The Mare in Red. [Ch1]

>You sit back on your chair in the smokey lounge.
>A pony waiter levitates a tray with your drink and sets it on the table.
>You slip him the brown envelope under the tray and grab your drink.
>It's been a good few years now.
>Dealing illegal salt-mixes to ponies who have arrived on Earth through the portal.
>Who knew something as mundane as salt would be classified as a drug once they arrived.
>The waiter left after you gave him the drop-off points of your deliveries.

>A pony in a tailored suit gives you a nod from the other side of the room and you raise your drink in a reply.
>The deal is done, you'll have your money deposited to your account in the morning.
>You take a sip and look onto the stage since your business is done and you can enjoy yourself.
>You'd picked this spot for a reason.
>It's because you have a thing for one of the ladies who sing here.
>You smirk. If you had told yourself a few years ago that you'd be attracted to a technicolor equine, you would have slugged yourself in the face.
>The stage is occupied by some asshole playing bongo drums, moaning out self-fellating nonsense in a monotone drone.
>Then he stops and you thank God or Celestia, whoever cares more.

>Then SHE comes onto the stage.
>Along with her, a small band enters.
>She's wearing a red silk dress with a slit that shows off her rear leg.
>Odd how it has the same effect on humans and ponies, you think.
>The band sets up while you order another drink and the white pony in the red dress talks to someone off-stage before letting out a muffled giggle under her hoof.
>She throws her purple styled mane around and her eyes land on you.
>Her lips form a smirk and she winks.
>Then the band slowly begins to build up.
>The sound of waves and seagulls slips in through the window beside you but it seems to strangely fit the mood.
>She begins to sing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiTa_t92E-k

>The music swings on and her voice lulls you into a sweet relaxed state.
>Your risky business kept you on edge and recently you'd find solace in her act.
>You didn't know what she did during the days, you didn't care.
>All you knew her as was the mare in red who sang your troubles away.
>The music finally, sadly, comes to an end and you give her a round of applause.
>She and her band bows gracefully before they start up again.
>It's a cheerful tune this time.
>Sadly, it's interrupted as the main entrance door is slammed open and police swarms the room.
>Pony and human officers shout something about this being a bust.
>You knew it would happen sooner or later.
>This place was a common place for your kind of business.

>Deciding it's time to bounce, you quickly down the last of your drink and burst from your seat.
>You slip past a gang of rowdy mobsters protecting their boss from the police and enter the kitchen.
>Somepony bumps into you and you expect magic cuffs to fly onto you but nothing happens.
>You look down, seeing not a pony officer but the lady in red.
>She's hyperventilating, looking at you with horrified eyes.
>You don't know why you do it, but before you know it, you have her under your arm and you've reached your apartment.
>She's on her haunches and you're on your ass on the couch.

>"W-what is going on?!"
>You hear her stammer out in a shocked manner.
>Oh boy. Something tells you that you just added kidnapping to your list of crimes.
"Uhm.. sorry. I kinda panicked. The police raid and mobsters fighting.. it just seemed an unfit environment for a lady, so I... uh"
>You hope your brain starts working soon or this ain't gonna end well.
>She blinks a few times before taking a deep breath.
>"I'm sorry, I just... just didn't know I was in danger. I suppose I should thank you."
>She laughs nervously.

>She seems to calm down and take in the surroundings.
>Your apartment is quite extravagant and she seems to like it.
>A large panoramic window stretches from wall to wall in the living room in a subtle arc.
>The last few rays of sunlight stream in over the beach which your building overlooks.
>The walls are painted a soft cream yellow and the sunlight only colors them into an intense honey orange.
>Exotic miniature palm trees accent the corners of the living room and a glass table on onyx stone stands before you in the middle.
>It's flamboyant but you can afford it.
>You have an extensive fortune amassed on your account from your business.

>She notices how expensive the place looks and she seems to drop any notion of unease.
"So.. can I get you anything? I suppose you're my guest, unless you wish to leave already."
>You decide to walk over to the liqueur cabinet and extend a hospitable gesture to her so to not freak her out.
>"Why, how kind of you. I wouldn't mind a glass of wine. I suppose I can keep you company, with you rescuing me and all."
>She giggles. She seems to have relaxed and decided not to charge you with abduction.
>Good. You have enough crap going on as it is.

>You return to the couch with two glasses and a bottle of wine.
>Pouring her a drink, you then lean back and look at the sunset.
"Once again. I'm sorry about just grabbing you like that. It must have seemed very suspicious."
>She waves her hoof after taking a dainty sip.
>"Oh, Anonymous, Darling. Don't worry about it. You had good intentions and that's what matters."
>Oh good, looks like you're out of...
>Wait..
"h-how did you know my name?"

>She stops mid-sip and swallows with a bit of dramatic gesture.
>Setting the glass down, she turns her head to you and gives you a sheepish grin.
>"Why.. everyone at the speakeasy knows your name, hehe. You're a patron there."
>She's so bad at lying it would be funny if it wasn't making you nervous.
"I don't buy that. I have the same waiter every time and he doesn't remember my name."
>You point out the inconsistency in her statement and swirl your glass.

>She looks around the room in a desperate gesture of "oh shit".
>She takes another sip of her win, held by her magic this time since her hooves are crossed on the cushion of the couch.
>A few drinks later, she climbs from the couch and stands up.
>"W-well.. I suppose I should get going."
>You stand up.
"You still haven't answered my question, Miss."
>"Rarity."
"What?"
>"My name is Rarity."
>She tries to give you a smile, but she just looks even more nervous now.
"Well, Miss Rarity. Would you like to tell me the truth this time?"

>She bites down on her lower lip before bolting past you.
>Funnily enough, wine is strong by pony standards and her legs betrays her halfway to the door.
>She slams into the floor with surprising grace and something flies out from under her dress.
>A small bag with a white powder glides across the polished wood floor and stops in a ray of light.
>Salt.
>By the type of bag and the soft pink hue of the salt in the light, you figure it's the peach strain.
>She notices that the jig is up and she sits up on her haunches.
>"Fine... I know your name because I'm your biggest customer. Happy?"

>No, you're not.
"No. Not really."
>She looks over her shoulder, a mix of embarrassment and contempt.
>The contempt feels justified.
>You set your glass down and you walk over to her, kneel down and offer her your hand.
"Listen.. I'm sorry if I pushed on a sore spot, Miss Rarity. I just don't like secrets concerning me, especially with the crowd you know I have to deal with."
>She hesitates, but takes your hand with her hoof.
>How do they do that anyway?
>It's like her hoof has a grip on you, but you can't see it bend to justify the feeling.
>Magic?
>Probably. She's a unicorn after all.

>You lift her to her hooves and she looks over at the bag.
"Uhm... If you want to leave.. I won't stop you."
>She's looking at the floor now.
>You look back at the window, unsure what to say.
>The sun is but a red sliver on the horizon and the room is now nearly red.
>A drop falls to the floor and you hear a soft sniff.
>A whimper before the tears flow and she lets out a dainty sob.
>"Sweet Celestia. Why did this happen to me?"
>You look back at her. She's back on her haunches again and she's crying.

"Miss Rarity.. I don't.."
>She cover her face with her hooves and bursts out into loud sobbing.
>Her hair frizzles a bit at the horn and her dress is flowing out onto the floor like a still photo of a drop being merged with the water beneath it.
>The dress merges with the red hue on the floor ans she seems to envelop the entire living room.
>It would look quite majestic if she wasn't crying.

>You kneel down once more and you put your hand on her shoulder.
"What happened to you, Miss Rarity?"
>Getting her to explain it would certainly help the situation and hopefully stop your neighbors from hearing a crying woman in your apartment.
>You hope she can't cry and give exposition at the same time.
>Turns out she can.
>"I -sob- came to Earth in hopes of offering my dressmaking business to humans and ponies here on Earth."
>She stands up, waddles onto the couch and lies down on it.
>"I thought I could -sob- that I could become famous here and put some real power behind my name."
>She pours herself another drink with her magic and looks at you.
>"I decided to spend some time having fun and enjoying Earth high life before opening my business, but by the time I realized your "industrial revolution" made hand-crafted dresses obsolete, I was already deep in debt."
>She looks down into the swirling liquid of her glass.
>"I began singing to earn the money to pay them back. They wouldn't let me near the portal back home and they paid the authorities to warn them if I tried to sneak near it."
>You sit down next to her and you listen intensely.
>"The stress was getting to me and they told me they had a magical powder that would make it easier, enter... salt."

>You feel a stab in your guts. That was the exact words you'd used to trick ponies into buying your merchandise.
>Seems like your favorite entertainer was one of them.
>You felt like shit.
>not something you were used to. You didn't feel sorry for them. You knew Equestrian authorities made sure all who entered Earth knew of the dangers they could face.
>Drugs was one of them.
>but to see the results yourself, was a painful reminder that you were a criminal, scum.
"I'm guessing that didn't help the debt, huh?"
>She shakes her head and downs the glass in one gulp.
>"N-no.. and now if the police have busted the speakeasy, I don't even have a place to perform at."
>She begins crying again.

>You sigh and slump your shoulders.
"Im... I'm sorry."
>She looks up at you, confounded.
>"What do you mean?"
>You look into her sapphire eyes and you feel like a boatload of shit.
"You're in a horrible situation because of me, of my salt and now your only source of income is busted because of my shady business."
>Wow, nice going with the criminal confession, Einstein.
>Who's Einstein, Brain?
>No idea, some smart dude in the papers I think.
>Oh.

>She looks at you with a frown and a raised eyebrow.
>"While I'm glad you see the errors of your ways, you think I really blame you?"
>She folds her hooves before her and lets out a "tisk".
>"I'm to blame for my own mistakes, thank you very much."
>She looks around the apartment.
>"Buuut... if you wish to redeem yourself, you can let me stay here until things cool down."
>You stop, blink and look at her.
>She wanted to live here for a while?
>your idol, in your house?
>Holy shit.
"uhm... I suppose I could do that. I kinda feel obligated to help you out."
>Smooth, Fabio.
>I swear you're making people up just to call me shit, aren't you, Brain?
>...

>You pick up the bottle and pour yourself and the mare a drink each, ending the flask's short life.
>"Thank you kindly, darling. You're a true gentleman after all."
>She chirps, her sorrow seems to have faded for now and you decide to not push it.
"Well I can get some extra pillows and a blanket for the couch for you then."
>She coughs a bit on her wine.
>"Excuse me? A lady does NOT sleep on the couch, thank you very much!"
>You raise an eyebrow at her.
"There's only one bed here, though."
>"Well I suppose you'll have to share it then."
>Oh...