Mocha stared at the group of ponies in front of her, struggling desperately to keep her mouth from falling open.
Five ponies. All investors. All who had given a considerable amount of bits to Flim and Flam, who were now nowhere to be found. They stared at her, as if she could magically make their bits reappear. “I... I was just the director,” she said softly. The police were nearby to ensure nothing bad happen, but she was feeling too crummy to just tell them to leave.
“Not the way they were talking about you,” Pennyworth said, glaring at you. “They called you a prodigy, made as if you were some kind of alicorn princess, reborn in the form of a director.”
“I... I don't know,” she said softly. “They didn't, they didn't talk to me about... that.”
“Go easy on the girl,” one of the others said, she thought her name was Twocents. “It's not her fault. She was probably conned into all this, the same as us. Just another no name director who--”
Well, that got a reaction. She slammed a hoof down. “Hey! I might have been tricked by them, well, I was. But I'm not some no name director. I'm a very good one, I've directed some very popular movies, too. Like Three bits in Hoofinton, or Lost in Discordia. Sure, they weren't block busters but they were hardly flops!”
Twocents sighed and nodded. “I know, I know. But you're inexperienced. They probably just played on your naivety, just like they did all of us. It's no matter. The police will find them and we'll get our bits back. Then this will all be behind us.”
Mocha sighed. Right, all the bits would be returned and-- A new horror flashed in her mind. “Oh Celestia,” she said as she leaned forward, her head in her hooves. “My movie, everything, it's ruined. All those actors are going to be jobless, after how hard we worked. It's all going to be ruined. They were all expecting this to be their big break,” she muttered before collapsing her head on the table. “I swear if I ever find those two I'm going to tan their hides.”
“I think that sentiment is shared by everypony here,” Pennyworth grumbled. “How did you not notice? Didn't you question where the extra money was coming from?”
“What extra money?” Mocha asked with a groan. “There was no extra money. I had a limited budget and I worked with what I had. There was nothing extra. We hadn't even been paid yet. There was just...” She trailed off and cringed. “Oh, they're going to eat me alive. How am I going to be able to tell all of them that the whole last week was a waste of time? The script was coming together so well and... everything was going great, we were just... we were just...” She buried her head in her hooves and struggled to avoid crying. She was a full grown mare, she would not cry just because some... awful ponies abused her trust. Evil, awful, horrible, miserable ponies who she wished she could pile drive through the set. While it was on fire. The ponies in the room slowly began to shuffle out and after a few more minutes she was joined by an officer.
“Miss? Are you okay?”
“I'm an idiot...” she muttered. “How could I possibly believe those two? They were just so... so charismatic. So fast talking. I thought they were truly passionate about all this. Just like me.”
The officer nodded. “If it's any consolation, there are no charges being placed on you. The owner of the warehouse showed up and would like to talk with you, though.”
She groaned. “Fine, just let him come have a nice, good laugh at me too,” she muttered.
The officer sighed and leaned forward, patting her with a wing. “There there. These two were professionals. We've been after them for months after a few heists they pulled closer to the capital. Lots of ponies have been suckered in by them.”
“Suckered being the key word,” she grumbled. “So, who is this pony, anyway? Who owned the warehouse?”
“Oh, he'll be one second. Mister Pants? She'll see you now.”
“Please, just Fancy,” the unicorn stallion said as he stepped forward. She stared at him. A white unicorn with a light blue mane. He wore a perfectly trimmed suit. Besides him was a unicorn mare, white as well with a pink mane. She recognized them instantly. Fancy Pants and Fleur Dis Lee. She'd have had to be daft not to. Fleur was a well known actress and model, while he, well, he owned more than a few studios. As well as being a very, very respected noble who appeared in the papers at least once every three months. She began to shrink into her chair and prayed he wasn't vindictive. She might never work in this business again.
She looked up and gulped. “H-hi,” she said weakly, looking up at him.
He smiled at her, his grin dazzling. “Ah, you must be Miss Mocha, correct?”
“Y-yes sir,” she said softly. “I-I'm dreadfully sorry about everything. I never would have thought--” He raised his hoof and she went silent.
“Think nothing of it. To be honest, I likely would have never noticed had the police not contacted me. I'm honestly amazed you were able to make anything of all that junk. I only even have that warehouse for storage over the years.” He paused. “After all, you never know when one of the movies you fund will hit it big, and suddenly the set designs become exceedingly valuable.”
She nodded slowly, still staring at him. He didn't sound mad. He didn't even sound disappointed. Maybe her career wasn't over!
“After all, you weren't the only one scammed. I'm just sorry that my warehouse was used in such a dreadful scandal.” He shook his head. “Perhaps I should have disposed of all that junk, sooner.”
She gulped. “I-I don't think it's... junk.” He glanced up and cocked an eye. “I-I mean, it's not very valuable. But we were able to make... part of a movie with it. Some of that stuff could be really useful.”
“Oh, indeed. Actually, that does remind me.” His horn glowed an a few metal film tins hovered into the air. “I believe these are yours. For the film you were making, correct?” He stacked them on the table. She stared.
“They're... they're junk now,” she muttered. “The movie will never get completed.”
“That's a shame,” he said with a shake of his head. “I would like to see the script, if that's okay with you.”
She gulped. “It's... n-not finished. It was all kind of rushed. I've been working on it this week, well... I-if you want.” She slowly pulled the script out from her bag, sliding it onto the table. “It's not much now, though.”
“Mmmm hmm,” he said as he picked it up in his magic and began reading through it. She stared, watching him nervously. Fleur stood besides him, scanning over it as well. She could barely believe she was standing across from those two, and they were reading her script. She just wished it was a finished script.
Before long more ponies entered the room to watch as well. She noted plenty of the investors as well. They'd probably come to interrogate her some more and try to find out what she knew, if anything. But, Fancy and Fleur were reading. They were not the kind of ponies you just interrupted. You sat there and waited until they were finished.
Finally, he put the script down and nodded. “I... see. It is a bit crude, I'd have to say.”
She deflated.
“But, you've only been working on it a week?” He shook his head. “It's truly a shame. For such a short time, this is a well done beginning of the script. It would have been quite interesting to see what the final product would have been. Especially after all this publicity.”
She paused for a second. “Publicity?”
“Oh, indeed. This scam will be on the front news of every paper in the city by tomorrow. Your movie would have been there with it. Why, you couldn't buy publicity like this.” He smiled and she could have sworn there was just a hint of playfulness in it. “It truly is a shame you'll have to stop productions now. I'd have been interested to see the final result.”
“W-well, hold on just one moment,” Pennyworth said suddenly. “I don't see why productions have to stop. I invested in this movie once, I'd be more than happy to invest a second time. Once they find those scoundrels, we'll be getting our money back anyway.”
Mocha stared, her mouth falling open. “But--”
“I would as well. I'd heard such great things and, surely you aren't a member of this awful scam,” Twocents said quickly. “Though, I would prefer my accountant get involved to help ensure everything, financially, goes correctly.”
“But there's--”
“Really? I suppose if everypony here is so desperate to keep this production going, I can give my small aid,” Fancy said with a shake of his head. “You may continue to use my warehouse as you see fit, Miss Mocha. Just please try not to break too many things,” he said with a smile.
Within moments the ponies were chatting and talking and money was practically being thrown at her. Mocha just sat there, staring in stunned silence until the investors went off to drum up their contracts and prepare the financial side of things. She slowly turned towards Fancy. “You... what did you... it's magic, right?”
The stallion chuckled. “I suppose if you consider money and status a type of magic.” He shrugged. “I did nothing, Miss Mocha. I merely expressed an interest in an up and coming director. It's hardly my fault how the rest of them decided to react.” He then trotted out. Fleur trailed behind him, but gave her a little wink.
Mocha just kept staring, her mouth hanging open. She still wasn't sure she knew what was happening, or how it happened, or anything. But something had definitely just happened. They had investors. They had a set. They had funds. That could mean decent wages for decent times, actual props. Everything. She glanced back towards that door and swore, if she ever saw Fancy again, she would glomp the buck out of him.
All of a sudden the door swung open as the subject of her affections stepped back inside. “Dreadfully sorry, but I forgot my-- Ahhh! Madam! Control yourself!”
------
Mocha giggled gleefully as she hopped from hoof to hoof. She'd done it, they'd done it. Sure, it had taken a few more months of hard work, script writing, plotting, wrangling everypony together, lots of rewrites, but it was done. Their movie. Her Movie. Special Agent Blueberry.
Sure, it was still a low budget film with an almost microscopic budget, compared to many she'd worked on, but it was hers. Her story. Her chosen actors. Her designs. Even though they'd had a budget, she'd still kept the cast fairly small, instead opting more to upgrade set designs and backup personnel. The ponies who had signed on for such low pay had done it for the chance of being seen, she wasn't going to betray them once they finally had resources.
She had managed to hire a few additional writers to help her set up the script. Since everypony was already hired and expecting to be working, as well as using the bits to pay for their rent, amongst other things, she decided to keep production going. It had been a frantic couple of weeks, but the fruits of their labors was finally here.
She could barely stop from prancing about as she waited in her wondrous glimmering red dress. Blu was even looking presentable in his little tux as they waited for their limo to appear. “Do you think it'll make the paper?” she asked for the umpteenth time.
“It already has, the whole scandal with Flim and Flam has had it on the paper at least five times,” he said with a little grin.
“Yes, but I mean for being good this time?” She couldn't keep the scowl off her face. Those two brothers had, somehow, managed to keep avoiding the authorities and there was no telling where they were off to now. She just hoped where ever they went, their next victims had the good idea to light them on fire. Still, there was some good news as a sizable chunk of the money had been recovered, from their respective bank accounts. Apparently they had had a nice nest egg at one point.
“The movie is fine,” he said with a chuckle. “I'm sure it will get nice reviews and sell out everywhere. Ponies will come from all over the world to see your film, in herds unlike any seen before,” he said with just a hint of annoyance.
She sighed and leaned in, giving him a little nuzzle. “Awwww, I'm sorry Bluey. I know I've been kind of busy lately.” He snorted. “Fine, very busy. But I just wanted to do the best I could on this. After tonight, I'm all yours. Promise.” There was another snort. “Fine, tomorrow, after the reviews come out.” An even longer snort. “Fine, next week after this settles down?”
He stared at her, before finally smiling. “Fine. You're lucky I'm head over hooves for you, though. Most stallions wouldn't put up with such treatment. Harumph.” He said with a shake of his mane and a mock stomp of his hoof.
She snorted. “Of course not. Then again, most wouldn't be the lead in their marefriend's movie.” His response was cut off as their limo pulled up, pulled by a small herd of stallions. Soon they were galloping through the city and coming to the premier. Dozens of ponies were standing around the red carpet, yelling and taking pictures. As much as she longed to believe it was for her, she knew it was more likely that it had to do with the fact Fancy was here, Serena as well and, most importantly, the scandal surrounding the production. Nothing brought the press quite as quickly as a good scandal.
Still, she was determined to enjoy herself, so she smiled and waved as she trotted into the theater, a grin on her face. She recognized some of the faces who were already ahead of her, but there were plenty she didn't know. Probably either reporters, reviewers or friends of Fancy.
She gave her coltfriend a light kiss on the cheek. “I'll get food, go save us a seat.”
He nodded and gave a little wave, before trotting off through the aisles. She quickly got a large drink and a big bag of popcorn, before turning towards the exit. She stopped and grinned. “Hey Serena. Happy to see you could make it.”
The pegasus merely smiled, flicking her mane back. “Of course. I wouldn't miss this for the world.” She was wearing a dazzling black dress that covered even her wings. Mocha couldn't help feeling a little jealous. The dress she was wearing was definitely just as nice, but Serena managed to fill hers out much, much better. “I'm looking forward to the final production. How do you feel it turned out?”
Mocha took a deep breath and started walking towards the movie room with her friend. “I think it turned out nicely. It's not... perfect, but for what we had, it's great. I think I'll be a hit.”
“Looking forward to a range of sequels?”
The mare snorted. “I wouldn't go that far. But, who knows? I worked pretty hard on this. Maybe we'll start a whole new line of films. This is hardly the only secret agent movie around but, well... you never know.”
The actress nodded. “Of course. I do believe I made a marvelous villain, of course.”
“Indeed. There will be pin ups of you across the walls of every young stallion's room for months.”
The mare froze for a moment, before scowling. “Very funny.”
“I thought so. Come on,” Mocha said as she walked towards the spot Blu had set for them. After a few more minutes and more time for everypony to get seated, the lights began to dim. She grinned gleefully as she stared into the screen.
It wasn't the fanciest movie, the best movie, or the greatest produced movie. But it was hers. And for her first, she wouldn't change a single thing.
Well, okay, a few thousand things. But what artist didn't want to change their first work at least a little?