Gangs of Manehattan

Standing behind her client, Starlight grinned. As she often did when she met Twilight Sparkle. She grinned, because she knew that it vexed Sparkle. The young DA had a stellar record, but she and Starlight had traded wins and losses. Starlight usually was serious, but she could relax. Compared to her, Twilight Sparkle was almost uptight! She probably didn't even have a private life outside of, say, the library or whatever.

Twilight and Starlight were rivals. They couldn't stand each other, but they respected each other's abilities.

“Then, if you don't have anything else against my client,-” Starlight snapped her briefcase shut, “-I'd appreciate it if you'd let him go.” It had been quite a bit of work, but, apparently, the investigation would stop. For now at least. Not that Twilight was happy about it.

When Spike rose, and Starlight and him turned to leave, the lawyer gave a parting shot: “Have a nice day, Sparkle.”

Twilight glared at their backs. “One last question?” She asked them, stopping them in their tracks. It was a question that had been in the back of her mind for quite a while since she'd been tipped off about this dragon.

“Didn't you have enough time to ask all the questions you have?” Starlight Glimmer glared at the other unicorn over her shoulder. It almost sounded like Twilight Sparkle might try some sort of last ditch effort to get Spike to accidentally incriminate himself!

“Oh, it's nothing big. Not even something really official. I am just... curious, that's all!”

Spike and his lawyer exchanged glaces. The dragon shrugged. “OK. Shoot.”

“Do I know you?”

“Huh? Uhm... You mean, the current situation aside?” Spike was surprised and didn't quite know what to make of this question. “I mean, I have been in the news a few time, with my club.”

“No... I mean, did we ever meet in person?” Twilight specified. It was weird, she knew, but she had this gut-feeling about him, as if she'd met him before... “Before the current situation, as you put it.”

“I don't think so. Haven't been put on trial yet. At least not, by a beauty like you!” He had been in court for some minor stuff every now and then, but once he'd gotten smarter, and really had gotten his group going... And had gotten a great attorney, that had died down.

Starlight elbowed Spike in the side. This was not the time to smooch up to the DA...

“Hmm...” Twilight Sparkle didn't seem to have noticed the last part, too busy thinking about the the other stuff! “It's just... No. Nothing important. When I was younger, I think I knew a dragon with similar coloring like you. But that would be an incredible coincidence.” The DA walked past them and opened the door. “I think you wanted to leave?”

As she passed by, Spike finally noticed her smell. Or rather, something about her smell... Underneath a layer of perfume and shampoo, there was something familiar... Sunset and Twilight had begun to argue, but this was in the background as memories came forward.

Something about her smell was oddly familiar... When he and Sunset had left the room, and Twilight closed the door, he stared at the DA with his mouth open as he realized that... she was his sister from many years ago!

“It is very strange that she was directly involved in all of this herself...” Sunset told him quietly, once they'd gotten back to their car. He didn't respond. “Spike? What's wrong?”

“Oh... nothing...” It'd take a while until his mind worked its way through this whole affair... if he was right, and his nose was pretty good... Well, it was something to find out your sister, again, if he was correct, was the fucking DA herself!

A few days later, Twilight was disappointed. Unfortunately, she had to drop the case. For now at least. At some point, she'd have the evidence she'd need. Being honest, she felt as if there'd been something going on in the background working against her...

At the same time, for Spike and the others, it was a reason to celebrate! The fact that Spike had legal trouble had quickly become public knowledge, considering his somewhat public role as club owner, and the fact that this had now passed made a great reason for a big party. It was basically Pinkie Pies first real test as well!

His release wasn't officially the reason for the party, but most figured. However, Spike still put business first, going over documents and contracts in his office for a while. But now, it was time to enjoy the party, and he knew he wouldn't be able to hide in his office the whole night. Sooner or later, that energetic, outgoing pink pony would come and drag him out if she had to!

As he left his office, the dragon stretched his arms and back. “Mmh... Well, that's over...” He said to himself, as he saw that Applejack was leaning on the railing, looking down on at the partying crowd. “How's it so far? Has Pinkie delivered?” Spike asked her, as he joined her.

“Seems like it. Everyone's having a good time.” She shrugged, chewing on an unlit cigarette. AJ turned her head, “Hey, boss? Ya have some fire? My lighter's empty.”

“Sure.” He answered, pulling out a cigarette himself, followed up by his zippo. A few moments later, both were smoking.

“Thanks.” She said, after taking a pull on her cigarette. For a few moments, they just stood there and watched what was going on below.

“Hey, boss!” A young, familiar voice interrupted their contemplation. “You know you shouldn't smoke indoors?”

Spike and Applejack turned around. “Ah, Gabby!” He greeted her, sounding a little bit tired. “How are you doing?”

“I'm fine!” The gray griffoness chirped! But then, her voice turned a bit more somber. “Shouldn't you be down there?”

“In a bit. I am enjoying the peace for a bit more.”

“Wanna enjoy me a little?” She teasted him, squeezing one of her breasts through her waitress outfit!

“Maybe later.”

“Huh?!” As her boss and the waitress chatted some more, Applejack's gaze fell on a mare that was just entering the dance floor. And she couldn't believe her eyes. Spike and Gabby followed her stare! They saw light gray mare with a gray and turquoise mane. "Rara?" AJ wondered quietly.

The dragon looked at her. “What?”

“She... She's an old friend of mine!” AJ looked like she had seen a ghost. “Haven't seen her in ages!”

“Wait... that's Countess Coloratura!” Gabby gasped!

“Who?” Spike and AJ reacted at the same time. Neither of them were massive pop fans.

For a moment, Gabby stared at them like the two just said something profoundly stupid. Like, say, that Mayor Celestia was raising the sun and her sister the moon! “Just one of the biggest pop stars in Equestria!” She told them!

Spike's head slowly turned to AJ and, in disbelief, asked her: “You know a pop star?”

“Guess so!” The former farm pony shrugged. “Yeah, her full name is Coloratura. Just never called herself 'Countess'.”

“Probably a stage name?”

“I gotta ask her!” AJ let her her cigarette drop onto the walkway. “Spike? Would you come with me?” She asked him, as she stomped it out under her hoof and hurried to the stairs!

Shrugging, Spike followed suit. “Sure.” And Gabby followed both of them.

Meanwhile in the club's new pseudo-bakery, Pinkie Pie was whipping up some snacks for the guests! On a table, next to ingredients, were some food-stained papers that she used to make notes for her plans for the Nightmare Night party! Next to her was a certain, pristine white, unicorn.

“And I tell you,” Rarity was telling her in a serious voice, “you can't just go and make this some random party you'd throw for friends! For Nightmare Night, we will have illustrious guests! Tempest Shadow told me that they are thinking about inviting Filthy Rich, the mayor and the deputy mayor, and maybe even Sombra!”

Undeterred and with a smile on her face, only sometimes leaving it when she concentrated, Pinkie continued with her work. Rarity had been telling her this and similar stuff for quite a while now. Apparently, the designer had taken it upon herself to keep the party pony in check.

On the dance floor, Applejack, followed by Spike and Gabby pushed her way through the dancing crowd and, finally, a past a bodyguard. “Hands off!” She barked at the guy when he put a hand on her shoulder to keep her back!

“I would not suggest that,” Spike told the guy, his face a mixture of a warning and understanding. The bodyguard was just doing his job after all. “First of all, the big bouncer at the door is her brother, so he won't throw her out without a very good reason. Second: She works here and sometimes as a bouncer as well... And last, but not least... I am her boss and own this place.”

“But-...” The hapless bodyguard looked torn.

“Just give her a moment.”

Applejack approached the pony she assumed to be a childhood friend of hers. “Excuse me?” Apparently, Coloratura didn't ear it over the music, so AJ repeated it louder!

Finally, she heard it and turned around. “Huh?”

“Rara?” AJ asked her, her eyes uncharacteristically large and hopeful...”Is that you?”

The pop-star turned around, confusion on her face. “Who-...” She didn't finish the sentence as she recognized the face! “Applejack?!” Her voice was one of delighted surprise!

“It's really you, isn't it, Rara?!”

“AJ!” Within a heartbeat, Rara embraced her old friend!

Spike turned to the bodyguard. “See? It's alright.”

“I need a drink...”

“Here.” The dragon gave him a bit of money. “Take one on the house.”

Applejack, Spike, Coloratura and her bodyguard, who was sipping at his drink, had withdrawn to one of the alcoves. They were chatting and catching up.

“I have been on a little break for the last year, after I split from my old manager. He was an asshole.” Rara explained, after Applejack had wondered how she hadn't heard about her career, a lack of interest in pop-music aside.

“Honestly? I think my first few concerts after my break will be pretty successful!” Coloratura chuckled. “How does it go again? How can they miss you, if you won't go away?”

“Yeah... But why the whole 'Countess' thing?”

“My ex-manager,” she emphasized the 'ex', “thought it would be a great idea to market me as a cold and aloof pop princess... I never felt comfortable with it. Was one of the reasons I sent him packing!”

“You always were sociable, and loved to work with kids. Checks out.” AJ nodded.

“Mhm. And he didn't want me to make any free appearances or anything, even for ill-children and so on. Always demanded appearance fees, even if I said that I'd love to show up. I think he was mainly using me to get his way and bully others around. Also, he was skimming of the top.”

“Sounds like a piece of work. Great that you sent him packing!”

“Thank you!” She laughed. “But enough of me! How have you been? I wanted to visit you sometime after my career began to pick up, tell you the good news! And when I came to Sweet Apple Acres...”

The so far happy expression on Applejack's face turned bitter. She looked at the griffon waitress still with them. “Gabby? Bring me a whiskey. A double.”

“Oh no...” A shocked Coloratura uttered after AJ had finished her story! “I am so sorry!”

AJ emptied what was left of her whiskey. “It's alright. I've made my peace with the past. It just still hurts every now and then... Anyway!” She seemed to perk up again, but an attentive observer would've seen that some of the sadness remained. “This isn't an evening for thinking about the gloomy past! It's time to celebrate! Gabby! Another!”

The same evening as Tartarus was having its party... “Mr. Sombra, sir?” Sans Smirk approached his boss, sitting at his desk in his penthouse's office.

Sombra looked up from the papers. “Yes, Sans?”

“We received another message from our mysterious informant.”

“What does it say?”

Smirk looked at the letter in his hand again, then at the unicorn. “Apparently, the informant wants to meet you in person.”

Sombra thought about it for a moment. “Go and wake Radiant.” He finally ordered. “Then, you two will make preparations for this meeting. Choose one of the usual spots. and call for some of the maids to have the penthouse cleaned. Depending on how the meeting goes, we might move here for more precarious discussions!”

“Yes, Mr. Sombra!” Sans Smirk hurried off.

Forty minutes later, Sombra had showered and just slipping into his suit. Leaving his dressing room, he passed by Sans Smirk again. “Is the car ready?”

“Yes, sir. So are the usual preparations.” He answered, as they passed by a maid, cleaning up something.

The dark stallion's eyes fixated on her as they walked! It was maid he didn't recognize! He had taken the precautions to learn the looks, names and voices of the maids working at the building by heart, just in case somepony tried to sneak a spy in! And all changes had to be communicated to him, together with pictures and a resume. This one was a pink pegasus with light blue, curly mane. He hadn't seen her before, and he had a feeling her very innocent, overly cute appearance was a sham hiding a much darker mind than it might seem.

The boss put a hand on San Smirk's chest to stop him and turned around. After two steps, he was back behind the mare and glared at her. “And you are?” His voice was as cold as ice.

“My name, Mr. Sombra-” the pegasus turned around, a smirk on her face, “is Cozy Glow...”

“I am impressed!” He told her before she could continue. Then, in the blink of an eye, his right hand grabbed her throat and lifted the pegasus off her hooves! Pressing her body against the wall behind her, he began to squeeze. “Now, tell me,” Sombra growled, “why I shouldn't just kill you here and now?”

Cozy Glow's wide-open eyes bulged as she felt her windpipe constrain! “I-I am the pony,-” she struggled to speak, having to force the words out of her mouth past Sombra's iron grip, “-that's been... been sending you the information on your target!” Her voice got thinner and thinner the less air she had left! But then, the choke hold on her throat lessened. Slightly. But enough for her to draw breath again! Greedily, she inhaled! Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all...

“Why should I believe you?” His grip tightened again! “After all, we just received a letter from our source, asking us to meet him. Considering you were scooping around, you probably just found the letter on my desk!”

“B-because...,” Cozy fought to get the next words out, repeating the information she had handed Sombra before.

“So, it really was you...” A little doubt remained, since there could have been other ways for her to find out about it, but it seemed unlikely enough. Sombra removed his hand, and the pegasus' hooves dropped down!

Gasping for air, rubbing her hurting throat, Cozy Glow slid down, until she sat on the floor! Maybe this had been the wrong way to approach this... Maybe she should've just let him call the burner phone she had and met him at a location of his choosing. Being in control would've made him more amicable. Maybe...

They moved to Sombra's office, Sans Smirk bringing a tablet of beverages and placing it on the desk, while the pegasus told more about what she had done: “I riled up some of the gang's rivals, and then also slipped some intel on the gang's activities to the DA. To keep them occupied and distracted. Unfortunately, it seems like our lawyer got Spike of the hook very quickly.” She shrugged in a 'well, what can you do?' way.

“Why should I trust you, considering that you are selling out your friends?” It was a very justified question. If somepony was willing to betray a gang she'd been running with for long enough, and from what his other sources, and she herself, had told him, they'd been very tightly knit, as easily as Cozy Glow was doing, they usually were more than ready to stick the dagger in your own back the first opportune moment!

“Friends?” She scoffed! “Friends?!” She started to laugh! It was a cold, arrogant, almost vile laughter that was in stark contrast to her appearance. “I like to work for the winning team! The team that knows how to take what they can,what they want!” She explained! “My former boss and colleagues have too many scruples, enjoys being liked by those dimwits in his neighborhood far too much! 'Oh no! We are not going to deal with that stuff, even if it would make us more cash than anything we're doing right now!'” Cozy said, apparently mocking something that had been said to her. “Screw that shit! They don't have the killer instinct necessary to make it really big!”

Cozy leaned over the desk, her upper body supported by her arms! Her eyes were fixed on Sombra's. “I am an ambitious girl, looking out for myself! I want to make it as close to the top as I can! And the top, here in Manehattan,... is you, Mr. Sombra!”

Sombra's stony expression slowly twisted into a grin! That pegasus knew how to find the right words, it seemed. At the very least, she might be a temporarily useful asset... However, one that would have to be kept under observation, considering that she already showed a penchant for back-stabbing and, he assumed, manipulation since she most likely did play her former compatriots...

Sans filled the pegasus a glass of white vine, as she and the boss talked. Cozy Glow explained how she found out about Sombra's intentions! She had always thought that the notes they found, and the room, or safe, or whatever, they couldn't enter could be far more valuable than what Spike and the others would've been willing to exploit! Every time she had made suggestions that would have advanced the gang beyond their current measly existence (at least in Cozy's mind), she was shot down! 'Too risky', 'too likely to draw attention', 'It would threaten their current arrangement with the locals', blablabla. No vision! No ambition! They were pathetic!

Sure, originally, when they'd started to claw their way out of the gutter, they'd had that killer instinct! That was when she'd joined! They thrashed the competition and did what they had to! But then, they'd gotten soft! Weak! Honestly, Cozy Glow had been looking for new employment for quite a while... Unfortunately, the vast majority of other gangs in town were either even more pathetic than Spike and his lot, who at least had the talent to make it big, too specialized in their endeavors, like the Flim-Flam brothers and their operations, or too shadowy to accurately gauge them, like Tirek and his crew. And then, there was the one who, for most of Manehattan, was nothing but a dark rumour that even creeped Cozy Glow out...

Once they'd found the secrets their new building had held, Cozy had began to search for more information on them! Over time, she overheard rumors about a shadowy figure very interested in certain buildings. She seduced others to find out more, and finally managed to pierce things together. A shadowy figure was looking for these things... And it wasn't too difficult for a pony of her intellect to come to the conclusion that it was none other than Sombra.

“Not bad...” He had to admit, allowing a hint of a smile to show.

“I do have to say,” Cozy Glow climbed on the desk, putting on a face that was meant to look innocently confused, “I always wondered why you never went into politics...” Her right index finger brushed over Sombra's chest. “A stallion as gifted as you... Smart, charismatic, ruthless...”

Sombra's face turned stony again as he brushed her hand away! But after a moment, an evil grin appeared! “Do you have any idea how much power I would have to give up for that?” A moment later he added: “Now, please, sit back down on your chair!”

Once Cozy Glow had left, a secret door in the side of the office opened and Radiant Hope stepped in. “What do you make of her?” Sombra asked her.

“Untrustworthy, but useful.” Was the short answer. “For me, it seemed very true that she said: She's looking out only for herself. She will toss anypony aside, stab anypony in the back, once she thinks they aren't of use to her anymore.”

He nodded. Radiant's assessment matched his own. And he knew to trust her feelings in these regards.