//------------------------------// // 464 - On a Roll // Story: Lateral Movement // by Alzrius //------------------------------// Razzle Dazzle couldn’t have looked less impressed if she’d tried. “Really?” she scoffed, the expression doing nothing for her withered old face. “Is that what this is about? You came all the way down here just to recommend two little girls to me?” “These are no ordinary girls,” pressed River. Razzle snorted. “They all say that. Each and every one of them. Let me guess, these fillies of yours have cutie marks that have something to do with singing or dancing, right?” She didn’t wait for an answer, instead making a dismissive gesture. “Because I get a dozen of them every day. They all show off their flanks, bat their eyes, and go on about how nopony can dance as passionately as they do, or sing as beautifully, or work as crowd as thoroughly.” She glared down at the stage then, as though scowling at the dancers who would occupy it once the intermission was over. “It’s never true. Maybe they’re a cut above compared to the average mare, but here at the Palace they are average mares. That’s just as true for those sisters of yours as it will be for anypony else.” “You’re wrong,” smirked River. The comment earned her a sneer. “Oh really?” “Yes.” Deciding it was time to stop beating around the bush, River played her trump card. “These girls are the Sirens, Razzle.” “Please. Do you know how many wannabe Palace girls have described themselves that way? I-” “No.” Her smile fading, River’s demeanor turned serious. “I’m not saying that they’re like the Sirens, or that they make ponies think of the Sirens, I’m saying that these mares actually are the Sirens.” She knew that Razzle knew who the Sirens were; in her line of work, there was no way she hadn’t heard the tale of three of the most beautiful creatures that Equestria had ever seen. River had the pleasure of watching a jeering retort die on the wrinkled old mare’s lips as she realized that she was serious. But the conclusion she came to a few seconds later wasn’t the one River wanted. “You’ve lost it.” “Razzle…” “You’ve either lost it, or you’re even more of a gullible hick than I thought.” The old nag’s lip curled again, this time in contempt. “Your story doesn’t even match what you’ve been saying. You mentioned that there were two of these mares, but there were three Sirens, and they weren’t even ponies. They were…things. Part pony and part fish.” She stood up then, shaking her head. “I only came up here because I was surprised to see you back in Las Pegasus after how you slunk away before. But if you’re trying to make it by selling outlandish stories, you should have gone to Tall Tale instead of coming here.” River couldn’t help herself. She laughed. “You really don’t get it, do you?” Having already started to walk away, the mocking words made Razzle freeze in mid-stride, shooting River a dark look. “I beg your pardon?” “You really don’t get it,” repeated River. “In the last few years, how many old myths and childhood stories have come to life? We’ve had Nightmare Moon make an appearance, not to gobble up candy, but attempt a coup. Then we found out that not only was Discord real, but he almost turned all of Equestria inside-out. Then that renegade creature that escaped from Tartarus and tried to eat everypony’s magic.” She smirked then, as though discussing common gossip rather than how the entire world was in upheaval. “I’m honestly surprised we haven’t seen the Pony of Shadows setting up shop somewhere.” Razzle made a face like she’d just bitten into a lemon. “What’s your point?” Standing up, River marched over so she was right in front of the old bat. “My point, Razzle, is that we’re living in a new age now. One of legends. When we were fillies, there was only one alicorn princess, and it had been that way for the last thousand years. Now there are four.” Well, three now, she corrected herself silently. But there was no point in saying that part out loud, since it only would have thrown her off-topic. Razzle and the rest of Equestria would find out about what had happened to Luna soon enough, in all likelihood. “All of a sudden there are crystal ponies, with their own Crystal Empire, all having appeared out of nowhere. Entire cities were flooded or burned or worse just a few weeks ago. And you’re going to tell me that the Sirens being in my city is somehow too crazy to be believed?” Razzle didn’t say anything, and River knew that she was listening. “You’re right, there are only two of them now, and they’re both ponies,” she continued. “I don’t know what happened to the third one, and as for why they’re ponies now, well…if Nightmare Moon can become Princess Luna, why can’t the Sirens become mares?” Inwardly River cringed, unable to help a moment’s worry that Lex would somehow find out she’d said that and take offense at the comparison. But she didn’t have time to dwell on that as Razzle spoke up at last. “So I’m just supposed to take your word for it that you’ve got two of the most gorgeous creatures that ever existed up in Vanhoover?” she asked, her voice still skeptical…but no longer derisive. “Why didn’t you bring them here personally if that was the case?” Now it was River’s turn to snicker derisively. “That’s like asking why you don’t have the Ponycat Dolls perform on the sidewalk so that everypony can see how good they are. You make people come to your place to see your girls; same deal here.” Razzle seemed to mull that over. “The stories about the Sirens say they made everyone who heard them fight so they could feed off the negativity.” “They’re ponies now,” replied River, making sure her voice was dismissive. “They don’t do that anymore. Any other questions?” “Just one,” admitted Razzle, giving River a suspicious look. “Suppose I take a look at these Sirens of yours and decide I want them at the Palace. What’s in it for you?” It was all River could do to keep her grin from turning triumphant, knowing that no one asked that question unless they’d already been persuaded. What’s in it for me is that I never have to end up looking like you, she laughed inwardly, already looking forward to the reward Lex would give her after she’d proven herself to him. And when he does, I’m going to come back here and flaunt it right in front of you, you dried up old nag. It was the very least she could do after Razzle had insulted her right to her face with that “gullible hick” comment. But her musings were cut off as the theater lights dimmed, the curtain starting to rise again. Taking that as her cue, River turned to go. “Let’s just say I’m very much looking forward to seeing you in Vanhoover,” she answered cryptically. Behind her, she could almost hear Razzle frown. “You’re not going to stay for the rest of the show?” “I’ve heard the Sirens sing,” called River over her shoulder. “After that, it’s hard to be impressed by a couple of Dolls.” River was feeling like the luckiest mare in Equestria as she strode into Gladmane’s resort. Her original plan had been to go back to her yacht – or rather, her room at the Galloway Bay, now – after her rendezvous at the Palace. Two business meetings in an evening was quite a lot, after all, especially after all of the traveling she’d done. But things had been going so well that she couldn’t help but push on to her next destination, looking around the casino that made up the first floor of the resort. And besides, it wasn’t like she needed to change her clothes again; other than ditching the shawl, what she was wearing was perfect for the casual atmosphere of the place. Now all she had to do was figure out what to do until she bumped into Gladmane; she knew the double-dealing stallion would wander through sooner or later, pretending to be everyone’s friend while in actuality keeping tabs on everypony. All River had to do was wait for him to show himself, and that couldn’t possibly take too long, not when he’d still be smarting from the cheating scandal making the papers. I wonder if I should put some money down on something in the meantime, she mused idly. It was a tempting thought, with how spectacular her luck had been recently. Not only had events seemed to conspire to bring her to Las Pegasus in style, but she’d been able to effortlessly beguile two of the city’s richest ponies! In one evening no less! She hadn’t even needed to try and play Razzle and Penny off against each other the way she’d expected to. With the bad blood between them, River had been ready to drop all sorts of hints about how the opportunities she was giving them could have been used to one-up each other. But it hadn’t come to that; those two had gobbled up the breadcrumbs she’d laid down without her needing to appeal to anything besides their greed. It was thoroughly satisfying…so much so that her good mood wasn’t spoiled by remembering how she herself had been laid low by that very same flaw in the not-too-distant past, brazenly challenging Lex Legis for control of what had been left of Vanhoover, certain that she’d be able to steamroll him and rebuild the city her way. The attempt had very nearly cost her everything, and now Penny and Razzle would likewise end up turning over their money to Lex…however he planned on making them part with it. Wandering over to a roulette table and placing a bet, River couldn’t help but imagine how Lex would convince those two to give him what he wanted. She couldn’t imagine him bargaining away the real estate that Pretty Penny would want, and she felt sure that he’d never let Razzle Dazzle take his playthings away, even if he’d still have Feather Duster to fool around with. Maybe he’ll curse them if they don’t loan him the money, she thought, pleased by the idea. She could just imagine Penny being cursed to have any building she slept in be infested with bedbugs, or make Razzle unable to distinguish between beauty and ugliness. Let’s see her hire nothing but the cutest girls then, giggled River to herself. She was still smiling when she won twice what she’d put down a minute later. “Luck be a pony tonight,” smiled a middle-aged unicorn to her left ruefully, her own money having been forfeit. “You’re kind to say so,” chuckled River graciously. “I’m sure I’ll have lost it all by the time I leave.” “Oh, I know,” laughed the unicorn. “My husband is always complaining that I have the absolute worst luck at these tables, but I just can’t seem to stay away!” “That just means you need to keep him on a tighter leash,” added another middle-aged mare from across the table, this one an earth pony. “Mine wouldn’t dare complain about my spending habits.” “Mine has other things to complain about now,” sighed another unicorn, taking a seat at the table before giving River a wan smile. “Hello River. It’s nice to see you again.” “Pixie!” exclaimed River, recognizing Jack Pot’s wife. Stepping over, she exchanged a quick hug with the other mare. Unlike with Pretty Penny, they didn’t bother with cheek-kisses; Pixie was more down-to-earth than that. “My word, how are you these days? I’ve been hearing the most troubling rumors ever since I arrived in town.” “It’s…been rough lately,” admitted Pixie, idly putting a few bits down on a bet. “Trouble in paradise?” asked the earth mare, the faintest amount of acid in her voice as she placed her own. “Oh, don’t be like that,” chastised the first unicorn before placing a bet herself and turning back to River and Pixie. “Don’t mind my friend here, she’s been having absolutely beastly luck all night and it’s left her in an even worse mood than usual. I’m Upper Crust. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintances.” “Pixie,” offered Pixie with another pained smile. “River Bank,” replied River in turn. “Spoiled Rich,” groused the earth mare, “and I’m not having bad luck, it’s just that this entire place is crooked.” “I seem to recall the papers saying something about that,” nodded River, putting down a bet of her own. “Really now,” tsked Upper Crust good-naturedly, “that was just because there was a buffalo working here. Can you imagine one of those savages in a place like this? That was just asking to be stolen from. It’s a wonder they didn’t try and take the carpeting while they were at it.” “You really have to wonder what Gladmane was thinking,” scoffed Spoiled. “You can ask him if you’d like,” noted Pixie, her voice still subdued, “he’s right over there, next to…oh!” Even if she hadn’t just found her target, hearing Pixie’s voice suddenly perk up would have caught River’s attention, turning her eyes toward where the other mare was looking, with Spoiled and Upper Crust doing the same. Sure enough, there was Gladmane, strolling through the middle of the casino. But River barely noticed him, instead having eyes only for the pony he was talking to. A unicorn, he was everything a stallion should be. Tall without being imposing, toned without being bulky, and most of all, devilishly handsome. His coat was almost the same soft white as Princess Celestia’s, and his mane and tail were a golden amber, brilliantly highlighting his baby-blue eyes. Even his outfit was sharp, wearing a collar and bowtie that perfectly accentuated his physique. River was peripherally aware that every mare in the place had their eyes on the newcomer, but that was no surprise. Even if he hadn’t been a vision of masculine appeal, he would have had all eyes on him. He was simply too famous not to; River herself had never met him before, but she knew exactly who he was. A moment later the dealer announced the results of the latest spin of the roulette. But River didn’t need to hear him say that she had won again. That much was obvious. After all, her luck had to be holding out for Prince Blueblood to be here.