The Black Cello Mafia
Chapter 1: Lawful Crime
"Are you sure you're alright, Octavia?"
Octavia stared up at the ceiling from her bed, trying to ignore Vinyl's concern. She understood that, on some level, that they had a type of bond not quite like a friends. Though it was complicated and seemed requited, it was strangely passionate, a powerful will bringing them together.
"Yes Vinyl, I'm perfectly fine." Looking down at the unicorn with a bored expression, she saw the genuine worry in her eyes. Sighing, she forced a smile.
"Seriously. I'm alright."
Vinyl huffed. "If you say so." A moment passed and a wry, devilish grin overcame her mouth. With one quick poke at Octavia's bullet wound, she sent her in a writhing mess of pain, squirming in agony.
"You...bitch..." Octavia cursed at the giggling Vinyl through puffed cheeks.
The white unicorn clambered over Octavia and pulled the covers over them.
"Good night, dear." She said evilly, Octavia still clenching her shoulder.
=-=-=-=-=
"Will you turn that light off and go to sleep, Twilight?"
Twilight peered over her book to look at the aggravated Pinkie Pie sitting up in her bed across from her. Looking at the lamp, she sighed.
"Sorry. Books help me sleep." She pulled the lamp switch down, encompassing the room in pitch black.
Pinkie rustled under her covers to go back to sleep, blowing angry air from her snout. Twilight stayed up looking around the darkness, still not sleepy enough to fall asleep.
"Pinkie?" Twilight called out into the quiet blackness.
"What?"
"Do you...ever regret what happened that day?"
Silence responded to her, moments passing with no answer. Growing tired and frustrated, the purple unicorn slid back down in her bed, pulling the covers to lay on her face. She began to feel her eyelids solidify and fall over her eyes, sleeping growing nearer. It wasn't until she was almost out when Pinkie answered.
"Everyday Twilight, everyday."
=-=-=-=-=
Octavia shot her eyes open in a hurry, swinging her head to look around her. She felt relived as the surroundings of Vinyl's room confronted her, light pouring in through the half open blinds. Taking note that Vinyl had already left the bed, Octavia sat up and rubbed her eyes. Everything was quiet and calm, a polar opposite of what had happened just a day before. The events rushed through Octavia's mind in a hurry, making her regret the sloppy job she had done. It would have to work though, information does not come easy.
Out of the bed, the tan earth pony opened the door and yawned into the kitchen. Vinyl was making coffee and Pinkie was sitting at the small table, looking through the file they had taken. Octavia sat down across from her and waited patiently for her coffee. A small mug full of straight black plopped down in front of her. Giving Vinyl a smile, she began.
"So what does the file say about the project Pinkie?"
Pinkie shook her head, brushing her slick hair back. "Not much. They've done some type of security to keep information to a minimum. This file only speaks about the spell they're preforming and it's capabilities."
"So wheres the rest of it?"
"Well there's a note. It says 'The manifest I require to complete my section of the file is in the hooves of Amethyst Star. I have to set up a meeting with her to acquire the defensive instructions to complete the combat.' Apparently we stole this before the meeting could take place, 'cause I don't see any other manifest within the combat chapter." Pinkie reported, closing the file. "We should wait for Twilight to wake up so we can understand the spell better."
Octavia stopped mid-sip of her coffee, intrigued by what the pink pony had said. "The spell is in there?"
Pinkie sighed. "That's the thing, it's incomplete. The combat section explains that the spell in this file is only half of the entire thing."
An idea sparked in Octavia's mind, the only way they could beat the unicorns.
"We have to find Amethyst Star. She has the rest of the spell." Octavia ordered
"What're you getting at?" Vinyl asked, coffee levitating beside her face.
"Well, with the spell we can finally combat the unicorns in a fair game, seeing as magic is an unfair advantage." Octavia explained.
There was a rumbling from the hallway beside the kitchen, which came from Twilight who tumbled out of the opening into the kitchen, groggy and sleep in her eyes. She poured herself a cup of coffee and stared at the three ponies. "What're you all talking about?" Twilight asked while eyeing the closed file on the table.
"We've read over the file and discussed the information inside." Pinkie Pie answered. Twilight rose an eyebrow in curiosity to her.
Pinkie tapped the envelope. "It's half of a combat spell, one that seems like it enhances defense and attack to whoever the spell is being cast on."
"And we want you to cast it for us." Octavia interjected, making Twilight give her a strange but excited look. Octavia looked to Pinkie. "When is their meeting taking place?"
Pinkie ruffled through the notes. "It's taking place at twelve in the castle Park."
Octavia paused, a small sense of anxiety catching her. That means we'll be close to the Royals.
"So...you'll go get the rest of the spell and use it to enhance ourselves?"Twilight questioned.
Octavia nodded, setting your coffee down on the table. "So who's going?"
=-=-=-=-=
Applejack sat with her back pressed upon the bench, waiting for the suited Rainbow Dash to arrive for their meeting. The farm pony had stayed within her cover of clothing she had wore the night before, keeping the coming risky dealing to a safe minimum of being caught, by the Royal Army or the Pegasi mafia. Many minutes had flowed into the full hour that Applejack had sat on the bench before a track suited Rainbow Dash, out of breath and glistening with sweat, sat on the bench next to her.
"Nice disguise, Dash." Applejack complimented.
"Not a disguise, Applejack. I work out every day for an hour in the park." Dash said under her hasty breath.
Applejack nodded. Clever.
"Alright. Let's begin." Applejack Declared.
"Let's." Rainbow agreed.
"The Unicorns. What are the Pegasi and them planning?"
"The Unicorn and the Pegasi are pairing together for a siege on Manehattan. Their goal is to hold the city hostage, build walls and secure the sky in order for a full lock down. Though, I don't know what their plans are for ransom. The two heads of the mafia are the only ones who have their hooves over everything, the only ones who actually plan." Rainbow Dash explained.
"I see...okay. Nero. How much do you know about him?"
"Even when I first met the stallion, I knew he was a damned psychopath. His eyes bugged no matter what state of mood he was in. And this was even before his son died. His mane was always messy and out of order. I met him when I had finally rose up the ranks, and our first meeting was extremely uncomfortable. Damn bastard wouldn't stop laughing at his own jokes. Anyway, I know he's ruthless and won't stop to acquire what he desires...I'm not even sure HE knows what he desires anymore."
"The Unicorn mob boss. Have you met them?" Applejack questioned right after Rainbow's Nero info dump.
Rainbow paused for a moment, birds broke into the silence. "No. I haven't even heard their voice. Only letters sent to me, personally, direct orders. Nero approved it, telling me that was as far I was going to get to meet the head operator. The letters were kept formal, no suspicion of what gender or who it could be."
"Okay. Final question." Applejack stated bluntly.
Rainbow Dash sighed. "Lay it on me."
Applejack was silent for a good while. Slowly, she pulled down her scarf that covered her mouth and took off her old sun hat that shadowed her head. She turned to Rainbow Dash and looked her dead in the eyes and asked.
"Where are they holding Rarity?"