Flurry finally had to ask Pound Cake the source of his irritation. "Leon," he said frankly. "Leon is a really good guy. He is. But he can be... Difficult. Simply put the guy is stubborn, and when it comes to money..."
Pound trailed off and was unable to finish the sentence. Seeming to not want to get started. Flurry felt the anger well up inside him. She remembered something that Down Beat had told her. "Pound Cake, may I ask you a question?" she asked.
"Of course," Pound said.
"It's very personal," Flurry said. "If you don't want to answer I understand... but I need to ask. Down Beat told me how you guys met and..."
Down Beat stopped dead in the middle of the road. He looked down at the dirt, incredibly ashamed. "Yeah..."
"If you don't want to answer that's fine," Flurry said quickly. "It just... It seems so out of character for you..."
"Good," Pound laughed, brightening up a little. "That means it's working... It's kind of hard for me to talk about, but I used to have a lot of trouble controlling my temper. I was bigger than a lot of foals my age... and I... I took advantage of that... Way too much. Then one day I almost hurt somepony I really care about and I knew I had to stop. That's why I count to ten. It gives my mind a break so I can calm down..."
Flurry listened... That was really hard for him to talk about, and it wasn't the whole story. She knew that. She knew that and Pound had a right to know how. "Pound, I'm an Empath."
"Beg your pardon?" Pound said, confused.
"I have the ability to read ponies' emotions," Flurry explained. "It's not something I can help, it just sort of happens. For a few seconds I feel what they're feeling... I'm sorry but... Back at Sugarcube Corner I felt that anger... I'm really sorry, I know I shouldn't be prying but I can't help it."
Pound's jaw was on the floor. "That...," he started cautiously "Is awesome!"
Flurry's eyes narrowed. Usually Ponies were uncomfortable around her when she told them that, but Pound was taking the news like he had just found out the Power Ponies were real.
"So can you tell when somepony's lying to you?" Pound seemed to be bouncing with each word. "Do you prefer to be around happy people or is it too noisy? Do emotions make noise? I have... I have like a thousand questions!"
"Uh..." Flurry was getting scared now. "You don't mind?"
"Mind?!" Pound said happily. "No way! Heck, you can probably tell when I'm getting angry before I do! There are a billion and one uses I could have for that power! Oh, but now I feel bad taking you to meet Leon. See all you're going to feel is mild irritation at everything. Speaking of which, I think we're here..."
They were standing in front of a drab little grey building. The sign read "Gildisen Accounting and Loan." There were two little windows that looked in on a dark little room. A single candle burned inside, illuminating a little desk that had piles of rolls of parchment at it. Flurry could see tiny rapid motion coming from behind them. She finally worked out that somepony was furiously working with a quill."
When they walked in the door Flurry saw the griffon. He had a frill of light grey feathers on his head and neck that could almost be mistaken for the top of rather unkempt lions mane. His long yellow beak held up a pair of reading glasses that helped his yellow eyes peer at the numerous documents he was working on. He used one of his yellow talons to adjust them, while the other reinked the quill, which seemed to be made from one of his own long black feathers that moved down his back to his panther like legs and tail. He could have been quite an intimidating figure, had he not been so entrenched in his paperwork.
Pound walked behind the young Griffon slowly leaned right next to his ear. The Griffon didn't seem to notice a thing.
Pound took a deep breath. "LEON!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
Leon leaped in shock, banging his knees against the desk and nearly spilling the inkwell. He took a few deep breaths and then composed himself. "Hey, Pound Cake," he said, in a rather calm and casual voice. "How's it hangin'?"
"By a thin thread if this keeps up," Pound sighed. "Leon, what the heck are you doing?"
"My job," the Griffon sneered. "At least I was before you walked in and started shouting. Who's the mare?"
Flurry was a little offended at that. "'The Mare' is Flurry Heart!" she said, with a bit of regal pomp. "And she would like to be addressed as such. If not simply addressed directly!"
Leon raised his talons. "A fair point, my apologies," he sighed. "For some reason I've just become rather irritable."
"Yes, 'for some reason,'" Pound scowled. "It's a day ending in 'Y'..."
"Is there, like, a reason you've shown up here?" Leon said flatly. "Or is this merely another step in your never ending quest to make this constant buzzing noise in my life?"
"Flurry Heart here," Pound explained in a tone that indicated that Leon should very well know what he was talking about. "To talk about the Summer Sun Celebration... And specifically financing."
"Oh, that!" Leon brought out a document from the pile. "Everything is set up... It's going to come to arouuund... 200k? Should cover most of the expenses right?"
"Two-hundred thou--" Pound put his hoof to his forehead and paced around the small office. "One, two, three, four, five..."
"I'm not sure how you manage to sleep at night telling me what to do with my damn money," Leon said dryly. "I made it. I'm gonna spend it however I want."
"Yes, you made the money," Pound huffed. "It's how that bothers me!"
Flurry stopped cold. "Now Mr. Gildisen," Flurry said, trying out her "royal official" voice. "The Equestrian Government cannot accept any elicit funds from any source."
"It's all legit," Leon assured her.
"Of course it is!" Pound yelled from the background. "All money that springs forth from the magic hat is entirely above board! At least I assume that's where it keeps coming fro-"
"Don't you have someone else you can bother?" Leon scowled. "A couple of pots to bang together?"
'Look," Pound said firmly. "I don't want to get nasty, but this makes no sense... And I'm guessing this isn't even under the pretense of a loan. This is just a donation. This place has been booming for three years now. You should be hemorrhaging money. Where does it keep coming from? If you're in trouble, if you're dipping too deep, for Harmony's sake, Leon, if you're dying on me... Tell me. Let me help..."
Flurry was expecting to feel more irritation, but instead she felt a warm feeling coming from the griffon. He was genuinely touched. "Thanks, Pound," he smiled. "I mean that, thank you. You are owed an explanation, and you'll get it. Eventually. Right now that has to stay my little secret. For now, I need you to trust me. I know what I'm doing, and I'm in no danger. Okay?"
Pound thought for a moment, then slumped. "Okay, man," Pound said defeated. "I'm going to trust you here. I shouldn't, but I do. Good luck."
"You too, bro," Leon smiled. "Hey Princess, quick question..."
Flurry looked up.
"Do you know what my deal is?" he smirked.
Flurry was wholly puzzled by the question. He was the only one who could answer that question, so why was he asking her. He seemed to be putting his talons in the water. Trying to read Flurry. He was testing her. Flurry quickly failed that test with simple blank look.
Leon nodded, relieved but oddly a little hurt. "Makes sense," he smiled. "Sheesh, I mean you... Heck, we both... doesn't matter. There should also be a corporate sponsor for this thing right? For the radio broadcast?"
Flurry had to recover from the odd question to check her list. Surprisingly she saw the last name she expected to see when she heard "Corporate Sponsor."
"Sweet Apple Acres?" she said incredulously.
"Hey!" Leon and Pound said happily.
"Don't let Bloom hear you say 'corporate'," Pound laughed. "She'll skin you alive."
"Make sure that it's Bloom's idea," Leon said, raising an eyebrow. "And it's not Creame going off the reservation again."
"I will," Pound nodded. "If she did, Apple Bloom is gonna lose it, and her aunt is going to..."
"Let's..." Leon raised a claw to stop Pound. "Let's not discuss what Diamond Tiara might eventually do. I want to sleep tonight. Just make sure Creame Rich isn't nailed to the floor or ceiling."
"You got it," Pound nodded. "Good luck, Leon."
"Whatever," the griffon sighed. He looked back down at his work as the two ponies left the office.
"You know Applejack right?" Pound asked. "Wait until you meet her sister. Runs a small business, parent company be damned, founded the Cutie Mark Crusaders, makes the time to both look after the farm and be Stable Mother to the Ponyville chapter... She's kind of amazing that way. Her assistant slash farmhand tries to be the same way but... She lacks experience."
Flurry nodded, barely paying attention. Her mind was still on Leon. What was he talking bout back there? Why would she know, anyting bout him? There was something itching at the back of her brain.
Something bout the name "Glidisen."
Rarity quietly mixed the drink. Making sure it was as palatable as it could be. Every ingredient was there. She turned around to face him, babying the glass. She wasn't surprised to see him at all. She simply smiled and talked before he could. "Am I the last one you need?"
Scratch raised an eyebrow. His pitch black eyes looking oddly impressed with Rarity's presence of mind. "Fifth, actually," he said casually. "Still need one more."
Rarity shrugged. "I am sorry to hear that," Rarity looked down at the glass. "Please, girls, I know I'm leaving you in danger... Understand that I have to do this..."
Scratch seemed to wait for someone to cut in before he did himself. "Okay, you got me," Scratch sighed. "Do what?"
Rarity smiled and raised the glass. "Do you know what's in here?" Rarity smiled. "A few of the finer liquors... A few teaspoons of pineapple juice... This nice little cherry... And enough cyanide to drop a bull elephant."
Scratch's jaw dropped. "You're kidding," he said, seeming amused.
"I'm most certainly not," Rarity smiled. "Whatever you're planning requires all of us. Seemingly, all of us alive. Otherwise I don't think I would need this drink... It's a shame really. I quite like living... However I've done more of it then I care to admit. There are too many foals in Equestria who haven't even gotten a chance. I will do what I have to."
"Ha ha ha!!" Scratch clutched the side of his head in amazed disbelief. "Wow... Just... I mean wow! That is some damn way to live up to your element, Rarity! The Element of Generosity, willing to give her life to let the ponies of Equestria keep there's! Jeez Loui- Have you done it yet?"
"No," Rarity smiled. "I felt a nice final image would be your face as your plan crumbles beneath you."
"There's that vindictive streak!" Scratch said, pointing his hoof rapidly at Rarity. "I like you! You're the one I like! You're right by the way, I would be hosed if you were to drop dead right now! I mean it! I would be completely screwed! But here's the thing, though, you don't get what you want either!"
The glass stopped as it was a breath away from Rarity's lips.
"See, the Windigos are still coming," Scratch reminded Rarity. "And when they get here they're going to put Equestria into a deep freeze that would make the first Hearthswarming, look like a ninety minute school delay. So, you've got two options. Live and help me, or die and screw me. One way I win. One way I lose. Either way, everypony dies."
Scratch sat in front of Rarity like he was in the front row of a theater. "Go."
Billions of thoughts raced through Rarity's mind. She tried to think of something else, a plan B. All she ended up doing was slowly putting down the glass.
Scratch began to slowly clap. "Generosity," he said loudly. "Give with a free and open heart... As long as the rewards are worth it."
Rarity silently gritted her teeth. The strange stallion knew exactly what to say to get under her skin.
The next thing scratch did was walk right up to the poisoned shot and down it without blinking. "Damn, that's smooth," he exhaled. "It's not like I'm criticizing. The world is a giant marketplace. Every day a new deal. It'd be stupid to bid to high. Knew a guy once... Said he'd give his own skin to make the best Gentlecolt's attire in history. Then someone tries to take him up on the offer, and he start's bellyaching. 'Ooh, that's not how I meant that!' Crybaby."
"What is your endgame?!" Rarity insisted. "What are you trying to do?!"
"Answer for an answer!" Scratch said, adjusting his necktie. "Me first."
The evil grin came back to his face.
"What do you think of the suit?"