kept hidden, we’ve been working on trying to find a way in,” Rarity spoke up. “For all the good it’ll do – it’s impossible to get to her.”

Todd began pacing, like a tiger once more, his mind racing—

“A madhouse… a madhouse… where?” Todd muttered.

“Foggs Asylum,” Rarity answered. “We’ve circled it at least a dozen times and there’s hardly anyway in or out. What we know for sure is that this place she’s locked up in is like a fortress.”

Once they finished explaining the story, the group faded to a brooding silence as Todd kept pacing, thinking… thinking. Mrs. Lovett and Mrs. Winters watched him, concerned. Todd suddenly stopped… an invisible lightbulb went off in his mind as he knew exactly what was needed to get them into the asylum. Not only that, but the perfect method to get Turpin to him. He starts to settle into an inspired form of calm, as if he can finally see the Promised Land.

“I’ve got him,” Todd smirked wickedly.

“Mr. Todd?” Anthony questioned curiously.

“We’ve got her…” Sweeney smiled, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Where do you suppose all the wigmakers of London go to obtain their human hair?”

The very question made Anthony and the Equestrians look at Mr. Todd both curiously and concerned by his manic look.

“I’m scared to ask, but… where?” Spike spoke up.

“Bedlam,” Sweeney replied with a smirk. “They get their hair from the lunatics at Bedlam—”

“How positively horrid!” Rarity gasped in shock.

“I don’t understand—” Anthony spoke confused.

Todd suddenly grabbed Anthony and hauled him up, holding him close, forehead-to-forehead, his whispered intensity truly disturbing as he stared right into the boy’s eyes.

“We shall set you up as a wigmaker’s apprentice in search of hair,” Sweeney explained. “That will gain you access, and then you will take her.”

“That’s… actually not a bad idea,” Twilight admitted.

“Yeah, well that gets ‘him’ in,” Rainbow pointed out. “What about us?”

“We could get Spike a guard’s uniform and he can pretend he’s bringing us in to be committed!” Twilight suggested.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Fluttershy said timidly. “What if something goes wrong? What if we actually end up locked up forever?”

“That won’t ever happen,” Twilight assured, quietly. “We’re only not using magic to blend in at the moment. But if something goes wrong, we can just use it to teleport us out.”

“Yippee!” Pinkie cheered excitedly. “This is just like playing pretend with Pound and Pumpkin back home. Except this time, we’re doing it for real. So exciting!”

“And you Anthony will not be deterred,” Todd spoke to Anthony. “You will slaughter the world, to bring her here.”

“Yes…” Anthony responded.

Mrs. Lovett and Mrs. Winters watched, troubled, as Todd embraced Anthony closely. He held him for what seemed like an eternity. Then Todd was all action, hurrying to collect some money and gave it to Anthony.

“Go and outfit yourself properly,” Todd instructed. “You are to be a gentlemen wigmaker. When you return, we shall dispatch a letter to Mr. Fogg announcing your arrival. Go – quickly now!”

“Mr. Todd…,” Anthony clasped Todd’s hand. “How can we ever--?”

“Go, quickly go!” Sweeney commanded.

Anthony and the Equestrian group turned quickly to hurry out of the shop. However, before leaving, Pinkie Pie skid to a halt and turned around toward Mrs. Lovett. Which did not go unnoticed as Applejack turned back.

“What’re ya doin’ sugarcube?” Applejack asked her.

“I just wanted to say one thing to Mrs. Lovett,” Pinkie spoke.

“What’s that dearie?” Lovett asked curiosity.

Pinkie Pie approached the woman with a quizzical look on her face.

“A while back, when you reopened the shop, I managed to get ahold of one of your new pies. I brought it back with me, did a little digging… and I realized something very important…”

This information caused both Mrs. Lovett and Mr. Todd to go wide-eyed. Had she figured out the secret? If that were the case, this could all fall apart right here and now… just like Chrysalis said. Fortunately for them, and just as Chrysalis reached for a razor behind her… Pinkie Pie just smiled.

“You really made a much better pie this time around,” She smiled happily. “Granted none of us ate it, but it certainly looked and smelled much better than the last one. Did you use a new recipe or something?”

Mrs. Lovett released a breath of relief before regaining her composure and gave the party girl a small smile.

“You might say that…” She nodded. “We also found a better meat supply. What with business being good as it’s been, we’ve been able to afford better products.”

“A better meat supply, huh…” Pinkie nodded proudly. “Well good! I’m glad things are turning around for you. Guess you didn’t need my help after all.”

However, Applejack squinted her eyes at the woman suspiciously. Whether Pinkie Pie intended to or not, Applejack could tell from the woman’s responses that there was more to what she said than she was letting in. Not to mention she straight up lied about buying the meat. Something was definitely off, and somehow Applejack would find out the truth. But for now, they had other matters to focus on.

“Come now Pinkie,” She called out.

“OKIE-DOKIE-LOKIE!” Pinkie giggled.

The two quickly made their way from the shop to rejoin the group as Mrs. Lovett watched them go, glad they were gone. Same could be said for Chrysalis a.k.a. Alice Winters.

“I swear if Twilight Sparkle won’t be the death of me, that pink toothache will be!” Chrysalis growled.

“Thank goodness for that,” Mrs. Lovett said thankfully. “Dear, I wonder if—”

“Fetch the boy,” Mr. Todd ordered.

Lovett spun around to face the manic barber with a worried look.

“Don’t you think it’s time you leave the boy alone?” She asked.

“Fetch… the boy!”

Mr. Todd added an icy stare, begging her to try his patience. Rather than get into an argument with the man, Mrs. Lovett just huffed and exited the shop, going down the stairs outside the barber shop. She stopped, standing still for a moment, disturbed that Todd’s demons were again devouring him. She looked down and saw Toby washing the tables in the outdoor garden. The boy was truly serious about his work, vigorously scrubbing the tables with soap and water. She watched him for a moment and then continued down the steps.

“Toby… Mr. Todd requires you,” Mrs. Lovett spoke.

“Yes’m,” Toby nodded.

The boy made to go up the stairs, all while Lovett stood, deep in thought.

<>

Minutes prior, Mr. Todd formed a small, wicked smirk. By sheer coincidence, good fortune had smiled upon them, the perfect reward for all their hard work. Chrysalis, however, was not so sure.

“You know she won’t recognize you,” Chrysalis pointed out. “Even then, she won’t hesitate to run away with that boy and those ponies… and that Judge… surely he will kill to keep her for himself.”

Todd, however, gave her a sly smile.

“Don’t worry, my pet. I have a remedy for that, and you needn’t worry about the boy.”

From where he stood by the window, overlooking the street below, he moved toward the dresser at the back of the room. He took out a paper, quill, and inkwell then Todd immediately hurled himself into a chair and began writing a letter, his violent scrawl slashing across the page. Chrysalis looked over his shoulder as he wrote, watching with stunned eyes at the words he etched.

It was a message to Judge Turpin, detailing the exact points of Anthony’s plan to steal away Johanna and bring her to his shop. He even listed the names of all ‘seven’ members in the conspiracy, calling them ‘degenerate, filthy vagabonds and beggars who are nothing but trouble’. No doubt they would induce Johanna with some of their opium drugs and make her a harlot like themselves.

Even the disguised changeling was surprised at this plot. A complicated plot, one that could topple if one step does not go perfectly, but it would yield outstanding results. Using a special powder, Todd made sure the ink would not smear on the paper as he folded it into an envelope. He held it in front of her, like holding a trophy of great accomplishment.

“I’m going to send this to the Judge,” Todd explained. “He’s going to come here as quickly as he can…”

“And that’s where you’ll finally have your revenge!” Chrysalis finished with an evil grin. “And if we act swiftly, those meddlesome ponies will drink their own blood by my whim. Oh, I can just taste their flesh in a perfect pie, maybe with a side of stuffed dragon for dessert.”

“Yes!” The barber nodded. “And I can finally hold my daughter to me once again, and…”

Todd paused, slumping over the dress. Chrysalis watched the cracked reflection as he fumbled in his throat to find the right words. Something about his position was strikingly familiar, until she realized something from within. Her chest pounded with fierce emotion as her eyes became damp under her scrunching brow. Out of nowhere, she found herself placing her hands over Todd’s shoulders, giving him a comforting massage, which allowed him to eye his reflection dead straight.

“And I will never let her go again… not for anything,” He finished his deathly vow.

“It will be over soon,” Chrysalis reassured, with a nod. “We will win.”

She headed for the door of the shop, only to be pulled back by the pale yet firm hand of Sweeney Todd.

“Wait…” He spoke, calmly letting go. “There’s something I must tell you.”

That smooth voice brought enough force for her to stop in her stance. She knew he’d never once bring himself to harm her; yet there was a bubble of nervousness as she eyed the man. What was this feeling? Why was she, the Queen of the Changelings, the terror of Equestria, nervous about standing alone in front of a simple barber? Todd stood patiently still.

“You have no need to remain disguised here. There’s only us… and I’d like to look upon your true form.”

Reluctantly, Chrysalis shifted back to her true self. She was confused, thinking ‘why’ Todd would request this of her. Yet… not once had he ever treated her wrongly. Despite how and what she truly appeared to be, he remained respectful to her. Her eyes faltered briefly; her tongue tied.

“Why do you ask me to assume my true form?” Chrysalis asked, surprisingly hesitantly.

“I felt that… I need to tell you without looking at a mask.”

The changeling swallowed as a rising heat built around her face while something got caught in her throat. Was it so hard to understand she was… being complimented?

“Th—thank you,” She stammered.

“No,” Todd answered back. “I want to thank you.”

“Th-thank me? Why?”

How long had it been since any creature stood in front of her and, with pure genuine feeling, said ‘Thank you’? At least, not since she’d been exiled from her own kingdom, or even…

Since Fire Wall…

“You’ve been wonderful in helping me through this,” Sweeney Todd continued. “You taught me so much about how to properly execute my vengeance. But most of all, I thank you… for being there for me when no one else would. In this shithole of a world, you helped me bear it all. I am more than grateful for that too.”

‘Too much…’ Chrysalis thought. ‘This is all too much at once…’

Not even the Order gave her this much genuine support. Someone actually thankful for what she accomplished. Normally she’d feel pride over those words, and yet… that’s not how she felt now. Rather, she felt something else. But what was it? Why did her body suddenly become so weak to stand on? She’s not meant to be weak for anything… and yet it was a barber of all things. This was all so confusing, more so thanks to her species tendency to exert more extremeness in her emotions.

Small thumps were heard against the floorboards, and she realized they were tears falling from her own eyes. How was that possible? It shouldn’t be possible! How could she feel this way? After so long, why have they come back now? Why?

“I… I need to go!” Chrysalis exclaimed.

Before Todd could say anything, Chrysalis hurried outside the barber shop, shifting back to Alice Winters, and ran down the stairs passing a confused Toby.

“Mrs. Winters!” Toby called out.

But Chrysalis… no, ‘Alice Winters’ didn’t turn to answer. Down in the outdoor seating, she paused to collect herself. Somehow, despite the impossibility, her heart ached for the attention of something specific and yearning to be together with another, even after a millennium swearing off ‘love’ for another.

The memories came flooding back into the forefront, ones she deeply repressed for so long, and the pain returned to her body. This excursion brought out the worst in her, and it hurt like no amount of pain before. She ran a hand over her forehead, against the blonde hair on her head, then turned back to Toby.

“I need to go for a walk through the city, to catch my breath,” Mrs. Winters explained to Toby.

“By yourself?” Toby asked, concerned.

“Don’t bother… I’m the scariest thing in this entire cesspool. Just… do what Mrs. Lovett and Mr. Todd ask of you. I’ll be back.”

And so, she walked forward, peering behind her to the door to Sweeney’s shop. She found herself yearning for the man inside. Sighing heavily, she continued across the street as the shop faded from view. Toby looked on as the woman disappeared into the night, then proceeded to climb the stairs to address Mr. Todd.

<>

Amidst all the conversation in the shop upstairs, down below, Mrs. Lovett was alone at her pie-making station in the closed shop after telling Toby to see Todd. It was getting difficult to keep the ruse around Toby, but tonight she found herself staring at the floorboards of the upstairs shop. Mr. Todd and Ms. Chrysalis had been spending a lot of time together these past few days, and she could see their relationship had been increasingly personal as of late. Curse her luck…

True, the business was booming, but recently she found herself going through an unfortunate burnout phase. Money was pouring in from unsuspecting customers, yet it was missing a specific something that would make it all worthwhile.

Or rather, a specific ‘someone’.

In all her wildest dreams of retirement by the seaside, she dreamt of living a wonderful retirement life with the handsome Sweeney Todd, and possibly with little Toby for good measure. Chrysalis, however, was nowhere to be seen in those dreams. That insect popped out of nowhere while she had known Todd ever since he opened his store above her meat pie shop. What right did Chrysalis have to Todd when she was nothing but a parasite?

Lovett slammed her rolling pin on the counter.

“She’s a right flea, she is,” She snarled. “Biting onto poor Mr. T at his most vulnerable state and now she’s sucking out his blood. No doubt, she’ll be rid ‘a him once she’s ‘ad ‘er fill ‘a him! She doesn’t even know him! She’s a harpy, that’s wot! She’s ensnared the poor bloke under her magic spell.”

She heard footsteps descending from the barbershop upstairs as the disguised Chrysalis walked out into the street, out of sight. Mrs. Lovett watched her movements from the main window of the shop. A burning fire raged hotter than her furnace built up inside at the mere sight of the disguised insect.

“Just you wait, Chryssi girl!” She hissed. “We’ll see ‘oo’s got the barber when all’s said and done!”

<>

Back in the shop, Mr. Todd looked at the notes he had finished writing in his hand with a smirk plastered on his face. Finally, he was getting exactly what he wanted after waiting so long. He’d get his precious daughter back and finally put an end to the man who single-handedly ruined his entire life.

The sound of the bell ringing and the door closing caused Todd to look over as Toby entered the shop.

“Mr. T?” The young boy questioned.

“Do you know where the Old Baily is?” Sweeney asked him.

“Oh, yes, sir,” Toby nodded. “Not that I ever been there—”

Sweeney quickly spun around and held out the folded note for the young boy.

“Take this there and seek out a Judge Turpin,” Todd instructed. “Repeat that… repeat that.”

“Go to the Old Bailey, find Judge Turpin,” Toby repeated.

“Put this into his hands,” Todd handed the letter. “Onlyto him. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Toby nodded. “And while I’m out do you mind if I stop by the grocer and pick up the—”

Todd pounced like a panther, he suddenly leapt up and grabbed Toby by the throat with shocking brutality.

“DON’T CHATTER, BOY!” Todd interrupted loudly. “You are not to stop! You are not to speak! You are to deliver this letter! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!”

Toby was stunned and terrified. This was the first time he had seen this side of his friend, Mr. Todd. Seeing the cold and demented look on the barber’s face, Toby fearfully nodded his head.

“Yes, sir,” He replied quietly.

Todd released him and the boy quickly turned heel and opened the door of the barber shop before shutting it quickly, running down the steps. With his plans now in action, Sweeney Todd made his way back over to the window and began pacing back and forth in anticipation like a caged animal, whispering to himself neurotically. He paced back and forth for hours on end as the sun set over the horizon and darkness enveloped London. One way or another, all of this was going to end tonight.

<>

Later that night, after a lengthy walk mulling over the thoughts going around her head, Chrysalis walked down the street back to the front of the pie shop. She still hadn’t fully answered the questions floating around in her head, but with the sun having set she needed to return to the shop. Not only her, but at that moment, Toby too had finished running his errand and met with her at the door.

“Good evening, Miss Winters!” Toby greeted.

“Hello Toby,” Chrysalis replied.

“Are you alright, mum?”

“Of course, dear,” Chrysalis nodded in response. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s just you seem conflicted, mum. Like something’s troubling you, but you don’t know ‘ow to handle it.”

Chrysalis was honestly surprised at just how observant the child was and how he was able to deduce that from a single look. However, Chrysalis merely shook her head and gave the boy a fake smile.

“I assure you Toby, I’m quite alright,” Chrysalis told him. “Now let’s get inside quickly.”

Toby nodded in response and opened the door for Chrysalis to enter first, like the young gentleman he was. Chrysalis was making her way around the corner towards the stairs leading to the barber shop. She stopped when she spotted the boy’s face, quickly seeing how upset he was. She saw him look up toward the window above where Todd stood, unblinking, gazing like a falcon into the street no doubt. Chrysalis pondered if something happened between them and decided to go up the stairs to speak with Todd herself.

Meanwhile, Toby walked around the corner to Mrs. Lovett’s living space and noticed the woman in question snoozing away on her couch. Hearing the boy enter caused Mrs. Lovett to awaken and look over at him.

“Where you been, lad?” Mrs. Lovett asked tiredly. “We had quite the rush at dinner time. Me poor bones is ready to drop…”

Lovett stopped to take a better look at him, noting his dark expression.

“What is it, Toby?”

“Mr. Todd sent me on an errand…” Toby replied. “And on the way back, I went by the workhouse just to take a look.”

Toby walked over to Mrs. Lovett’s side as she lay on the couch and knelt down alongside her.

“And I was thinkin’… but for you I would be there now,” He spoke seriously.

“Hmm…” Mrs. Lovett grumbled tiredly.

“Or someplace worse,” Toby emphasized. “Seems like the Good Lord sent you for me.”

This caused Mrs. Lovett to give a small smile of appreciation.

“Oh, love, I feel quite the same way—” She responded.

At that moment, Chrysalis made her way back down the steps to speak to Mrs. Lovett herself. However, when she heard Toby talking with her, she slunk behind the wall to listen in.

“Hear me out, mum…” Toby spoke seriously. “You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Say, if there was someone around – someone bad? Only you didn’t know it—”

Mrs. Lovett turned her head in the boy’s direction with a curious look on her face.

“What is this?” Mrs. Lovett asked concerned. “What are you talking about?”

Toby looked into Mrs. Lovett’s eyes seriously, expressing both his thanks and promise to her through song.

As Chrysalis listened from her spot behind the wall, she leaned her back against the wall and slowly slid down to sit on the floor. The words this young boy sang, amidst all the emotions she’d been feeling through this excursion, finally caused the tears she tried so hard to keep in to slide down her face as she quietly wept.

She thought of Fire Fall, how he used to say something very similar to her about protecting her from the evils of the world. Such a naïve young pony, but she was so touched by his words… and she was so young herself once. All this served as a reminder of how much she had meant to this one pony, how much they loved one another… him promising that he’d always be there for her… forever.

However, she also thought of how this finally caused her to realize why her feelings were so conflicted. While she retained the memory of Fire Fall always within her heart and mind, she couldn’t help her growing feelings toward Sweeney Todd. All this time spent together these past months, the conversations they shared, it all resided now within her blackened heart.

Meanwhile, in the other room, Mrs. Lovett merely gave the boy a small smile.

“That’s nice dear,” She spoke, rising from the couch. “Now, what is all this foolishness now? What are you talking about?”

“Little things wot I’ve been thinking… about Mr. Todd…” Toby replied.

This sentence alone caused Mrs. Lovett to freeze in place, shock and concern spreading across her face. This certainly wasn’t going in a good direction at all.

Toby leaned into her, she put her arms around him, but her expression was deeply troubled. Whether she cared to admit it or not, Chrysalis was right: He was starting to catch on.

During the last note, Toby glanced up toward the ceiling where he knew the barbershop and the barber within resided. Mrs. Lovett, meanwhile, was trying to showcase her concern that the boy clearly knew something. But rather than panic, she nervously comforted him and attempted to get him off topic altogether.

“Now, Toby dear, haven’t we had enough of this foolish chatter?” Lovett asked, turning his gaze.

She grabbed her small coin purse and reached in to pull out a single coin, which she held out to the boy.

“Here, how about I give you a shiny new penny and you can fetch us some nice toffees--?” Lovett suggested.

At first, Toby smiled at the very idea. However, that smile quickly vanished when he looked at the small Chatelaine purse in her hand. His eyes widened when he noticed that it looked very… familiar.

“That’s Signor Pirelli’s purse!” He gasped.

“No, no, love –” Mrs. Lovett replied nervously, eyeing the purse. “This is just something Mr. T gave me for my birthday—”

“See that proves it!” Toby exclaimed loudly. “What I been thinkin’! We’ve gotta go, mum, right now! We gotta find the Beadle and get the law here!”

Toby urgently pulled Lovett’s hand, trying to run out of the room. But Mrs. Lovett quickly pulled him down to her again, agitated yet proceeding to lead him back to the room as calmly as she could.

“Shh! Hush now, Toby, hush…” Lovett shushed him. “Hush lad, you’re not going anywhere. You just sit next to me nice and quiet… that’s right, right?”

She proceeded to lead the boy toward the couch, sitting him down next to her. She pulled him in close, holding him to her as she tried her hardest to keep things from escalating.

“How could you think such a thing of Mr. Todd?” Lovett asked, holding him close. “He’s been so good to us.”

Though she tried to put on a kind face for the boy, inside she was freaking out. This boy clearly wasn’t as dumb as they originally believed and right now, she needed to think of how to keep him quiet. For now, she tried calming him as she too began to sing.

The boy started to calm down a bit as Lovett held him… just as she came to a painful, dreadful decision. Concern and pain were as plain as the nose on her face. She seriously wished it wouldn’t have come to this; she truly loved the boy, like the son she never had. However, Chrysalis was right… he knows far too much. They couldn’t risk him alerting the law, even the thought of what they must do brought tears to her eyes. Just then, an idea popped into her head.

“Funny we should be having this little chat right now…” She spoke softly. “’Cause I was just thinkin’, you know how you’ve always fancied going into the bakehouse with me to help make the pies?”

“Yes, mum,” Toby nodded dreamily.

Lovett quickly dried her eyes and turned him over to look at her.

“Well… no time like the present,” Mrs. Lovett smiled.

Mrs. Lovett stood back up and grabbed Toby by the hand, leading him away from the area. Hearing approaching footsteps, Chrysalis quickly snapped herself out of her sadness, got up to her feet, and tried to walk away quickly. However, she bumped her shin into a nearby drawer and grunted in pain from the impact. At that moment, Lovett and Toby walked out spotting her hunched over the drawer.

“You alright, dearie?” Mrs. Lovett asked her.

“I’m fine!” She groaned in response. “Wasn’t watching where I was going and bumped hard into this ‘stupid’ drawer! But… I’ll be alright.”

“I’m taking Toby down to the bakehouse with me for a while,” Lovett informed her. “Would you mind keeping an eye on the place up ‘ere? Any customers come in, let ‘em know I’ll be with ‘em shortly.”

Chrysalis just nodded in response as Mrs. Lovett and Toby proceeded down the cellar stairs to the bakehouse. Chrysalis was about to walk away when she noticed something odd in the open drawer. Apparently, she bumped the drawer loose and she could see inside. Sliding the drawer open a tad, she noticed what appeared to be a small golden ring and an empty little vial inside.

Reaching in, Chrysalis first pulled out a ring. Examining it, she noticed a small inscription on the inside.

To my one and only Lucy…

Her eyes widened when she read the inscription. This belonged to Mr. Todd’s late wife. But why did Lovett have it hidden away? She quickly placed the ring into her dress and reached out for the vial. Popping the bottle open, she brought it to her nose and gave a small sniff. She was instantly met with a bitter yet very familiar odor.

“Arsenic…” She whispered.

She placed the vial in her dress too before quickly shutting the drawer back up and walked away. It was all too clear now Mrs. Lovett was hiding something. Why else would she have Mr. Todd’s wife’s ring and an empty bottle of arsenic? What was that woman up to?

<>

Mrs. Lovett led Toby down the claustrophobic, long stairway toward the bakehouse. The stone walls of the corridor were very dark as no source of light entered the chamber.

“My heart bleeds for you haven’ to go up and down all these stairs!” Toby told Mrs. Lovett.

“Well, that’ll be your job now,” Mrs. Lovett replied.

“Yes, mum!”

Soon, she arrived at the heavy iron door to the bakehouse. A seismic rumble of the bake oven could be heard from within. She unbolted the large iron latch on the door and pulled it open, ushering Toby in. And they finally enter…

The Bakehouse, a macabre vision of Hell.

The roof hung low in this subterranean chamber. The grisly tools of her trade are scattered about the place: a large, stained chopping block; a meat grinder; buckets of questionable viscous liquid; cleavers and bone saws and meat hooks; wet sewer grates for the blood. A metal sheet, hinged at the top, had been attached to cover an opening in the wall: the mouth of the chute from the barber shop above.

And eeriest of all… the thundering roar of flame coming from a large industrial oven against one wall, like the fire of an iron dragon. Taking a sniff around the cavernous bakehouse, Toby could immediately smell the rancid smell of rotting meat.

“Coo, quite a stink, ain’t there?” Toby asked.

Mrs. Lovett had no response at first, as she walked toward the giant oven with Toby following close. She gestured to a grate off the side which led down into the sewers.

“You see those grates?” She asked. “They go right down to the sewers, and the whiffs come up, always a few rats gone home to Jesus down there.”

“So – where do I start?!” Toby asked anxiously.

She then walked over to the oven and unlocked the large latch to open it up, revealing a great burning fire within the thrumming oven.

“Now this would be the bake over…” Mrs. Lovett instructed. “Ten dozen at a time. Always be sure the door is closed properly, like this.”

To demonstrate, she closed the large iron door of the oven and then re-locked the latch to keep it shut.

“Yes’m, always closed properly,” Toby repeated.

Lovett then led Toby to the corner of the room where the giant meat grinder stood stationary.

“And here’s the grinder…” Lovett demonstrated. “… You pop in the meat; give it a good grind and it comes out here.”

She proceeded to turn the large crank of the grinder to demonstrate how it works. A large amount of freshly ground meat emerged out the end.

“Now you try,” Lovett gestured.

Toby walked over and proceeded to follow the same steps Mrs. Lovett had told him.

“Good grind,” He grunted as he cranked. “Comes out there.”

“That’s me boy,” Mrs. Lovett replied, patting his shoulder. “Smoothly, smoothly—now I’ve got to pop upstairs, back in two shakes, all right?”

“Yes’m.”

Lovett began to go when he stopped her with a heartbreaking request:

“Do you think I might have a pie while I wait?” Toby asked innocently.

Mrs. Lovett turned to the poor boy standing at a rack of cooling pies.

“As many as you like, son,” Mrs. Lovett replied softly. “As many as you like…”

Mrs. Lovett made her way out of the bakehouse and sealed the large steel door behind her. She latched the door shut, locking Toby inside. She leaned back against the door at the very thought of what was happening hit her. Her face held a manner of sadness before being replaced by determination. She knew this had to be done… but she’d need help.

<>

Back with the Mane Six and Anthony, the group stood at the front door of the asylum preparing to put their plan into action. The girls were shackled together to look like they’ve been captured, while Spike was dressed like a prison guard bringing them in. Anthony was dressed as a fashionable wigmaker, or at least to give off the impression he was an apprentice just as Mr. Todd instructed.

“These chains are so uncomfortable,” Rainbow groaned, as the iron scrapped her skin.

“Hush now hun, it’ll only be fer a few minutes,” Applejack assured her. “Besides, ya weren’t complaining a while back when we tried experimenting.”

“That was rope, not chains,” Rainbow corrected.

“Honestly, you two really need to stop talking about such things,” Rarity cringed in disgust.

“It’s great you two are together and making the shippers happy,” Pinkie nodded in agreement. “But I think most of them are getting tired of the innuendos. We don’t even have any M-Rated stories where we can get past the brief mentions.”

“Girls, focus!” Twilight spoke up. “We’re here.”

Just then, the doors to the asylum opened up and a gangly looking balding man, dressed in a white lab coat, Mr. Fogg by name, stepped out.

“Can I help you?” He asked.

“Indeed you can, sir,” Anthony replied curtly. “My master is looking to create a new ensemble of wigs and I was hoping to gather some blonde hair for them.”

Mr. Fogg turned his attention to the group of young girls in shackles.

“What ‘bout them?” He questioned curiously.

“New girls being committed,” Spike replied, with a deep authoritative voice.

Mr. Fogg leaned close to the girls who tried to back away as far as possible. The man was clearly a creep, they could smell that his breath reeked like kerosine. He smiled toothily at them.

“Strange looking ones these are,” He grinned. “But they’ll fit nicely in ‘ere. Especially the little blonde… never turn down more of my children.

He proceeded to hold the door open for them to enter. Anthony went first and the girls followed behind with Spike ‘pretending’ to forcibly lead them into the asylum. They followed Mr. Fogg through the twisted hallways of the asylum before eventually arriving at the holding cells.

It’s a cacophony of madness. The ragged inmates of the asylum are slammed together in a series of cramped cells, the low ceiling pressing them down. Anthony and the group walked past the cells with the odious Mr. Fogg, who carried a large pair of scissors.

“They’re just down this way,” Mr. Fogg said. “We’ll get you some nice blonde hair and then find a cell for these little pretties.”

“Thank you, sir,” Anthony replied, hiding his disgust. “This would certainly prove to be beneficial for both of us.”

“Oh yes, sir, I agree,” Mr. Fogg nodded. “It would be to our mutual interest to come to some arrangement in regard to my poor children’s hair.”

As they passed each one of the cells, Mr. Fogg pointed out which cell held which inmates.

“Brunettes… redheads…”

They then stopped at the cell at the farthest end of the room and Mr. Fogg’s very creepy smile returned.

“I keep the blondes over here,” He spoke. “It was yellow hair you was looking for, sir?”

“Yes,” Anthony replied.

Fogg proceeded to unlock the door and pulled it open. When the door opened, all the blonde women scurried back, clearly terrified of Fogg. It was like they were trying to escape from a vicious monster. Anthony couldn’t help but feel great sympathy for these girls, even though many of them were demented. Regardless, no one should be terrorized in such a manner.

Outside the cell, Spike and the girls looked in noting the horror within.

“Sweet Celestia, those poor women are terrified beyond belief!” Rarity whispered in horror.

“This guy’s a nut job!” Rainbow whispered. “He should be the one locked up here.”

“I-I-I d-don’t want t-t-to b-be here anymore!” Fluttershy whimpered fearfully.

Anthony followed Fogg into the cell, trying to search for Johanna in the crowd of terrified blondes. Eventually, he spotted her sitting with her knees at her chest off to the side. She looked ragged and dirty from her time spent in this terrible place. She wore a filthy straitjacket, and was hunched like a feral animal, cowering in a corner of the cell. The young girl slowly looked up and into Anthony’s eyes. They immediately had a connection where she knew to work with him.

“That one there has the shade I need,” Anthony pointed to Johanna.

Fogg went to fetch Johanna, as Anthony looked on.

“Come, child,” Mr. Fogg called to her.

However, Johanna refused to move from her spot. Mr. Fogg just once again smiled creepily as he walked over to Johanna and knelt down beside her.

“Smile for the gentleman and you shall have a sweetie,” He chuckled.

Johanna’s eyes shot wide when she saw Anthony, but she said nothing as Fogg prepared the scissors to cut the girl’s golden hair.

“Now, where shall I cut?”

CLICK!

Suddenly, before Fogg could react – Anthony pulled a revolver from his pocket and aimed it at the asylum director. The man quickly put his hands up in defense.

“Not another word, Mr. Fogg, or it will be your last,” Anthony threatened.

The young man quickly grabbed Johanna, pulled her close to him for protection, and pushed Fogg back into the cell. They slowly started to back out of the room.

“Now I leave you to the mercy of your… ‘children’.”

He swung the cell door shut, locking Fogg in. Mr. Fogg now found himself locked in with the blonde inmates. They slowly began to advance on him, menacingly like, likely to rip him limb from limb. Amidst the screaming rage of the blondes, Mr. Fogg screamed in agony. Once safely back outside the cell, Twilight used her magic to pry the straitjacket off Johanna and she threw her arms around Anthony, bawling into his chest.

“I knew you’d come!” She bawled. “I’ve waited so long; I was starting to worry.”

Off the side, Twilight used her magic to pry the shackles off herself and her friends while Spike removed the guard uniform.

“It’s alright, Johanna,” Twilight assured, placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “We’re getting you out of here. We’ll make sure to get you somewhere safe.”

“Speaking of which, we better go before anyone catches us,” Spike spoke up.

The group were about to turn and make their way out when a voice calling to them stopped the group.

“YOU THERE!”

They turned back to the cell as a blonde girl peeked through the viewing window.

“Gotta thank all of yer,” She sighed gratefully. “That man’s a monster in human skin! We has much fun with ‘im!”

“Uh… no problem,” Rainbow replied awkwardly. “So, we got to go now. But you girls have your fun!”

“Wait a minute!” Twilight interrupted.

The lavender princess slowly crept over to the window for a closer look at the girl’s face. Though the corridor was only lit by a few torches, she could still trace out the girl’s face. The face of that Alice Winters girl they met at Mrs. Lovett’s shop when they first got here.

“Ms. Winters?” Twilight questioned curiously. “Alice… Winters?”

“What you on about?” The girl replied. “My name’s not Alice, and it ain’t Winters neither. My name’s… Beatrice

This caused Twilight to cock her head to the side in confusion. If this girl was named Beatrice, then who was the girl they had seen with Sweeney Todd? Perhaps a few more questions will help answer that.

“Do you by chance happen to have a sister?” Twilight asked the girl.

This just caused the mad girl to burst into a fit of mad laughter.

“No sisters I have.” Beatrice giggled madly. “Not even brothers. Was just me and my papa. A cruel man he was, always so mean. Until one day, I stopped him bein’ mean forever.”

Twilight internally could only imagine what exactly the girl meant by that statement. Then again, perhaps it was best she didn’t know.

“How long have you been here?” She asked.

“Too long it’s been.” Beatrice replied with a wide eyed vacant stare. “Stopped count in’ after a year.”

This is what really caused Twilight to step back with wide eyes of horror on her face. How could it be possible that this girl could have been locked up here for a year and they saw her only a short while back?

Unless…

“We need to get back to the pie shop now!” Twilight said urgently.