//------------------------------// // 5. (Lingo) // Story: A Study in Silver: A RariTwi Exquisite Corpse // by SigmasonicX //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle checked her watch for the third time in a minute. Despite her mental urging, time did not move any faster. It still read 6:57 PM. A woman walked by, dressed in finery that cost more than a small town. She plucked a bit of fancy food from the tray Twilight held, Hors d'oeuvres as Rarity called them. Bits of high society garbage that were undoubtedly shipped here from some other place in the world, simply just because someone could and not because they tasted good. Twilight tried one, of course. Awful. She checked her watch, 7:13. Giving the collar of her uncomfortable uniform a tug, she started making her last lap around the area, a small art gallery just off of the main ballroom. There were several of these slightly quieter places situated around the venue for this year’s Celestial Charity Ball. Twilight would rather be as far as possible from an event like this, out in the forest with her teacher, Zecora. But the situation more than made up for the inconvenience. The words from the note rang in her head. Sterling Silver, Silver Diadem, you know what you owe us. If you do not deliver the item to us at the Celestial Charity Ball tonight, you will never see your little “investment” again. If you decide that an antique is not worth more than your only heir, be ready at 7:45 on the upper terrace, by the fountain. If you decide otherwise, we’re sure the young lady knows plenty of things about you she’d be more than willing to share when she finds out she’s been exchanged for a trinket. She passed by a younger woman, more child than adult, who gave her a curt nod and continued on her way. Heir to her family’s name, Diamond Tiara. Twilight hated rubbing elbows with the upper class, but this was for a good cause, she reminded herself. And, she thought, the girl was paying them well for this job. Speaking of the job, Diamond was making her way steadily through the crowd. Rarity should be getting into position as well, though Twilight tried not to think about the detective too hard. The dress she decided to wear left Twilight’s tongue dry and uncomfortable. Still she would blend in with the crowd well, which was the idea. They weren’t looking to be noticed. Being the roughest of the bunch, Twilight was sentenced to masquerade as a different denizen of the ball, one of the wait-staff. 7:14 She re-entered the main ballroom, skirting around the edge of the room and avoiding the patrons dancing or talking who littered the room. She set down the tray on a nearby table, covered in other bad-tasting food no doubt, and slipped behind a door labeled EMPLOYEES ONLY. As soon as she was out of sight, she let out a half-sigh of relief. Now, she just had to make it to the rendezvous without getting stopped by another staff member. Soon, but not soon enough, she arrived at an unmarked door down the hall from the staff bathroom. A glance at her watch filled her with a bit of dread, 7:16. She was late. She gave the door two firm knocks, and then a third after a short pause. The lock clicked and she was all but dragged inside. Inside the small powder room she found Rarity and Diamond already present, the former looking a little peeved. “I trust you were unseen?” the detective asked. “They only wanted to see me if they were peckish, or wanted others to think they enjoyed the food. I was practically invisible for the most part.” “Good. We’ve got a half hour to find our hostage and get out before things can get.. Messy.” Diamond Tiara blanched, though the possibility of violence was real, it was still her family. “Any sign of Spoiled Rich?” Rarity asked. Her compatriots shook their heads. The only member of the rich family anyone had seen so far was Diamond. If there was going to be a hostage exchange, Rarity suspected that they wouldn’t come out until closer to the deal time. And still they didn’t know what this trinket was that the Rich’s wanted so badly, enough that they would resort to kidnapping the heir of another family. “This is about what’s good for the family…” Spoiled’s words slip from between Rarity’s lips, hanging in the air between the three. That was the other unknown, just who this ‘family’ was. Is it just the Rich’s? Or perhaps a group of families working together? Rarity usually found working with so many unknowns thrilling, but not when someone’s life may be in the balance. Rarity steeled herself and broke down their current plan. They had gone over it before arriving, but a quick review would keep everyone’s mind sharp. “We have roughly a half hour until the meeting time. It’s on the upper terrace, by the ornate fountain. Most guests will stay away from the terrace, the winds tend to mess up manes and throw expensive dresses into disarray. Only the brave few looking for a brief reprieve, a quick smoke, or looking to do some dirty dealings will find their way up there. We have no idea who all is involved. Silver’s parents may be there, if they decide their daughter is more valuable than this antique. Spoiled may be there, and perhaps Filthy Rich as well. Since the time is so close, they won’t have Silver far away. She’s got to be in one of the rooms here, staff or private gallery, tucked away until just before the meeting time. We’re going to split up to cover more ground, the organizers really went all out and reserved the entire venue.” “Hold on..” Twilight interrupted, gesturing to Diamond Tiara “...I’m not sure I’m comfortable leaving her to fend for herself. What’s to stop her from getting captured too? Or worse, found by the Silver’s and used for a counter-ransom?” Diamond huffed, seconds from a rebuttal about being able to take care of herself, but Rarity interjected. “I’m sure she can handle her way in the event she is discovered. Isn’t that right, Diamond? What do you do if you encounter some big strong man blocking your way?” Diamond rolled her eyes. “Please, I’m a lady. My first kick is to the groin. And the second is too, for good measure.” Rarity smiled, “And if it’s another lady?” “I run and scream. Girls fight dirty.” Rarity’s smile widened slightly as she turned back to Twilight. “See? She’s got it.” Twilight looked unsure, but they didn’t have a better way to do this, and the girl was certainly not going to just stay put while her friend was in danger. She reluctantly agreed, but she hoped that it wouldn't be a decision she regretted. As they were about to leave, Diamond spoke up, her words troubled and unsure. “You don’t think they’d hurt Silver if her parents don’t show up, do you? The note said they were just going to question her.” Rarity and Twilight shared a glance. The well-dressed detective knelt slightly, placing a hand tenderly on the younger woman’s shoulder. “I certainly hope not, but these kinds of situations, well…” She paused to take a deeper breath, evening her own nerves. “...let’s just say it's better to be safe than sorry. Don’t worry, we’ll find her.” They each met eyes again and left the room. It was time to rescue a mob hostage. Twilight checked her watch again. 7:21