//------------------------------// // Gunpowder, Guillotine // Story: Gunpowder, Guillotine // by Silver Sea //------------------------------// Gunpowder, Guillotine - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - She looked at her latest "client" and kissed him on the forehead. Poor son of a bitch. He was a gentlecolt, too. But I shouldn't get too attached, not in my line of work. She had worked with a lot of stallions in her time, many she wished she did not have to... consult. Anyway, this was her job. It payed the bills, and she was clothed and fed. I'll need someplace to go. Not everypony I work with is a loner. People are going to wonder. She searched throught the stallion's coat pocket and found  a some golden bits. She then left her client slumped over in his chair, and walked to the front door of the apartment. I hope they don't recognize me. It's old news, anyway. They'll have forgotten me, I'm sure. No one noticed as she left the apartment building and trotted down the streets of Los Pegasus. Now, where can I stay? Is Pinkamena still making her "special cupcakes" in Ponyville? I may be able to stay with her. She entered an alley and opened a back door. She slipped inside without suspicion. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Knock knock knock "Hello?" "Pinkamena, darling, it is wonderful to see you!" "Wow, you're looking good! Hey, had any good... clients recently?" "I'll tell you later. I've had such a busy time since I last saw you! I need somewhere to stay for a while." "I see. One sec, let me see something." Pinkamena dissapeared inside her home and workplace and returned a few moments later. "Okay, you can stay! Just, don't 'bring anyone over', okay?" "Of course. I'm laying low for a while. I've had quite a lot of clients recently." "Well, come on in! We have lots of catching up to do!" The two mares trotted into the bakery and up some stairs. The smell of sugar and fruit assaulted the city mare's senses; she was used to the stench of cheap perfume and wine. The place was also very dirty, with flower and sugar dusting every surface. When they reached the upstairs apartment, she looked at the posters adorning the walls of popular music stars like DJ PON-3. They sat down on two chairs and started to regale each other with tales of past events. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Wow, I didn't know that you would wait so long for a single client." "I know! I was low on 'special ingredient' though." "Well, that pegasus should have been smarter. You say she was an Element of Harmony? Nice catch!" "Oh, and she put up a fight, too! It took me days to mend my dress from all the punches she threw. It was worth it, though." "Well worth it, I am sure." "Now tell me about your latest client! You must have a few good tales." "My latest client. A gentlecolt, no doubt. He even pulled out my chair at the table where the deal was struck. I felt bad about doing it, but of course it's my line of work! I did my best to match his elegance, but in the end it didn't matter. Oh, I used my favourite, the hole in the table covered by the table cloth. It was clean and painless." "I don't understand the lack of pain in your jobs. It's more fun to make them suffer." "That's because you have a soundproof dungeon to do it. I have to make due with leased rooms in the big city. You wouldn't understand." "Maybe not." "Anyway, I found some good cash on him, and then I hooved it out. Next thing you know, I'm at a train station and in line for a ticket to Ponyville. You know the rest." "Well, that's an interesting story." "It was a very interesting night." "Hey, do you feel like helping me make some cupcakes?" "I'd love to. They don't call me 'The Killer Queen' for nothing." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Author's note: In case you didn't figure it out, she's a murderer. This entire chapter was written with "Killer Queen" playing in my headphones. I went a little bit mad while writing it.