There was a lot of dangers to being a new rich even if you kept a low profile, ponies trying to con you to steal your money, easy to spot and get rid of them. Mares trying to seduce you so you give them jewellery and the like. Or even, ironically my favourite, mares trying to seduce me so I marry then later kill me to get all my money. You might think there is no difference between the two, but trust me, the latter are generally more cunning and less flashy in their actions. Anyways, it’s either I get rid of them or I have the chance to sleep with good looking mares easily without doing anything, so it was not that bad.
But there was some kind of danger that you couldn’t really expect, like for example being foalnapped in the middle of the night. Especially when you stayed in an expensive hotel that offers top notch security and you paid (very well ) ponies to deal with preventing and reacting to threats to myself.
You could think I was scared to death, but I was quite used to this sort of stuff, well sorta. I had been on both ends of a situation like that. Either foalnapping some business pony and pretending to be paid by their main competitor or being held captive to get information/money on who is my boss.
I was still not quite comfortable. You know the cliché of being held in a weird cave or some isolated storage room with leaking pipe or rats running everywhere. It tends to put you on an edge, fills you with a greater sense of danger and impending doom if you don’t obey your captor.
Here it was the exact opposite. I had a blindfold, but not like a crappy potatoes bag, it was a simple efficient piece of cloth, it smelled nothing particular. But even with it, I could guess I was in a clean room. It was not cold, hot or humid. No word had be spoken to me since I woke up, no screaming, asking for money, nopony. I had my forelegs tied behind a chair but like the rest, it smelled efficiency more than cruel intention.
“You have a glass of water in front of you.” said a mare voice. It was rather clinical.
This made me realise that I was now thirsty, how long since I was out? I tentatively lowered my head toward what I guess would be the glass “I could use some help.”
I heard hoofsteps followed by the feeling of the glass hitting my mouth, I paused.
“It’s not poisoned”
I opened my mouth and the glass was raised so I could drink.
When I was done it was back into the silent treatment and alone with my thoughts. What do they want, money? Maybe, but very unlikely. Revenge or my skill, more probable. Now it was down to who has this sort of money or has this degree of professionalism.
I was startled by the sudden sound of a door opening and hooves clapping on the floor Oh no, no, no. I hate this sound, I was in a lot of trouble, I should have realised this sooner, it was the sound of guards standing at attention.
“Leave us.” a firm voice, another mare said.
After the other guards had left the room, I thought there was another one aside the mare that helped me drink, the door closed. I felt my blindfold being removed and as my vision cleared up I could make the form of … Princess Luna, I am dead
“You are a stallion hard to find, despite being one of the most wanted.” Of course, I was wanted, you don’t run away from a new Princess without your case being taken seriously. Despite having ponies in place to mislead the search, it seems it was not enough.
“You should be proud of yourself, to fool my sister’s best ponies.” she paused, why she paused, I always thought I was good at reading ponies. I was getting nothing from her.
She moved closer, looked at me with a smile “Your initial plan was idiotic. But it seems my sister’s plan gives you a better opportunity.”
My eyes lit up but she cut me off “Yes, I was your sponsor.” she let a silence in purpose to further my confusion. She leant her face near me “But as idiotic as your plan was, it worked. I dare say too well. Our new Princess can’t get you out of her head, little stallion.”
I chuckled, I was well aware of that, it had been in all newspapers that the new Princess Twilight was distressed from losing her coltfriend.
The princess put a file in front of me and opened it to reveal lots of pictures of me “I could put you in jail for one or two lifetimes. But I am pretty sure you could find a way to escape a regular jail.”
She moved away, her back turned to me “No, I think it’s best for our mutual interest to keep you close.”
--
I was in a room where servants were helping me to get dressed for the most important day of my life. Well, it was all part of the initial plan. I guess now was the continuation of the plan.
“Nervous, son?” asked my future father-in-law. It was kind of annoying. Since I proposed to their daughter, they insisted on calling me like that. I was pretty sure their own son did not agree with that.
“Yes” Oh if only you knew why I was nervous. I should have chosen jail. Pretending to be another pony for a year had been a nightmare sometimes. Even if there were good times.
I might be able to escape, but there were royal guards everywhere, not unlike the previous royal wedding. Trust me I tried to plan at least ten escape routes already. Words had been spread so I could not get external help.
To that, you add a paranoid fiancée that does not want to lose me again, who had probably put a tracking spell on me. So my odds were close to none.
I straightened my bow tie as I marched outside the room. Today I am going to be married.