"What?!" Rich yells loudly and in anger.
"I'm sorry, Rich," A Royal Guard calmly reports.
"A month ago, your daughter has escaped out of our program. We've been searching day and night until we've located her," Another Royal Guard said.
Rich slaps both Royal Guards in the face for losing his daughter. The two took the hits as they are sorrowful.
"So, what are you going to do now?! Keep searching until you locate her or when the Princesses tells you to stop?!" Rich angrily demands.
"Due to your daughter being our responsibility, we have obligations to continue our search even if the Princesses condones our search."
"Good. I want all of Equestria searched by the Royal Guards! I want my daughter home, now!"
"All we can ask you, sir, is to be patient as we continue our search. Rest to sure that your daughter will be safe. She has learned a lot about survival during her time in the program."
"Good," Rich sternly replies. "Not get out of my sight!"
The Royal Guards nod in understanding and, flies out of Ponyville. They expected this kind of behavior from a parent. The Royal Guards soar in the skies to look in all forest regions in Equestria first. Rich enters his household and slams the door hard. He sighs heavily and sadly.
"Diamond Tiara..," Rich looks at his right to see a portrait of him and his daughter. "I'm sorry that I sent you away..," Rich begins to tear up.
"This is your fault, you know?" Spoiled Rich said as she sees her husband crying.
"Don't remind me!" Rich angrily answers.
"This is something you'll live for the rest of your life, mister! Thanks to you, our only daughter is gone for good!" Spoiled Rich stomps away, hoping that she can use Rich to spoil her, even more, to make things right with her.
Rich groans loudly and goes to his private room to vent. He slams the door and sits on his lounge chair. He puts his hoof on his face, wondering what to do next. For hours on end, he believes that Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends won't be helping him find Diamond Tiara. Maybe, he can try asking the Apple Family for help but, Applejack may have a say. It was his daughter that created a monster out of Gabby Gums.
"I'm going to have to cut on my wife's spending fee to look for our daughter. I know she'll understand what is best for the family."
Later in the evening, Spoil and Rich are having dinner in the dining room.
"Spoil, I have something to tell you."
"I'm not listening to you. Thanks to you, our daughter is missing. I am unhappy because of you. You're going to make things right by making me happy first," Spoiled Rich said. She crosses her arms in hopes of making her husband guilter.
"I'm aware, darling. I have the solution to fix this."
"You do?" Spoiled Rich asks. She gives him a rigorous look.
"I'm going to call forth my investigation team to search for our daughter."
"Hey, that took a lot of our money for the search of three fillies that no one in Equestria could find. What makes you think they'll find our daughter?" Spoil said as she drinks her cup of wine.
"I'm aware of my unfortunate failure to bring the three fillies back to Ponyville. This time, I know that our daughter will come home. Things are going to be a little tight for a while. I'm cutting your spending fee in half."
Spoiled Rich spits her drink up in shock. She wasn't expecting that kind of answer from her husband.
"I know but, listen. I know you can live without a day of shopping for a few months. Business is a little slow due to Flim & Flam's uprising company. As I cope with the loss of our daughter until found, I need you by my side."
"You expect me to support you after you are cutting my spending fee in half?! I didn't marry a loser. I married a winner!" Spoiled Rich responds negativity. "You want support? Use a pillow," Spoiled Rich storms out of the dining room and slams the door shut.
"Ugh," Rich sighs heavily. "What am I going to do with her?" Rich gets up, thank the chef, and leaves the dining room. Rich trots to the bedroom only to find out Spoiled Rich locked it. "Spoil. Please, open the door," Rich said as he's knocking.
"I don't speak loser," Spoiled Rich retorts.
Rich loudly groans. He trots to a different bedroom and lays on the bed. As he stares at the ceiling, he starts planning his next motives for the following day. Spoiled Rich is deciding whether to pack up and leave for the week or plan to get more money out of Rich by lying to him. Either way, in her mind, she refuses to look like an outcast because of her daughter gone missing.
The next day, Rich has called for his investigation team for a meeting. During this time, Spoiled Rich has decided to go around town for a bit. To clear her mind and how to approach her husband for more money. As she trots in town, she bumps into a pony in a brown robe wearing a kabuki mask. A twisted idea comes in her mind.
"Hey, wanna make a load of bits in one day?"
The pony in the brown robe and wearing the kabuki mask gives a simple nod. Spoiled Rich made the masked pony follow her back to her place. As the masked pony enters the household, Rich sees the two, which is odd to him.
"Who is this, Spoil?" Rich curiously asks.
"This is a friend of mine. Since you've cut my spending fee, I need a new hobby to cope with it."
Rich's reaction is shrewd. Spoil rolls her eyes and escorts the masked pony to her room. She locks the door for good measure. Rich returns to his talks with the investigation team in the meeting room.
"So, here's my idea," Spoil said. The masked pony is listening. "I want you to kidnap me. Ask for a demanding ransom. My husband will oblige and give in. You get half and, I get half."
The masked pony nods in agreement. Spoiled Rich smiles devilishly. The masked pony gives Spoiled Rich a sign to follow him. She figures that he'll take her to a hideout to wait for the ransom. Around this time, Rich escorts the investigation team out of his home. They'll have a whole lot to explore once more. He takes a deep breath and trots to Barnyard Bargains. An hour later, the masked pony escorts Spoiled Rich out of the house. The masked pony made sure not many ponies are looking at his direction. Ten minutes later, the two are waiting for a train. When the train arrives, they enter the train and leave Ponyville.
"So, where are you going?" Spoil asks.
The masked pony removes the kabuki mask, revealing himself to Spoiled Rich.
"We're going to southern Baltimare. I have a perfect hideout."
"What is your name, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Fire Flier."
Spoiled Rich amusingly smiles.
"Thank you for agreeing to this."
"You did us a favor by coming to me with your brilliant idea. I do need the money. You're in a win-win situation."
Hours later, the train arrives in Baltimare. Fire Flier puts the kabuki mask back on. He escorts Spoiled Rich to his hideout.
"How far is the hideout from the station?" Spoil asks.
"Two hours."
"Why put the mask back on?"
"Conceal my identity in the town. I won't be living in Baltimare once the ransom arrives."
Two hours later. Fire Flier and Spoiled Rich arrive at the hideout. Fire opens the door allowing Spoiled Rich to enters. She explores around.
"You are forbidden to go upstairs. For the ransom to work, you'll be in the basement of the hideout."
"Hmm, what's wrong with going upstairs?"
"If you go upstairs, the deal is off and, I will hold you for ransom."
Spoil didn't like the sound of it and backs away from the stairs.
"So, do I go to the basement now?"
"Yes. Follow me, please."
Spoiled Rich follows Fire Flier downstairs. Spoiled Rich sees that the basement is filthy. It's perfect to set the scenery when her husband shows up. Fire Flier pulls up a chair for her to sit.
"What no bed?" Spoil asks as she sits.
"Sorry," Fire whistles.
Tempest steps out of the shadows. She ties Spoiled Rich to the chair tightly. Spoiled Rich wonders if this is still part of the plan.
"Is this still part of the plan? I thought you'll just leave me here in the basement. Kept well-fed and such," Spoil said. She tries to shift herself a bit from the chair.
"It's part of our plan. To make it realistic as possible. Don't worry. We'll keep you well-fed and quenched until your hubby arrives with the money."
"Good," Spoiled Rich sweats a bit as her heart beats rapidly.
Tempest goes upstairs first. Fire Flier is right behind her.
"Every two hours, I'll come down and check on you. Thanks for giving me the address to your house on the train ride. It'll help with the cause."
"You're welcome," Spoiled gladly responds.
Fire Flier closes the basement door. He made sure that the light is on for a while. Tempest and Fire Flier go upstairs to inform Diamond Tiara great news. They enter the room as she is reading.
"Diamond Tiara," Fire said.
"What is it now?" Diamond Tiara responds.
"Your mother is in the basement."
Eyes widen for Diamond Tiara. "How you manage to get my mom into the basement?"
"Believe it or not, she chose to come with me. She devised a plan to get bits from your old man. A ransom idea. She agreed to allow us to tie her up."
"Wow. Never thought my mom would be that desperate for money."
"So, I agreed on letting her have half of the ransom but, we're planning on keeping the two of them. Then you come home and take over your father's companies. Tempest will brainwash the minds of the workers; and, we'll have the army as you suggested a while back."
"I would have never thought things will come that easy. I like it."
"So, what book have you been reading?"
"A book about taking control of a company."
"I was able to go into the town's library to get Diamond Tiara books on how to control a company. I made sure she continues to read it and focus on becoming an owner," Tempest said.
"Good, now if you excuse me. I have a ransom letter to write," Fire Flier leaves the room to write the ransom letter. He chuckles as he continues to write the grueling details of Spoiled Rich's dilemma. After he finishes writing the ransom letter, he trots to the basement to see Spoiled Rich. "Show me you're excruciating, fearful look for the camera. Make sure to include tears as well. I need a snapshot for the letter."
"Give me ten minutes."
Twenty minutes later, Fire Flier seals the letter and photo into an envelope. He's now ready to mail it to Rich in Ponyville.
The next day, Rich wonders where his wife went off too. He haven't seen her all-day, yesterday and last night. Derpy, the mailpony, knocks on the door. Rich opens the door to see Derpy.
"Morning, Filthy Rich."
"Morning, Ms.Hooves. Please call me, Rich."
"I have a letter for you," Derpy gives Rich his letter.
"Thank you, Ms.Hooves. Have a nice day."
Derpy continues her mailing route as Rich closes the door. He trots to his office to read the letter, hoping it'll good news. When he opens the letter, his heart sinks lower than the other day.
Dear Filthy,
We have your wife, Spoil Rich. We demand a small portion of 50,000 bits for her release. No Royal Guards, no Princesses, no undercover investigation team to locate her. I have eyes and ears all around. I'll know any suspicions you'll try to attempt before it can happen. You have the address of where she is. Come alone. If you do not reply, not only I'll send you a package of Spoil Rich's head on a silver platter to you, your daughter will be next. I guarantee. I'll find her before you do. I have eyes and ears in hidden locations. It'll only be a matter of time before I have her in my clutches. Do not delay, or you'll pay.
Sincerely,
F.F.T.D.O.
After reading the letter thoroughly, seeing the picture of his wife tied up, seeing the address of the location in the back of the photo. Rich looks around to see his maids and butlers in attendance. Not knowing if F.F.T.D.O. has his spies as his maids or butlers, he demands everyone to go home until further notice. His maids and butlers leave as commanded. They are confused about why is Rich behaving like this.
"It has to be those punks, Flim and Flam," Rich irately states. "Those two want to take over? Now, it's war."
Rich trots to his office and starts writing a letter to mail to his investigation team. Their next objective is to spy on Flim & Flam. To take them down by any means once they are out of public viewing. He refuses to allow them to get away scotfree. He made sure to take a briefcase filled with 50,000 bits as he'll be going to the location that was shown in the letter, killing two birds with one stone.
Later in the day, Rich mails the letter and trots to the bank. He requests 50,000 bits and puts them in his briefcase. He calls for a taxi to take him to the train station. Ten minutes later, Rich hops on the train as it departs.
"I'm coming, Spoil. I'm coming, Diamond Tiara," Rich hopes that Flim and Flam do have Diamond Tiara with Spoil Rich.