Filthy Rich tapped his desk idly. Of course he wasn't nervous about meeting the Princess for the first time--why would he be? He'd done well, hadn't he? His administration had overseen massive growth in Ponyville's economy: that was something worth applauding, wasn't it? And Princess Luna was a smart mare, surely, smart enough to realiźe how absolutely indispensible he was. Absolutely indispensible. He chuckled softly. Even if his predecessors had occasionally been... removed from power.... by the princess, he had nothing to worry about. Filthy Rich could handle a visiting monarch without too much problem.
The door opened, and he flinched. He stood up suddenly as Nightmare Moon entered the room, flanked by a pair of stern Night Guards. Her eyes turned towards Filthy, and he bowed politely and sat back down.
Nightmare Moon scanned the room, her gaze lingering on the window behind Filthy. He couldn't blame her--it was an impressive view, hundreds of feet above Ponyville, its lights shining below. Just one of the perks of being the most powerful stallion in the region. Still, she took a while. He coughed subtly. "Hello, Your Majesty. Can I help you in any way?" Not bad, Rich, he thought. Not bad at all.
Her eyes locked on him, and he shuddered. There was a presence behind those reptilian pupils, one that... it reminded him, before he dismissed the thought as absurd, of a snake just before it strikes its prey. There was that same dreadful, almost contemptuous intensity...
But of course he was imagining things.
"Yes, Governor Rich, I believe you can," she said. There was a pause. Nightmare Moon did not blink, and Filthy decided with the utmost of rational politeness that it would be best to let her explain. The fact that his throat was being very uncooperative as far as making words went also played into it a bit. "I have been told that you have denied Twilight Sparkle, my personal student and representative in Ponyville, resources essential to her completion of the mission I assigned her."
Ah. Only natural that she'd want to take stock of her student's progress. I'm sure she'll be disappointed in Sparkle's lack of finesse when it comes to dealing with me... "I've been very understanding with Miss Sparkle," he said in the voice he usually used to placate his nominal superiors. It was all part of the game, he thought. All part of the game. I act obsequious, they realize they need me far too much to interfere. Simple. "In fact, I granted her a battalion of Night Guard."
"Which, as I understand, has been reassigned," Nightmare Moon said.
"Yes," the governor admitted easily, "it has. Twilight was disrupting a wholly unacceptable amount of legitimate activity in her unhinged sol-hunting."
Those eyes flashed. "There are no unacceptable disruptions when it comes to prosecuting criminals, terrorists, and other threats to our society."
Filthy gestured expansively. "Well, of course, in theory, that's absolutely correct, but working at—well, not 'ground level', but you get what I mean. Things are different here."
Nightmare sighed. "Disloyalty comes in many different... guises." She strode towards the desk, long legs crossing the distance easily. She looked out the window, and continued. "It can come openly, defiantly, as I am sure we are both well aware. But there is also a more... subtle form. It comes quietly, deferentially. It trades in defiance for casual, easy disobedience and doubt. But make no mistake."
She nodded, glancing back at the Night Guards. They walked to the other side of the desk. One pulled out his pistol, shooting the window out. The wind rushed past, and there was a distant tinkling of glass on concrete as the other black-jacketed pony dragged Filthy out of his chair. He stiffened involuntarily, but didn't say anything. Neither did Nightmare Moon, who regarded Filthy for a moment.
Her mouth opened, and all Filthy noticed were the predatory fangs. "Make no mistake, Filthy Rich. I do not tolerate disloyalty in any form, no matter how quiet and unobtrusive." She gestured impatiently, and the guards dragged him to the edge of the shattered window. "And in case you were wondering, nopony is indispensable."
He fell, and the room was quiet, except for the rushing wind. There was a thump, barely audible. Nightmare Moon turned to leave.
Aww. I'm glad for the closure (Bet Filthy isn't!) but I'll miss having the occasional update here to look forward to.
Thank god someone got it. Sure evil Twi is evil, but he was a dumb cock..
You know we could just leave this here, perfect ending and squeal hook.
Also, loved it.
Should have ended with, "Watch that last step...it's a LULU!"
I regret nothing!!
Ouch, he got thrown to his death.
I am very disappointed and sadden that darkly will be stopping here, this had become my favorite alternate universe twilight story, but alas it seems to have met its end while I eagerly waited for the next chapter to appear. It would seem my search for the perfect Nightmare sided Twilight was not destined to be over.
Farewell Darkly may you find peace among the graves of stories killed before they began.
4018215
It's not canceled. Heck, I'm not even putting it on hiatus because I'll be working on it as the spirit moves me. It's just that other projects have been preoccupying me lately and I wanted to let y'all know that.
4018224
So you say, but I have seen more stories cancelled then a reader should have to, and I'm seeing the warning signs start for Darkly, so I won't get my hopes up.
4021827
I actually feel a little bit awkward about lifting the phrase, because the meaning in Corinthians is so dramatically different. But it's such an evocative phrase that I couldn't bear to not use it.
4021844
It is a great title. While the theme is a whole lot different, the phrase itself fits. This alternate universe certainly gives a sense of disillusioned and incomplete. That's my impression from the first chapter, anyways.
4160228
You know, while there's nothing explicitly romantic about that subplot, I've been calling it the TwiDash subplot for the longest time.
4537313
Interesting how this tale is going, while it seems that five of the six would gladly see one outcome ,the last is on the fence for the moment, will she see things their way and help out in the end, or will she attempt to stay loyal and doom everything? I cannot wait to find out.
...How the fuck are they using guns without opposable thumbs? Or fingers? Or... Or...
I'm letting it slide for this story because you're a friend, Space, and everything else is pretty sweet, but a self-professed gun nut like myself gets pretty agitated at careless stuff like that. Were guns entirely neccessary? Could these be done with spears or something we know ponies use?
rabble rabble rabble good story but hooooooow
4556274
I've written on my feelings about hoof mechanics here. I don't recognize any particular limits on what hooves can do, because the show really doesn't either.
As for whether I should have used something other than guns: no. I'm basing this on a couple of different factors. First, I'm going for a gritty urban 1890s feel that would be hurt badly by using spears or swords. Second, guns are in fact canon.
In "May The Best Pet Win," Rainbow Dash sings:
Emphasis mine.
4558082
Bullets are what you use in slings :P
She obviously meant a gun, though. Rarity's Song mentions s Tank, too. Equestria must have a very weird military.
How and why is there an accent on that z?
Either 'too much trouble' or 'too many problems'. Don't try to pick both.
Hostile spacecraft incoming.
Hellbore locked on...
Firing.
And just like that, Nim takes care of another problem. You did a good job of executing this scene
Well, NMM jumped a few notches in my opinion for that. This Filthy was extraordinarily annoying.