For the first time in almost a week, Twilight Sparkle was able to get a full night's sleep. With the Joker and the Candy Colt finally put away, the long night of death and misery was finally brought to an end. Though the Joker's words as she was being hauled away by the police still haunted her.
“What's eating you, Bats?” She asked upon noticing her distressed look when she saw the Falcon colt being loaded into the ambulance. He would be taken to hospital and then to a juvenile detention center for the Candy Colt killings. But even after everything he did, it was still hard to stomach a foal committing all these atrocities and getting imprisoned for it. “Are you embarrassed that a foal had the guts to do what you never could?” The clown continued her taunting, earning a glare from the vigilante. “Oh, don't give me that look! I know you're thinking it! You're worried because you're not sure he was wrong! Deep down, you think they deserved it, huh? You think they deserved it! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
The psychotic laughter she burst out in after she finished that sentence would stay with her for the rest of her days. This was the first time she actually believed Trixie Lulamoon was no more and she was fully and irreversibly consumed by the Joker. These thoughts and the things she said bothered her so much she had trouble falling asleep, but once she did, she didn't wake up until 10 in the morning. Much to Spike’s joy.
The next day was spent without any significant incidents. For the first time since Spike could remember, Twilight actually went through an entire day of managing the library without heading down to her cave. He could actually pretend for a day that they were just a pair of normal, completely irrelevant library owners. It was a feeling he relished. A feeling he could get used to.
But once the library closed, the duo went back to working in the Batcave. Twilight promised him that she won't head out to patrol that night, but they always head fun in the workshop together. They were very close to replicating the motorbike of the Huntress. While they managed to recreate the frame around the engine based on what Twilight saw during their fight, the correct working of it still eluded them.
Twilight only saw one solution, she would have to visit the mare in prison and ask her in person. She hacked into the frequency of the police radio to contact Captain Garden at the MCPD.
“Captain Garden? Are you there?” She asked, switching to her Batmare voice.
“Right here, Batmare.” The stallion replied form the other end of the line. “What can I do for you?”
“I need to speak with the Huntress. She has information that may prove useful to me. Can you arrange a meeting between us?” To Batmare’s surprise, Garden’s only response was a lengthy silence. “Captain, are you there?” She asked.
“Yes, I am.” The stallion replied uncertainly. “ I… I don’t know how to say this, but… the Huntress isn’t here anymore. She was transferred yesterday. Twilight’s eyes widened in shock.
“Transferred?” She asked incredulously. “And you allowed this?”
“It wasn’t up to me I’m afraid.” The captain defended himself. “The order came from a higher level. The highest level, in fact.” Twilight’s eyes widened. as she and Spike shared a glance.
“Princess… Celastia?” She asked haltingly. Even after all this time, the name of Equestria’s monarch still left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“Well… to be more precise, the second highest level.” Garden corrected himself. “Princess Luna. From what I understand, she wants to make sure these costmed lunatics are looked after in a maximum security prison near Canterlot where they can be monitored closely. The best I can do is send the transfer document to you. Oh, what am I saying, you’re already checking it, aren’t you?”
Sure enough, Spike already hacked into the police’s online archives and found the document they were looking for. As they studied the document, they exchanged another pensive glance. The motorbike project will have to be put on hold. Their primary concern in the foreseeable future will be investigating Princess Luna and her personally established prison facility called Belle Reeve.
Caramel Falcon was more angry than ever before in his life. After he lost his wife and his crime empire, his son was the only thing left in his life. The only thing left that was worth going on for. And now he lost even that. Even worse, it was all the colt’s fault.
The boy was too weak emotionally to deal with what the clown and all the other costumed psychopaths have done to their family and his mother. He was so deeply traumatized that he ended up becoming one of them. Secret vigilantes, trying to punish criminals in their own way. Only by criminals, he meant the enemies of his family.
“Stupid boy.” He growled to himself as he laid back in his chair in his mansion’s dining room. He couldn’t go back to his workroom since the clown blew it to smithereens. He will be able to have that replaced. But his son? He will never be replaced. He was currently in the hospital, recovering. But then he will be taken to juvenile hall and what will he be left with? Nothing.
Of course, he understood the colt’s feelings. Back when he was in his prime, he would have gone after anypony who hurt his family. But not like this. He wouldn’t have created himself a phantom murderer persona that always kills the same way. He would have handled things the old fashioned way.
He wasn’t sure what to do now. He still had a few of his lawyer friends from the past who could make sure his son got off easy, but he wasn’t sure he could afford them anymore. He also had some of his more dangerous friends who could bust him out, but that would only be a short term solution. One thing was for sure, from now on, he'd be focusing all of his limited resources to taking out that damn clown. This was the second time she directly attacked his family and no matter how low he fell, he will die before he let that go unpunished.
Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door. Due to force of habit, he waited for his maid to get it for him, before remembering that she was no longer available, so with a sigh, he stood up to do it himself. At the door, he saw a mailpony with a package in his hoof.
“Delivery to Mr. Falcon.” He announced. Caramel raised a brow.
“I didn’t order anything.” He replied in confusion. The mailpony just shrugged.
“This is the address I was told to deliver this to, sir.” He said before hoofing it over to him. After collecting his signature, the mailpony bid him farewell and left. Caramel walked back inside the dining room, examining the package curiously. It was a rectangular shaped box wrapped up in green packing paper. He tore it open to reveal a box of chocolates.
“What kind of sick joke is this?!” He yelled furiously. Apparently, somepony thought it would be funny to send him this as their idea of a joke after it became public knowledge that his son was the Candy Colt. Well, he definitely wasn’t amused. He checked the wrapping to see if he could find any clue about who sent this but to no avail. He checked the box from every angle and finally opened it to see if there was anything inside.
As he did, he heard a huge blast and the whole world went dark.
Capper Dapperpaws was sitting in his office at the Iceberg Lounge, reading over a contract in front of him about the transfer of property off every single establishment formerly ownde by the deceased crime boss, Romance Cyan.
“I suppose everything went smoothly.” He asked as he looked up at an orange earth pony with gray mane, wearing a black tuxedo vest, a top hat and a monocle.
“Yes, Mr, Dapperpaws.” The lawyer replied. “With Romance Cyan not having any descendants or other living relatives, all of her properties went to the city. And they were more than happy to get rid of it given their negative reputation with their alleged ties to the underworld.” The abyssinian smiled in satisfaction. The lack of any other relatives was probably self induced on Black Mask’s part, given her greed and ambitions. But that was none of his concern.
“Excellent. And the other contract?” The lawyer reached into his briefcase and pulled out the document in question.
“I have it right here, but it still needs the signature of the other party.”
“No problem.” Capper replied, taking the document into his paw. “We shall have that very soon.” As if on cue, Capper’s intercom rang on the desk.
“Yes?” He answered, pressing the button on the receiver.
“Boss, we have him. We just arrived back at the club.” Capper smiled.
“Good. Escort him up here, please!” A few minutes later, two of Capper’s henchponies entered the room with a smaller, rather frail looking pegasus stallion wearing glasses and a vest. Capper jovially invited them.
“Ah, the new Ventriloquist, I assume! Please, come in. And boys, please close the door behind you.” The henchponies did as they were instructed. The pegasus sat down in front of Capper’s desk, shaking like a leaf.
“Please, Mr. Penguin, sir! It wasn’t my idea!” He pleaded on the verge of tears. “I didn’t want to build that gang and cause you any inconvenience! It was Scarface! He forced me to do it.” Capper stood up and reached over his desk, causing the pegasus to flinch. But the cat merely put a paw on his snout in a soothing manner.
“Shh! It’s okay! I believe you!” He said calmingly. “In fact, I brought you here to help you!”
“H-help me?” The pegasus asked uncertainly. Capper nodded.
“Yes. I'm going to rid you of the influence of that nasty, mean puppet for good. Now, do you have him here with you?” The pegasus looked uncertain on how to answer, but eventually, he spread one of his wings, revealing the wooden puppet shaped like an earth pony in a blue tuxedo with a cigar in his mouth and scar across his left eye.
Capper snapped his fingers and his henchponies took the puppet away and carried it to a glass cabinet at the back of the office before locking it inside before concealing it with a sheet.
“There.” Capper told the pegasus reassuringly. “Do you feel better now?” The pegasus stopped shaking and let out a relieved sigh.
“I… I actually do!” He yelled happily. “It's voice! It's gone! I can hear my own thoughts again! It no longer hurts to think!” He laughed hysterically. Capper was rather creeped out by this, but ignored it.
“I'm glad.” He replied before pulling out the document his lawyer gave him and putting it on the desk, pointing at the dotted line. “And all I'm asking for in return is that you sign this document for me. Over here.”The pegasus couldn't care less that he just gave away everything the Ventriloquist owned to Capper with his signature. He was just happy to be rid of the puppet’s influence and signed it with no hesitation.
“Thank you.” Capper mused before giving the now signed contract to his lawyer. “Please have these notarized as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Mr. Dapperpaws.” The stallion replied, putting the two contracts in his briefcase before leaving.
“What about him, boss?” One of the henchponies asked, pointing at the still delirious pegasus in the chair.
“Simple.” Capper answered. “The Ventriloquist came over in an attempt to rob our casino. We managed to subdue him and like the good citizens we are, restrained him until the police arrived. Isn't that right, fellas?” The henchponies smiled at each other.
“Of course, boss. How could we have forgotten?” One of them replied before grabbing the pegasus and escorting him out of the office.
Capper was finally free to savour his triumph in peace. In one swift motion, he was able to take control of the entire Manehattan underworld. And the best part was, he didn't even need to lift a finger to do it. The Batmare and the Candy Colt took care of everything for him. He was now the undisputed ruler of the criminal underworld of two cities. The world was his for the taking.
After a few hours of celebrating, he heard a series of knocks on his door.
“Yes?!” The door opened and Captain Jam Garden entered his office. “Ah, Captain Garden! Always a pleasure! Please, come in! Can I offer you a drink?” The stallion shook his head.
“No, thank you. Not while I'm on duty.”
“Of course! How silly of me.” Capper chuckled. “So what can I do for you?”
“Well, we are here to take in the Ventriloquist.” Garden replied. “We were told that you caught him from trying to rob your club earlier tonight and stopped him from escaping.” Capper nodded.
“Just doing my duty as a citizen of Manehattan, Captain. Happy to be of assistance to the law.” He poured himself a drink, but when he finished, he saw that the Captain was still in his office.
“There was another thing I wanted to discuss with you.” He said.
“Go ahead.” Capper offered with a wave of his paw.
“Caramel Falcon was found dead in his mansion earlier today.” Garden informed him. Capper just stared up at him expressionlessly.
“That is unfortunate, Captain. But I fail to see what this has to do with me.”
“Well… the investigation showed that he was killed by the exact same type of bombs the Candy Colt used in an attempt to assassinate the Joker. There's only one person among his targets who hasn't received his deadly package. You.” Garden explained.
“I appreciate the warning, Captain, but from what I've heard, the Candy Colt has been caught. What relevance does this have now?” Garden struggled with what to say next. It was apparent that he didn't want to make any unfounded accusations.
“Well, it's just… it's rather peculiar that Falcon was murdered by the exact same explosive package that was meant for you.” Capper finished his drink and looked back up at the Captain with a sly smirk.
“I wouldn't know anything about that.”