Second Chances II: Love and Courage

Second Chances II: Love and Courage
By Hero541
Chapter 17: The Master Plan

Mayor Mare sat in her office, a few stacks of papers on her desk that she was avoiding signing. The events from earlier that day still plagued her mind, causing her great sadness. She knew just how much Josh and Vinyl loved each other, and she always made it a point to greet the two cheerily if they ever came by her in town. The last thing she’d ever want to have to do is take one from the other, leaving them both in a somewhat perpetual state of loneliness. However, that was just what she’d done today, and she was feeling unbelievably guilty now as visions of the two lovers apart and sad beyond belief flooded her mind.

Her reverie was broken as the door flew open and Filthy Rich sauntered in. Mayor felt a rage build in her chest as she saw the pompous stallion make his way in. If not for him, she wouldn’t have had to do what she did today and spread so much sadness.

“I see you arrested him.” said Filthy, making his way up to her desk, a smirk on his face.

“That doesn’t mean I did it willingly.” replied Mayor, glaring daggers at Filthy over her desk.

“Don’t tell me you’re on his side too, Mayor.” groaned Filthy, his smirk vanishing almost immediately, “How can you tolerate such a vile and impure creature in our world? Didn’t you hear what I had to say this morning?”

“I heard you loud and clear, Filthy.” she said, slamming her hooves on her desk, her glare intensifying, “However, he hasn’t done anything like what you said in the entire time he’s been here! What makes you so confident in your assertion that he’d make the same mistakes here?”

“Old habits die hard, my dear mayor.” said Filthy, beginning to pace back and forth as he addressed the mayor, “Just because he hasn’t done it yet doesn’t mean he won’t ever do it again. He has a cynical and angry heart, one set there by years of living the way he has. What would stop him from committing the same sins here?”

“He has a conscience, Filthy!” shouted Mayor, now almost on top of her desk as she yelled at the stallion, “You make him seem like he’s no better than a common animal! Like he’d turn on us at any second! What proof do you have to support your claims? I’d love to see some.”

Filthy just stared at the mayor for a few seconds, his smirk returning as they locked eyes.

“My dear Mayor Mare,” he began, giving her an icy stare to combat her heated one, “I have all the proof I need in the voice of a very trusted and reliable source in Canterlot. All I’d have to do is bring them up and have them explain exactly the same thing they did to me.”

“And just who is that source, Filthy? Please, enlighten me as to who informed you on all this.”

“Now now, Mayor.” said Filthy, closing his eyes and shaking his head a little, his smirk still present, “I can’t just go and tell you that. I promised the utmost anonymity to this individual, and I’m determined to keep that promise. For the moment.”

Mayor simply stared at Filthy, unable to believe how hateful and evil he had become towards somepony like Josh, who almost everypony in Ponyville loved. However, her curiosity had been piqued as to who this mystery informant to Filthy might be. She sat back in her chair once more, not taking her eyes off the stallion before her.

“Fine.” she finally said, crossing her hooves in front of her chest, “Why’d you come to my office today then? To gloat or something?”

“I wouldn’t dream of doing anything like that, Mayor.” said Filthy, resuming his pacing, “I merely came to at least check and make sure you’d actually done your job and arrested that idiot who assaulted me.”

“Well, you know full well that I did now.” she replied, venom dripping from her words as she spoke, “Now, leave my office.”

“Of course.”

Filthy turned and made for the door, another smirk gracing his lips as he reached it. He turned back to the mayor, a glint of malice in his eye as he looked to the tan mare once more.

“Of course, I’m sure you know that I’ll be taking him to court over this.” he said, causing Mayor to peer up at him again.

“I’m not a moron, Filthy.” she said, her glare returning to its full force, “Of course you will. I also know that you’ll use this little incident today as grounds to recruit more ponies against Josh, and maybe even Vinyl.”

“Vinyl shall be spared the full force of my plan.” he replied, “She is still a pony, after all. Even if she is living with that scum…”

“And what exactly is your plan, if I may ask?”

Filthy grew a huge smile and an almost giddy gleam appeared in his eyes at her words.

“I’m glad you asked.” he said, clearing his throat before continuing, “Initially, I just wanted him out of Ponyville…”

“Even if you manage to force him out of Ponyville, that’s not gonna take him away from Vinyl or his friends.” said Mayor, cutting off the stallion.

“I’m well aware of that.” replied Filthy, shooting Mayor Mare a glare for interrupting him, “I know for a fact that even if I manage to get him out of this town, she’ll still follow him. Like a dog always returns to his master, so she’ll follow him wherever he goes.”

Filthy paused for a second, gathering his thoughts while the mayor continued to stare at him.

“What is your plan, Filthy?” she asked again, standing once more to address him.

“You’ll see in due time, Mayor.” he simply said, turning and preparing to leave again, “You’ll see.”

Before Mayor could say anything more, Filthy had left out the door, leaving the tan mare alone with her thoughts and his words. She sat back down, pondering many things. Who told him all about Josh’s past? Why would they tell him? What could they possibly gain from Josh being persecuted this harshly? As she sat and thought some more, a chill ran down her spine as she thought about what Filthy could possibly be planning to do now. Undoubtedly, he’d try to get the human out of Ponyville, an act that he had just admitted would accomplish little in his books. Mayor felt a storm about to brew in this whole scenario that would not only break hearts, but possibly ruin lives. And the worst part is, I can’t do anything to stop it…