//------------------------------// // Spies // Story: A Mockery of Life // by Farseer //------------------------------// Lemon slammed a hooded pony- cloaked like hers, only brown- and growled. "Who are you, who do you work for, and why are you in my private rooms?" She just tightened her lips. Lemon scowled. "You do understand I'm a necromancer. And you seem to be more use to me dead than alive right now." She drew her ritual knife. Her eyes bulged, but she didn't speak. She sighed. Oh well, then. She drew back her knife... "Wait! Wait! I'll talk!" She sighed. "Alrighty then. Start talking." She took a deep breath. "I am Ice Da-" "Colgate..." she murmured under her breath. "What were you doing?" "She wanted me to see what you were doing back there, cooped up every night." "And did you see why?" She grinned. "Yes. Indeed I did." "Then we have no further need of discussion... tratior." Her eyes widened at this. "What? I'm no-" The knife hit home right through the center of the neck. Blood spurted out of the cut, and she dropped to the floor, clutching at her neck. She soon collasped and stood still. She picked up the body. At least she wouldn't have to get a corpse from that creepy collector tonight... She wondered how to deal with the problem that her rivals were posing. How...? Several times now I have seen her. A pony, lurking in the shadows. I pretend not to notice, but I cannot help but look. She doesn't move or talk- except to or from the door- but she spends most of it looking at me- watching me put together puzzles, or sleep on my new bed- a cloud that Lemon had wrangled in. I like laying on the cool, fluffy surface, looking at the pictures of stars on the ceiling. She looks scared, somewhat unbelieving. I wonder why. I tried to talk to her once, but as I made to approach her, she left and didn't come back for a while. For some reason, I didn't tell Lemon about it. I don't know why. Maybe because I wasn't scared? Maybe I was scared of her reaction? I don't know. Then, one day, the pony was about to exit- and she ran right into Lemon. She didn't have a chance. She grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and left, telling me that she would be back soon. It took her fifteen minutes to reappear at my door. Then she started to ask me several questions. How long was she here, if she had been here before. My answers seemed to frighten her more. I remember asking, "Why are you scared?" "Because," she responded, "there are people out there who wish to hurt me... and will hurt you with the sole purpose of hurting me- without any regard to you. To them you are just..." she paused at this. But I get it. I don't need her to say anymore. Lemon was almost to the point of tears. I did the only thing I could do. I opened my forelegs and wrapped her in a hug. It took her a while to wrap her legs around me, and she sobbed into my shoulder, while I reassured her that everything would be alright. Trying to reassure myself as well, trying to see what she is so scared of. And then I realize it. She's scared for me. She's scared because she doesn't want anything to happen to me, and no matter what she did now, her enemies were able to steal the key to her heart... maybe even her sanity. I can't let this happen. Not just because I would be the way they entered, I would also be the one. Whom, if I gave in, I exposed my mother to her enemies. Eventually, she breaks away. She smiles at me through tears and kisses me on my cheek, then says that she would return. And then she leaves. In the hallway, the tears slowly turn into anger. How dare she try to take her away- to take her and shape her into a true horror, something to be put on the front lines to be slaughtered! She eventually made her way to Colgate's chambers and burst open the door, disregarding her privacy. "COLGATE!" I holler, upset. Colgate grinned, lifting her head from her work. "Why, hello, Lemon Hearts. I haven't seen you in a while. Perhaps because of... your little secret." "Your spy is dead." Lemon smiled at Colgate's sudden look of disapproval, before it disappeared. Then Colgate siled in return. "Please. I have no idea what you are talking about. Who is this spy?" "Your late apprentice, Ice Darkness." "Oh, well. Apprentices are replaceable. Tell me you never sent your apprentice to do something that you could have done, only because of the implied health hazard. And besides, I never sent him. He was acting of his own free will." "Liar." "Oh, really? I'll take it to the Council, if you aren't satisfied. But there would be quicker way for your little secret to get out." "Now you're blackmailing me." "Perhaps. Now get out of here, Lemon. Don't you see I have undead to fabricate?"