Tony served another table, smiling at them and running back over to Pinkie, who tossed him a platter which he caught easily. It was just the two of them today, since Mr and Mrs Cake were with the twins on a trip to Manehatten. Carrot's sister was having a baby, and they went to go see the new foal.
Which left the two of them to run the place while they were gone.
Still, they were having a blast. Tony used his rites to place the pastries and baked goods on the ponies' platters while Pinkie quickly put more in the oven and took even more out. He had fun running back and forth, diving for show, and even juggling the plate here and there. Pinkie was really rubbing off on him, as he started playing with some of the regular customers. He would use his rites to levitate it behind his back, telling the filled and colts that stopped by he lost them. He would then turn around as if he were looking for it, laughing when they spotted their orders.
"Order up!" Pinkie called using her miniature party cannon to shoot him a few muffins.
He spun a plate around and caught them in a perfect circle, a few clops of hooves prompting him to bow. "We're here all week!" Tony laughed.
"Where else would we be?" Pinkie giggled, decorating some cupcakes as fast as possible.
It went on for some time before the rush hour ended, and only a few ponies were coming in. Most of them were here everyday, drinking coffee or hot chocolate while talking with some of their friends. He spotted Octavia and Vinyl, the latter being out for the first time since Dan's death. Tony learned that she had really liked him, but even after he explained he had a girlfriend she still didn't ease up. He could see Octavia trying to get a response out of her, the DJ nodding slowly. Pinkie was playing with her mane, humming a song to herself while she waited for more orders.
"Hey, Pinkie?"
"Yup!"
"Keep an eye out for Mirror Crescent, 'kay?" He told her that he lent the stallion something important, and he needed it back. But… he just needed to be aware.
"Sure!" She pulled out binoculars and watched the front door, letting him go over to the table.
"Hey guys," Tony smiled, sitting down beside Octavia. "What were you two talking about?"
"Some flankhole didn't like Octi's idea," Vinyl grumbled, adjusting her shades.
He had smelled it the moment she walked in. "Too much booze last night?" Tony asked. Vinyl murmured something incoherent, taking a sip of her coffee. "So… what was this idea of yours?"
Octavia turned away from her sister and sighed. "I had proposed to the Royal Orchestra an idea for Hearth's Warming," Octavia began. "Every year there is a play to explain Equestria's founding, and it is always spectacular. But I told the nobles about a performance. We could have musicians play after the show for the audience. It would be a wonderful musical experience. Perhaps even Vinyl would enjoy it."
"Yeah… sure." Tony actually liked the idea, and it sounded like a sure fire way to make money.
"So… what's wrong?" Tony asked.
Octavia sighed and sipped her tea. "The nobles laughed at it," she seethed. "In my face, they told me it was pointless and that no pony would dare step foot in the Canterlot Theatre for that!"
"So no show," Vinyl surmised, crossing her forelegs.
Tony scratched the stubble of his chin in thought, a smile beginning to form. "What if I told you… I could get that show of yours to happen?" Tony questioned, receiving confused looks.
"What're you gonna do? Beat the heck out of some nobles?" Vinyl chuckled. Tony shrugged, laughing it off.
"No… but what if, oh I don't know, I could slip a good word in with certain princesses?" The two of them perked up, and he chuckled at the gleam in Octavia's eyes.
"Could you? Truly?!" Octavia questioned.
"It sounds like a great idea, and it would definitely be enjoyable, so why not?" Tony laughed. "I'll see what I can do. But just be ready if I can get you a session with either of them."
Octavia shook his hand much like Applejack would a stranger. "Thank you! This is incredible! I-I-I… I have to think how we would set this up! The costs, the performers, singers…"
She listed all of what she would need, Tony telling her to wait for her meeting. It really did sound like it would be fun, and with Luna and Celestia's help it could be one of the biggest music concerts ever. And Fluttershy could probably perform too! With him of course. She wouldn't dare perform unless one of her friends were with her, and he was teaching her. It was perfect.
"Hey, I'm gonna hit the hay early Tavi," Vinyl said, slipping out of the booth.
"It's only two in the afternoon," Octavia said. "Vinyl-"
"See ya later." She walked out on them, and Tony turned to the grey mare.
"Ever since Dan died," she sighed, rubbing her head. "She doesn't play her music, she doesn't DJ at all, and her club is threatening to go out of business."
Tony could understand, and so he stood up. "I'm gonna go talk to her," Tony said. "Maybe I can get through to her."
"You're welcomed to try," she sighed. "Just be careful. She doesn't enjoy talking about it."
Tony grabbed his coat and slipped on his scarf before running after her, catching up near the school. "Hey."
Vinyl kept silent continuing to walk ahead.
"How's Remix?"
"It's gonna shut down," she said flatly.
"And what about Strong and Silver? And Flare?" Tony questioned, smelling more booze down the street.
"Guess they're gonna have to find somewhere to work," she shrugged. "I've got a killer headeache, Tony. Let me just-"
"Drink?" She glared at him behind her shades, but he stared neutrally at her. "That's it right? Drink? Drink your problems away? Just screw everypony else?"
"Basically." Vinyl said, her tone inching closer to venemous.
"So that's it huh? Y'know… Dan really thought you were cool," Tony remarked, crossing his arms. "Said you had awesome DJ skills, and you were relaxed and a good friend. But what now?"
"Tony, I-"
"I know. You really liked him," Tony said, stepping in front of her. "But he had a girlfriend. He was going to propose to her, y'know. I promised him that I would find a way back for him. So that he could be happy with Diane and just forget about me. That was a promise I couldn't keep, and look what happened to him."
"What are you saying?" Vinyl questioned, her voice beginning to crack.
"Stop this." Tony used his rites to take the small canteen of alcohol from the folds of her scarf.
"Tony, give it back!" Vinyl shouted, reaching up but not standing a chance against his height. Her headeache ensured she couldn't fire up a spell strong enough to take it from him.
"Your sister's worried about you. I'm worried about you. Your employees, good ponies, are about to lose their jobs. And now all you do is drink." She backed off, forgetting the small bit of booze and arguing mentally that she had more at home.
"There's nothing else to do," she mumbled, wiping a tear from her eye. "He's dead, and there's nothing anypong can do about it."
Tony kneeled down and sighed. "I know… I know," he whispered. "Dan was my best friend… everypony knows that. He was my first and only friend for a while too… and when he died… I broke a promise and let him down. I know… I know it's hard losing someone you love… but you're not alone. Don't make that mistake like I did. That's how I became an empty shell… and you have too many friends that love you to be that way."
She took off her shades, wiping the tears from her pinkish eyes. "Just let me get home, Tony," Vinyl sniffled.
"Think about it, Vinyl," he said softly, giving her the canteen back. "We all fall… but its your choice to get back up."
Vinyl nodded and walked past him, going down the street before climbing the steps to her house and going in. Tony sighed softly, wiping his eye to make sure he wasn't going to look ridiculous when he got back. He came back to Sugarcube Corner in a dimmer mood, sitting back down with Octavia.
"How did it go?" She asked. Tony shook his head and sighed.
"Just give her a little more time. I don't think most ponies are used to losing loved ones," Tony said, scratching his head.
"If the concert is too much to ask for, then just forget about it," Octavia told him. "Besides… it won't be the same if Vinyl isn't there."
That's what he admired most about the ponies. Their strong relationships as siblings (even Sweetie and Rarity when they argued) was a bond never meant to be broken or damaged. "It's going to happen, and Vinyl will be there," Tony assured her. "I promise."
"You Pinkie Promise?" Octavia laughed gently.
Tony shook his head. "I always had a saying with Dan. Never make a promise, unless you plan to keep it. That's what I live by," he smiled. "And I'm promising you, that you and Vinyl will be in Canterlot performing for the crowd. Promise."
Octavia smiled and shook his hand kindly. "Thank you for all the trouble, then," she said. She fixed her black and white scarf before walking out and heading back to her home.
Tony bumped his fist against Pinkie's hoof before heading out. It was Saturday, so they got off a bit earlier than usual. He used his extra time to go inform Fluttershy about the concert. He strolled through the streets until he reached her small cottage at the rim of the town. He knocked on her door a few times, not surprised to see Angel Bunny behind it when it opened. The mammal could be such a nuisance, even to Fluttershy sometimes, but the pegasus loved him anyway.
"Fluttershy!" Tony called. He heard an "eep" come from upstairs, then a loud thud sound.
A few minutes later, she came down with bird seed in her mane, several birds picking them out for her.
"Sorry," Tony chuckled sheepishly.
"Oh, i-it's fine," she said, taking the birds to their cages. "It's easier than putting a trail. So, um, did you need me for something?"
Tony nodded. "Y'know how I taught you the Kital?" Tony asked.
"Oh, yes! The songs are wonderful!" Fluttershy beamed.
"Well, how about we do a duet?" Tony asked.
"Right now?" Fluttershy questioned, smiling brightly.
He shook his head. "In front of, I don't know, thousands of ponies?" Tony chuckled, seeing her instantly hesitate.
"Th-th-th-thousands?" She quivered. Tony laughed softly and place a hand on her shoulder.
"C'mon. It could be a lot of fun!" Tony laughed. "And besides, I'll be right there. You're already doing better than I ever did. Please?"
Fluttershy stammered gibberish and shuffled in place. She glanced to Tony, a faint blush etched on her cheeks. "J-Just once, right?"
"Just once," Tony assured her. Fluttershy looked at the floor one last time before gulping nervously and looking to him.
"Okay," she whispered, still a bit unsure. Tony laughed and hugged her briefly.
"Don't worry. I'm gonna be right there," Tony smiled. "Tomorrow we could practice some better songs. Trust me, we're gonna blow everypony away."
She nodded softly, a small smile half-hidden by her mane. "Right," Fluttershy giggled. "C-Could you get here early? I mean, if you aren't too tired."
"I might not even sleep tonight, so the morning will be fine," Tony nodded. With one last hug, he left her home and started back to the library.
Unaware of a blue stallion watching him from afar.
Mirror Crescent, or as he went by, waited for the Loki'irian to enter his home. He pulled his hood up and trotted into the downtown area of Ponyville, keeping his gaze lowered. Soon enough, he reached a simple pub with very few ponies. It was still early, so only a couple of ponies lingered and chatted. He went to the counter and tapped his hoof on the table three times, paused, then hit it two more times.
"Wonderful afternoon, isn't it?" An ash grey maned, white coated stallion smiled.
"I'd prefer less of a chill," Mirror nodded. The stallion gave a knowing nod to one of the bar attendants and waved for the younger one to follow.
They entered his office, which was pretty ordinary and boring. Ordinary and boring to those who did not look closer. The newspapers sitting behind his desk spoke of monsters, kidnappings, missing ponies, dead ponies, and unknown creatures. Mirror stood in front of the older stallion's desk and waited as he sat down.
"Sit."
"I'd prefer to stand," Mirror nodded with respect and some arrogance. The white stallion noticed this and chuckled.
"Why you would confuses me," he snorted. "So… I'm assuming this sudden meeting has to do with the… what was it called? Lokian?"
"Loki'irian, Bush," Mirror corrected. "He's gotten considerably bigger since his appearance three months ago, and stronger as well. And to top it off, he's actually attracted the younger princess."
Quiet Bush smirked with a raised brow and crossed his hooves. "That thing managed to bed the princess?" Bush asked. "It takes a monster to know one."
"But that's not why I'm here," Mirror said, slipping him a gem. Bush examined it thoroughly, turning it every which way and taking not of the way it had a crack going over its surface.
"This came from the Royal Sister's Castle," Bush stated, pulling a monocle made out of magnifying glass to his eye. "This crack was artificial… not natural."
"And look here." Mirror tried levitating it, but a black mana forced his magic to stop.
Bush's brows raised, and he reached into a drawer and took out a complex machine. He put the crystal into the glass container, and his magic powered the device. The crystal was scanned with magic identifiers akin to the ones Solar and Lunar guards used to check suspiscious characters, but much more powerful. A slot opened in the bottom of it, and a piece of paper with numbers was spat out. Bush grabbed his quil, dipped it into the ink, and then started crossing out numbers quickly. As he got closer and closer to finishing, his face contorted to that of fear. He crossed off the last number and gasped under his breath.
"It… it can't be… she… the Elements defeated her…"
Mirror dropped several other gems with the same cracks and the same dark mana. "Check them all if you have to," Mirror said. "The dark mare is still out there. And the Loki'irian is somehow related to her return."
Bush exhaled slowly, turning off the machine and looking at the gem. "Quick said you were keeping a close eye on the alien… keep it up while I look into this."
"The best place to look would be in the castle itself," Mirror suggested. "Perhaps the Loki'irian's presence is causing this."
"I'm going to need evidence before I order the hit," Bush snorted angrily. "For now we need to look into each cult of the Nightmare, make sure they don't know anything about her presence. The last thing I need is a bunch of maniacs bringing her back."
Mirror smirked subtly. "It wouldn't be ideal," he said.
"Just go. I'll have Quick and Swift sniff around while I do some venturing," Bush told him, standing back up. "We're going to be threatening a creature that can use magic and knows how to fight, and to make matters worse: If we do kill him, we could be executed by Princess Luna's word or imprisoned for life. Keep your distance, and work like the Order or you'll be a threat to our secrecy."
Mirror glared behind the false neutral gaze, his eyes briefly flashing black and an urge to growl barely being held down. "Yes, sir."