//------------------------------//
// "Preparing for the Interview" 
// Story: Interview with a Monster 
// by twilightsparkle3562 
//------------------------------//

The idea of interview such a creature as Tirek continued to go through my mind as I returned home to my apartment near the music district of Manehattan. This particular walk from the Equestria Journal to my apartment was longer than normal, probably because of the fact that there was so much going through my mind. In other words, I needed to get my priorities straight in addition that there was a job that I needed to do.

"Hi Hot," called a voice and I turned to see my next-door neighbor, Coloratura also walking towards her apartment. "Funny to see us back at the same time. How's your day?"

"Interesting to say the least," I said as Coloratura bypassed her apartment and came up to mine, walking up the stairs. "I got assigned to interview Lord Tirek in Tartarus."

"The centaur that had escaped recently and stole everypony's magic?" asked Coloratura. "How do you feel about it?"

"Well," I answered reluctantly. "I really don't want to do it, considering the damages he had done and such. One thing as a writer that I learned is to show and not tell, Coloratura. I'd much rather see Tirek's actions show for itself. Care to come in for a few minutes?"

Coloratura smiled and silently nodded in reply before she followed me into my apartment.

"Nevertheless, it is a job after all and that you have to do it whether you like it or not," said Coloratura. "Trust me, I know that there have been times where I don't want to perform, but I have to. It's all part of making a living in this world."

"Easy for you to say," I remarked as I sat down on the sofa. "You're a pop star when in reality you are just a singer-songwriter and I am just somepony that reports the news. Why can't I just report on my own news instead of somebody else's?"

"Because that is the way that it is, Hot Scoop," replied Coloratura, sitting down in the recliner next to the sofa. "We all have paths that are chosen for us and that we have to follow them. Now, I know you probably don't want to hear this, but I knew somepony who was attacked by Tirek."

I reached down and took note of my small notebook and pen realizing that hearing my next door neighbor knew of somepony who had been attacked by Tirek.

"Who was this somepony you are referring to?" I asked.

"Applejack," answered Coloratura.

My eyes widened upon hearing this. Up until that moment, I had no idea that Coloratura, my next door neighbor, was friends with the pony who had verbally berated me for trying to get an interview with Princess Twilight at a moment when she was sad. Still, I remained focused to what Coloratura had to say.

"Did she tell you of anything else that Tirek had done aside from stealing magic?" I asked. "Aside from destroying the Golden Oak Library?"

"How did you know that her friend's library was destroyed?" wondered Coloratura.

"Because I was sent to Ponyville to interview Princess Twilight about her fight with Tirek," I answered, nervously. "In fact, your friend told me to go away when I tried to get an interview with Twilight."

"That's just how Applejack is unfortunately," said Coloratura, shrugging her shoulders. "There is a side to her that is mostly just overprotective and such. To be honest, I wouldn't exactly blame her for the way she acted towards you, Hot Scoop."

Coloratura was right in her response to Applejack's behavior towards me. In fact, I couldn't help but put myself in Applejack's shoes, Princess Twilight's shoes or anypony's shoes for that matter. Tirek was a creature that was very dangerous and was capable of doing anything to get what he wanted.

"But if you want to interview Princess Twilight," she continued. "You will have to do it when Twilight is ready to talk. All you have to do is find out the truth about Tirek's motives. That's what the ponies of Equestria want to know and that it is your job to find out for them."

"Well," I sighed, stretching out in the sofa while looking up to the ceiling. "You took the words right out of my mouth, I'm afraid."

…

So, we continued to converse and I continued to take notes for the next few hours before heading to bed. No sooner did Celestia raise the sun the next morning, did I hear a knocking at my door.

"All right, all right," I muttered getting out of bed. "I'm coming, hold your horses."

It took me a few moments and once I opened the door, I saw a pony wearing an Equestrian military uniform looking straight at me with a stern glance.

"Are you the reporter, Hot Scoop?" asked the pony.

"Yes," I replied, still feeling groggy from being woken up. "You're looking at him. What do you want?"

"My boss, the Warden, has sent me to bring you to Tartarus," answered the pony. "The prisoner known as Lord Tirek wishes for you to interview him today."

I widened my eyes upon hearing this and after telling the guard to wait, I grabbed my hat and notebook and then I was quickly on my way to Tartarus.

"We should be there shortly," the pony said as the two Pegasi pulling the chariot pulled with all their might as we tried to get there as fast as we could.

Finally, we came towards a large cave that felt warm even if you were standing right at the entrance.

"Is it just me or is it hot in here?" I asked.

"It's definetly hot, I will say," called a voice and I turned around to see a brown stallion dressed in a black suit walking towards me. "I'm Lock Up, the warden of Tartarus. You must be Hot Scoop, the pony assigned to interview Lord Tirek, I assume?"

"Yes, I am he," I answered nervously and Lock Up motioned for me to follow him.

I will admit that I was more than a little scared going into the prison. Who knew what was going to be found inside or what kind of prisoners were going to be encountered? Chances were that I would make an unforeseen enemy before the day was done. Then again, I had made many enemies in the past. But, this was something completely different.

"Tirek's cell is just up on that hill," explained Lock Up, pointing up to a steep hill where a steel cage sat with a weakened creature inside. "Good luck."

"Thank you," I replied, nervously and taking an enormous gulp and a deep breath, I slowly began making my way towards the cage and the impending interview…