//------------------------------// // The Syndicate // Story: The Dead Stallion's Hand // by Lord Zalgo //------------------------------// Darkness fell over the land of Equestria as ponies around the country fell into a peaceful slumber. However... had they known the evil that was growing in power among them, their sleep would be far more restless. A mare and a stallion stood at the entry to their don's office. The entire room was shrouded in darkness and even with the mare's heightened senses, she could sense the stallion inside. The stallion had a forrest green coat with a bright green mane and tail. His cutie mark was a single leaf and his eyes were sky blue. The mare had a pink coat with a pitch black mane and tail. Her cutie mark was that of a harp, but her eyes were blood red and were similar to that of a cat or a dragon. "B-Boss? Are you in there?" The mare asked hesitantly, her teeth almost glistening with excess saliva from her nervousness. There was no response. "I brought the... rat." The mare looked guiltily at the stallion who looked terrified. A small lamp slightly illuminated the room as the shillouette of a stallion sat behind a large desk. "...Good work, Valliere." The Boss said before standing and walking towards the pair of ponies. "So, it was you, Mint. I'm disappointed." The Boss said down at the stallion who was cowering before him. "P-please, Boss. I-I'm so sorry!" Mint said, on his knees in a begging position. "Apologies won't save you. You betray me, you betray the syndicate. And you know what happenes to traitors..." The Boss replied, his horn shimmering gold as he brought a gun to his side. "No! No! Please! I-I'll do anything!!" Mint screamed. The Boss seemed to pause as he stared at the cowering stallion for a moment. "Anything?" The Boss asked. "Yes! Yes! Anything!!" Mint promised. "Can you tell me anything about the ponies you revealed the information to?" The Boss asked, returning to his seat. "Yes. Well. The ponies were-." Mint couldn't finish as there was suddenly a hole where his forehead should have been. Smoke slowly rose from the barrel of the Boss's gun as he placed it back on the table. Valliere recoiled at the sound and the sight that lay before her as Mint's blood began to pour into the carpet he collapsed upon. "Oops. I shot Minty in the face." The Boss said sarcastically, clearly intending to shoot the stallion. "Why did you shoot Minty in the face?!" Valliere screamed in shock. "There's no room for traitors in my syndicate. Besides, he was all too eager to reveal information about his contacts. He clearly had no loyalty to anypony. Animals like that should be put down." The Boss said as he turned the chair to look out of the window. "So... What's next, sir?" Valliere asked. "Simple. We've been getting more and more recruits since the previous boss'... abdication. Soon, we take down the other syndicates, families, mafia and any other gangster low-life in this city. After that, we will be pulling the strings and we will control Canterlot." The Boss answered without turning around. "...All of Canterlot? But, what about the Princesses?" Valliere asked. The Boss lifted his gun once more and waved it around casually. "What about them?" He replied. "If they ever find out about the syndicate and track us down, I'm sure they'll repeal the law against cruel and unusual punishment after what we're planning on doing." She said. "...Then, they won't find out. ...Having second thoughts, Valliere?" The Boss said as his magic began to grip a wooden object on his desk. "No... No... Not at all. What do you want me to do now, sir?" Valliere replied quickly. "Leave. I've no further need of you tonight. Your suppliment is on the table next to you. Wouldn't want you dying on me, now would I?" The Boss said evenly. Valliere looked to her left to see a small jar on the table which she grabbed quickly, uncrewed it and began to drink the liquid inside it with almost animalistic gusto. The slightly thick red liquid mostly went down her oesophagus, but a small amount of it began to dribble down her cheek as she finished the small vial. She then ran her hoof across the liquid on her face and licked up as much as she could, like a savage. "I suppose hungry dogs may be the loyalest of all." The Boss said with a slight amount of disgust, but a large amount of mocking. Valliere glared for a moment before turning to leave. After she left the office, she walked through the corridor towards her room. Even in her own room, she didn't feel safe. She didn't feel safe anywhere in the entire building. The syndicate used to help ponies. They didn't used to be hitponies. Ever since the current boss's takeover, all the goodness, all the joy and all the innocence was drained from the organisation. She wanted to leave, but her condition was too great. She knew that the Boss was the only pony in Canterlot who could give her the fix she needed. But, he never gave her enough. He knew she needed more. But, he also knew how to keep her 'loyal'. She collapsed onto her bed as she stared into the darkness. She felt far from nourished. The vial was enough to keep her alive. But, never enough to quench her hunger. She needed more. She needed blood. She hungered for it...