Pinkie's Secret

by Winter_Solstice


The Long Con

The Long Con

The money was available to be picked up from the bank in two days.

“Do you want us to go pick it up, boss?” asked Porter.

“Who is ‘us’? You and Spindle?”

“Yes, boss.”

“As if I’d trust you two that far! That would be funny if it weren’t so stupid. No, I’m coming with you. You two can carry the money back here, but I’m making sure it’s all there.”

Quickly they made their way to the bank. After about half an hour, once all the forms were filled out and the money counted twice by Spencer, the cash was loaded into four saddlebags. Porter and Spindle each strapped on two, and they then made it back to their rooms without incident.

“Now take half of the money and hide it in your room, Spindle. Then let’s go get that “princess,” said Spencer.

As they walked to the library, Spencer kept his voice down but said, “This is working out just as you suggested, Spindle.” He looked back at him. “Well done.”

Spindle smiled a smile all his own. “Thanks, boss.”

As Spencer faced forward again, Porter and Spindle exchanged a knowing look.

-----

Present Day

Now clad in her black clothing, Pinkie kept to the shadows as she wended her way across the streets of Canterlot. First she had to find Spencer, then the others. The punishment he’d gotten from his father and from the authorities in Ponyville had been light, and the others had gotten away completely.

Far too light, she thought to herself.

Underneath her hood, her hair had gone completely straight.

-----

Ponyville, one week earlier

All was quiet at the Ponyville Orphanage. After taking one last look at her charges to make sure they were all safe in their beds, Ms. Heart Rose went wearily to her office/apartment. She tried to flick on the light, but it wasn’t working. Sighing at yet another expense, she made her way over to the desk to light a candle. Suddenly, in the dark, she felt movement.

“Is-is somepony there?” she asked fearfully.

“No,” said a voice behind her.

Before she could cry out, a hoof was placed over her muzzle, and a male voice whispered in her ear, “Unless you want these dear orphans to sleep for eternity, don’t scream. Got me?” She frantically nodded her head, her eyes wide and frightened.

Another male voice said, “Tie her up, and stick her in that back room.”

Once this was done, the second speaker whispered, “This will all be over soon, darlin’. Just keep quiet, and in about an hour we’ll let you go.” He started to close the door, then stopped and said, “If it helps, we’re not here to hurt the children, we’re just getting back at a pony who deserves it. You and these kids are safe.” With that he closed the door.

-----

Spike was snoring soundly, dreaming of eating a huge diamond and ruby-encrusted cake, when suddenly there was a frantic hammering on the door.

“Who the HAY could that be?!” Stumbling out of bed, he went to answer the door.

“WHAT?!” he yelled as he yanked it open. There before him were two of those three jerks that had made such fools of themselves earlier that week.

One of them begged, “Please, we have to talk to the Princess! It’s urgent!

“I’m awake,” came a sleepy voice from upstairs. Soon Twilight appeared at the stairs, and recognized Spindle and Porter. “What are you two doing here, and at this hour?”

They both bowed. Spindle said, “Your Highness, we have urgent news. Our employer is trying to trick you!”

“What are you talking about? Get up and come inside. Spike, please make us some tea.” As Spike grumpily went to the kitchen, the three sat themselves down. “Now what’s this all about?” she asked.

Spindle looked at Porter, then said, “Spencer has no intention of giving the amount he told you to the orphanage. Tomorrow, we were going to take half back to the bank and redeposit it. He just wanted you to see it to gain your confidence!”

Twilight listened with growing anger. “Where is Spencer now?”

“He’s still in bed, we think,” said Porter. “But that’s not all: along with giving the orphanage half of what he said, he was going to drop hints that you knew the true amount, and might be keeping it for yourself!”

Twilight was shocked into silence. Finally she said, “Nopony in Ponyville would ever believe such a story. That plan was doomed to failure. But he IS going to give all that money to the orphanage!”

She looked them both full in the face as Spike came back in with the tea. “The question is, why did you both tell me this?” she said.

They both hung their heads. “We’ve been his flank kissers for far too long. When you humiliated him that night, he vowed revenge.”

Here Spindle met her eyes. “You are a Princess…we couldn’t let him do anything to you.” A single tear rolled down his face.

Twilight smiled. “Thank you. If there’s anything I can do for you two—“

“There is!” cried Porter. “You can give us some money for tickets out of here.” He looked at Spindle. “We called him our employer, but the truth is he only had us around for laughs. He never paid us a bit.”

“That’s horrible!” said Spike.

“Indeed,” said Twilight. “I’m sure I can. Spike, go to the money chest. Take out enough for two tickets to…where are you two wanting to go?”

“We don’t dare go to Canterlot. His father is there, and once he finds out about his son he may take it out on us.”

“So where?”

Spindle and Porter spoke quietly to each other for a moment. Then Spindle said, “We hear Baltimare is nice this time of year.”

“That’s acceptable.” She moved to the cupboard and took out quill and paper.

“Spike, send this letter off to Princess Luna as soon as you take care of them. I’m going to need a couple of guards.”

-----

For the second time that night, a door was banged upon. This time it was Spencer’s.

“WHAT?!” he yelled.

“Open up in the name of the Princess!” cried a male voice.

“Huh?” said Spencer, as he stumbled to the door and opened it. There stood Princess Twilight, flanked by two Royal Guards.

“P-Princess? What—what’s this all about?”

“You know perfectly well “what this is all about!”” she said. “Don’t bother trying to lie. This was all a scam, and I know what your plans were with that money. Your former employees told me everything.”

Spencer’s face, which had been first sleepy, then irritated, now contorted with rage. “Those two don’t know their plots from a hole in the ground! It’s all lies!”

“Oh really? Then you won’t mind giving the entire amount to the orphanage right now.”

Too late he saw his mistake. But there was no way he could just give away that kind of money without serious repercussions from his father!

“Now, wait a minute, Your Highness. I’m sure the director is asleep now. Why don’t we do this in the morning?”

In answer, she turned to her guards. “Search the room.” She could not remember ever being so angry.

“Hang on! I have rights!”

“Stop,” she said to the guards. Getting up in Spencer’s face, she said, “Answer me one thing: are you, or are you NOT going to keep your word and give that money to the orphanage?”

He wavered. If he said ‘no’ he was breaking his word. If ‘yes’ then he was out more money than his father would forgive in a year, if ever. Goodbye traveling, goodbye partying, goodbye everything but his name. But in that moment…he realized his name was far more important.

Committing what was probably his first act of maturity, he squared his shoulders and said two words clearly:

“I am.”
-----

The “director” heard the door being quietly knocked upon. She made sure to tousle her mane as if she’d been sleeping, counted to twenty, and then opened the door. Four ponies stood there. Two were guards, one was Princess Twilight, and the other was that nice young pony named Spencer.

“Can I help you all? What’s this about?” she whispered.

“Please ma’am. May we come in?” Twilight whispered back.

“Certainly, but please keep your voices down, as all the children are still sleeping,” she said, pulling her bathrobe closed. “Am I in trouble?”

Twilight smiled. “No, far from it. Mr. Fortune has something he wanted to give you.” The two guards came forward and quietly deposited the four saddlebags on the floor.

“Is-is this what I think it is?” she asked.

Twilight looked at Spencer, who gritted his teeth and said, “Yes. Yes it is. Every. Last. Bit.”

She put one hoof up to her face and sobbed while being careful not to shed any actual tears and ruin her stage makeup. “I don’t know what to say! Thank you, young sir!”

“You’re. Welcome,” managed Spencer.

“We won’t take up any more of your time, Ms. Rose. The hour is late, and I’m sure you have a full day ahead of you!” said Twilight. So saying she led the others out. Spencer lingered a moment longer, gazing at the saddlebags, then followed Twilight and the guards.

As soon as they’d gone she locked the door and gave a huge sigh of relief. She pulled off the false mane. Spindle and Porter came out from a back room and Spindle slowly applauded. “Nice work, Mimic.”

Mimic gave a theatrical bow, and said, “I almost didn’t come. When I got your letter I thought this might be a joke.” She prodded the bags. “I’m glad I came!”

“Good,” said Spindle. “Now let’s divvy up the dough, put that director mare where she can be found by these brats in the morning, then make tracks out of here.”

“Where are we going?” asked Porter.

“You and I are going to Canterlot. Mimic, you may go where you please.”

“Wait, why Canterlot?! That’s the first place they’ll look for us!” said Porter.

“No,” said Spindle. “It’s the last place they’d expect us to go.”

Taking the contents of one saddlebag and distributing it evenly to the other three, they each hoisted their new wealth onto themselves, then got the director out of the back room.

Spindle looked down at the frightened, tied and blindfolded mare and said, “I meant what I said earlier: we’re not here to hurt you or these kids. You did good by not making any noise, so here’s a reward.” He placed a few bits on the floor next to her head.

Turning to the others he said, “Let’s go.”