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// >CHAPTER-][.TXT 
// Story: Midnight at the Blackbriar Opera: A Shadowtrot Tale 
// by brokenimage321 
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For a long moment, the stage remained empty. Then, Councilor Winter appeared, his winning smile gleaming in the flurry of camera flashes. He stepped up to the podium, then straightened his tie, nodded at one or two ponies in the crowd, then began to speak. 

“We stand here today on the site of a great tragedy,” he said. “Six weeks ago, a fire broke out in one of the back rooms of the Blackbriar Opera. Thankfully, the theater had already closed for the evening, and most of the building surrounding it were already abandoned, but the fire still claimed the lives of several stagehands…” he hesitated. “...and a small squad of security personnel hired for the evening.”

He gave the slightest hint of a smile, letting his viewers know that their speculations about the identity of the “security personnel” were probably correct. 

“The Opera itself was damaged beyond repair, as were several of the surrounding buildings,” he continued. “Their ruins still stand today, to remind us not only of the loss of life sustained, but also of the loss of one of our city’s beloved landmarks.”

Councilor Winter looked around at the crowd with a smile on his face, waiting for the suspense to build. 

“That is why,” he said finally, “I am pleased to announce our city’s plans for a new housing development, to be built on the former site of the Opera, with apartments for over a hundred families. There will be playgrounds and gardens and fountains, everything that young families need to raise their children in a safe and secure environment. Blackbriar Park will be constructed with one goal in mind: to create a place where ponies can live without fear, and where they can create a loving environment for themselves and their neighbors.”

The changelings, gathered in the sewers below, cheered. Someone bumped the salvaged vidscreen they had been using, and the audio finally flickered and died, but they had heard what they needed to. Madame Butterfly had been promising them, ever since she’d sent out the signal ordering them underground for their own safety, that she would find a way to make it right--find a way for them to make it through this okay. And, by the Alicorns, she had done it. 

Though most of the changelings chatted away happily about what their new apartments--and what genuine love would taste like--a few remained watching the now-silent vidscreen. Councilor Winter continued to talk for a while, probably describing the project some more, then took a question or two. He finished by giving another short statement, then turned to leave the stage. Just before he disappeared off-screen, though, he turned and shot a grin back at the camera--and, as he did so, his eyes flickered, very briefly, to a deep, red-rose color that reminded the changelings of someone they knew.