Fool Moon, Part 27(Scarlet Letter)

>She shouldn't open it.
>The best thing to do for everyp0ny involved would be to just burn the letter.
>Forget Blueblood even existed.
>Try to live a normal life with Anon, with her friends.
>Oh how she would come to wish she had simply burned that accursed red letter.
>Instead, Rarity let out an annoyed sigh, and casually opened the letter with her magic.
>A heavily folded parchment lay inside the scarlet envelope, and her horn seized that, lifting it up and unfolding it, to reveal His handwriting.
>Elegant, almost feminine in it's small size and flowing nature, it glared up at her from the page.
"Dear Miss Rarity."
"Allow me to extend my dearest, most sincere apologies for the unfortunate media portrayal that I'm sure you and your...partner have been subjected to."
"When I saw the paper this morning I simply HAD to extend my condolences in the hastiest manner possible."
"I know that after all the...unfortunate experiences we have shared together, my words will not count for much."
>Rarity sniffed as she read.
>"But that's not important. I want to offer you a gift, Miss Rarity. Something to...soothe old wounds."
"I can only apologize for my boorish behavior at the Canterlot play. I was...not in the best of moods."
"I cannot and will not apologize for the...Sweetie Belle affair, as it's being called. I acted only out of concern for Equestria and its ponies, as I have always done."
"But I do apologize for how shabbily I have treated you, Miss Rarity. No trueborn Equestrian mare deserves what you have suffered."
"So I would like to make amends."
"I wish to invite you, formally, to my Canterlot Garden Party this Sunday night."


>Rarity scrunches up her nose, already angry, but keeps reading.
"Sunday. The day of the Sun. My beloved aunt's favorite day. But the celebration shall not be about her."
"You are no imbecile, Rarity. You know how I feel about our dear Princess, beloved by all. She is weak, indecisive, and arrogant."
"But her sister...her sister is none of these things."
"I believe it is Princess Luna who will lead us out of this stagnant era her sister has mired us in."
"So I have devoted my party to the Princess of the Moon, in honor of her return, and in honor of the great service you and your friends did by freeing her."
"I will give her a gift truly worthy of the Ruler of the Night.
>Rarity lowered the letter momentarily, confused.
>What angle was Blueblood playing NOW?
"Both Princesses will be attending, of course, and I have been told that Celestia herself has sent invitations to Twilight Sparkle."
"But I felt it would be better if I could attend your invitation...personally."
>"How in Celestia's name does he manage to make that sound creepy just by WRITING it?"
"I think it would absolutely MAKE the celebration if the Elements of Harmony were to attend, don't you?"
"I even took the liberty of inviting your family members!"
>Rarity's blood runs cold.
"Full paid trips from dismal Fillydelphia to the shining streets of Canterlot!"
"Think of it as a gift, an opening for some sort of...reconciliation between the two of us."
"I have left two invitations for you and your...partner. I leave the decision to attend in your hooves."

P.S. "Sweetie Belle is absolutely loving Canterlot. She can't wait to see her big sister."
"Yours truly, Prince Blueblood."

 Anon's perspective.
>Holy SHIT this bath was comfortable.
>You let out a sigh and sink into the water, stretching your feet over the edge of the tub as you do.
>It was kinda small for a creature your size, but...
>It was hot water.
>And soap.
>You felt...clean for the first time in...
>You can't remember how long.
"Hmm hmmmm hmm hmm hmm hmmmm..."
>You close your eyes, casually scrubbing off the dirt and grime that's caked onto you.
>It turns the water almost gray, but you don't really care.
>The sound of hooves clopping on wood draws you out of your pleasure-induced reverie.
>"Anon! ANON!!"
>Your door buckles roughly, before the tell-tale sound of an activated unicorn horn gently pushes it open.
>Rarity races in, tears streaming out of her eyes and her hair in disarray.
"Hey, marshmallow. I'm takin a bath here if you don't...why are you crying?"
>She levitates a crumpled piece of parchment up to your eyes.
>"B-Blueblood h-has S-Sweetie Belle!"
>You sit up in the tub, sloshing dirty water over the lip onto the floor.
>It is a sign of Rarity's distress that she doesn't notice.
"What the-"
>"Read the l-letter!"
>You take it out of her magic's grasp, your eyes dancing over the words as you skim it
>Your fist crumples the parchment as you get to the end.
"He's lying, Rarity. He doesn't have Sweetie Belle."
>"W-what?"
"If he did, he'd send a picture, or be open about his threats. He's trying to bait a trap. This kind of thing...gangs used to do it, back home. If a mark had someone they cared about and they couldn't get the person."
>Rarity gives you a hard stare.
>"Are you SURE, Anon?"
>You grimace.
"...No."


"No, I can't be sure."
>"So he could have Sweetie?"
>She's looking up at you with so much fear in her eyes that you can almost taste it.
"...He could. But-"
>She raises a hoof to cut you off.
>"'But' isn't important, Anonymous! That's my sister! If he has her, who KNOWS what he's planning?"
>You put your head in your hands and start thinking.
"But that doesn't make any sense! What reason does he have to keep her? His beef's with you and me, not with Sweetie! We're the ones that made him look like an idiot. He has to be lying."
>She shakes her head, despondent.
>"But what if he isn't?"
>You bite your lip.
>What if he wasn't lying?
>What if he WAS depraved enough to hold a child against her will?
>She's looking up at you, terror burning in her sapphire eyes.
"We'll go."
>"Anon?"
"We have to go. If he has Sweetie...we can't take the chance. Not with that nutjob."
>Wordlessly, she wraps her hooves around you, and you give her a wet, soapy hug in return.
>"Thank you, Anon."
>You smile.
"Nothing to thank me for, marshmallow. I'm as worried about her as you are."
>You hug her a little tighter, giving her a soft scratch behind her ear.
"...Also, this water is dirty as hell."
>Rarity lets out a terrified screech and jumps away from you, her hooves scrabbling on tile.
>She runs out of the room, still shrieking, as you chuckle and step out of the tub.
>You stop laughing as the contents of that letter come back to you.
>She had more reason to be worried than you could let on.
>Fleur, for one.
>"Razor" for another.
>Both monsters. Both capable of tormenting a filly.



>You dress, your mind racing.
>If they touched Sweetie...if they hurt her...
>WOULD YOU UNLEASH ME?
>The strength of the voice surprises you for a moment, and you stagger as you make your way to the door.
>WOULD YOU DO IT, ANONYMOUS?
>Would you?
>If they hurt that child? Just to get at Rarity? Just to get at you?
>Yes. Yes you would.
>If Blueblood let those monsters near Sweetie...
>YOU WILL SHOW THEM A TRUE MONSTER.
>You'd lay them the fuck down, is what you'd do.
>Even if it meant...that.
>You grimace and walk to Rarity's room, following the sounds of frantic hooves tapping on her floor.
>You open the door on her and silently smile at the sight of her pacing back and forth, rubbing a towel across her mane and muttering to herself.
"Hey."
>She looks up, shocked and terrified, before calming down.
>"...Hello, Anon."
>You smile at her, leaning against her bedpost as she continues to fret with her hair.
"It's gonna be okay."
>She looks up at you, then goes back to fretting.
>"You don't know that."
>You move, leaning down to be eye level with her.
"I do."
>"You can't-"
"I know it's gonna be okay because we're gonna MAKE it okay. Three days. Three days till the party. If Blueblood's telling all the truth, your friends and the princess will be there. If he's lying, then I'll just beat the crap out of him myself."
>She gives a hesitant smile.
>"If he's hurt Sweetie Belle, I'll help you."
"Marshmallow, if he's hurt Sweetie Belle, you won't need to."
>Her mouth slowly, ever slowly turns from a worried frown to a soft smile, and you kiss her on the nose.
“I'm here. I'll always be here. For you, and for Sweetie. Everything's going to be okay.”

Blueblood's perspective.

"Did she receive the letter?"
>"Of course, my Lord."
"Did you pay off Pipsqueak?"
>"Yes, my Lord."
>You turn away from your mansion balcony, idly twirling the empty wine glass in your magic's grip.
>Amethyst Star stands at attention, her face in that same neutral, eager-to-please expression you know so well.
>Razor lounges on your plush couch, idly smoking a hookah sized especially for him.
>And in the shadows, lurking in the dark like the loathsome thing it is, hides your newest, most important ally.
"Well done, Sparkler, well done. It's good to see that SOMEp0ny can accomplish such simple tasks."
>The thing in the dark bristles, the suggestion of wings fluttering agitatedly.
>It speaks, and you wince at the buzzing, insectile quality of it's voice.
>"I told you, there's something off about that creature. He should have been mine!"
"But he wasn't, creature. You failed. Making this plan infinitely more complex."
>The creature hisses.
>"I did NOT fail. I have NEVER failed at...acquiring love. I am Queen for a reason. You would do well to remember that."
>You set down your wine glass, seating yourself at your table.
"You would do well to remember your place in our little deal, Queen. Your people are starving after your little failed invasion. Many of them have even deserted the rule of your hive, have they not?"
>She stiffens.
>"How did you-"
"I have my sources."
>Ponyville was absolutely wondrous for information, a gold mine, really. Bon-Bon and Pipsqueak were really worth the money you'd spent hiring them.
"The point is, Chrysalis, you need me more than I need you."
>You smile.
"Especially considering your recent failure."


>The changeling queen hisses and shifts on her deformed hooves.
>"I told you, he can't be controlled! I took the shape of the most beautiful mare in Equestria, and he KNEW there was something wrong! He ran before I could get a hold of him!"
>She shifts again, her green eyes darting about.
>"I would...need more time."
"Time is something we will soon have in abundance. Fret not, dear Chrysalis. You and your kind will have your food, and your power."
>And then, of course, she and her kind would try to betray you.
>But by then, it would already be too late.
>You put on your most ingratiating smile and lean your hooves on the table.
"Everything must be perfect, Chrysalis. Do you understand me? Perfect. Sunday, nop0ny can afford to make mistakes. I need your drones to be in position. I need YOU at the ready? Can you handle THAT much, changeling?"
>Chrysalis eyes you darkly, her horn giving the barest hint of a green glow.
>Those fearsome, reptilian orbs of hers narrow, and she hisses quietly.
>"I certainly can, Blueblood. My changelings will be where they must."
"Good. Razor?"
>The dragon-in-pony-shape lifts his head blearily.
"I trust you've recovered enough to perform your part in our little play?"
>He nods, silently.
"Good. Both of you, leave us."
>Razor picks up his hookah and goes immediately.
>Chrysalis remains for a moment, still glaring at you.
>Sparkler turns a baleful gaze on the Changeling Queen.
>"Are you deaf, harlot? The Prince ordered you to leave."
>Chrysalis turns a fang-filled smile on Sparkler.
>Something unsaid passes between them, and your aide shivers in fear.
>Chrysalis turns back to you, sketching out a shallow bow and slinking out of the room.


>You curl your lip in disgust as the Changeling Queen makes her retreat.
>Disgusting, vile monsters, the lot of them.
>But they had what you needed.
>You turn your attention to your most faithful servant.
"Amethyst Star?"
>Her head perks up.
"Are the spells ready?"
>"Of course, my Lord."
>You detect the slightest tremor in her voice.
"Sparkler. The plan hinges on your abilities. If your spells fail..."
>"They won't, Lord."
"Good, good. I knew it was right to place my faith in you."
>Her cheeks redden at your honest praise.
>"Of...of course, my Lord. I will not fail you. None of us will. You will be King, once the Sisters fall."
"That's right. I will be King. And as Chrysalis is fond of reminding me, a King needs a Queen."
>Sparkler's face goes through a range of emotions, mostly fury.
>"I...yes. Forgive me, My Lord...but...the Queen...the changelings. They will-"
"Betray me? Of course they will, eventually."
>"Then why...forgive me for questioning you, but why recruit the treacherous things?"
"Because I plan to betray them first. They, like many things, are a necessary evil, a necessary sacrifice that we must make, if we want to see our kingdom flourish."

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bEMSWay1Bw
>Sparkler blushes as she moves closer.
>"...Our kingdom, Lord?"
>You give her a cruel smile.
"Surely you didn't think Chrysalis was who I had in mind for my Queen, did you?"
>Sparkler's purple face turns bright red.
>"Oh...I...my Lord...I'm not..."
>Your smile widens.
>She catches it and bows quickly, then turns to leave.
>The mare practically skips out the door, and you struggle to hide a chuckle.
>You idly examine your wine glass as you think.
>Sparkler, of course, was not who you had in mind at all.
>Your mind flashes back to the events of a distant gala.
>A white mare, arrogant, low-born.
>Gorgeous.
>A mare of uncommon beauty, with fire in her sapphire eyes. One who'd defied you, made a fool out of you...
>You give a wry grin as you think about her.
>Your father had always told you the best mares had to be broken before they could be ridden.
>No, Sparkler was the last mare on your mind.
>You lift your wine glass and take another drink as you think about it.
>Sunday. It will all be yours.
>The Mare.
>The Throne.
>And the your Vengeance on that odious beast, Anonymous.