“Thanks for bringing back my scooter, kid.” Officer M4 Gun said to me. “I dunno why I trusted you, but there was just something about you that I could trust.”
“Thanks, officer.” I said. “Really I need to fulfill a debt I owe, and I really needed to chase down my brother. Those sharks are really a Hell of trouble, y’know?”
“I understand.” Officer M4 nodded. “You feel bad for ruining my nephews life here and you wish to fix the problem you caused.”
“That’s right.” I said.
“Well good. It’s like giving you a ticket for community service, but instead, I didn’t have to waste any paper or ink. Good work! If more criminals were like you, there’d be more criminals being reformed instead of arrested.” Officer M4 said. “I’d rather have the reforming criminals more because it’s a lot less paperwork on my desk.”
“That’s what the Friendship Mob is all about, officer.” I said. “Turning criminals, bullies, and those with disharmony into well-taught, debt-fullfilling individuals, and you know what? It feels good.”
“It’s like watching My Name is Earl.” Officer M4 said.
“OH, MAN! I loved that show!” Angel said excitedly. “It’s too bad that cancelled it on a cliffhanger, man. It was an amazing show!”
“I know.” I nodded.
“Yo, brothers!” Clay said excitedly as he joined us as he exits from the bank. The main reason we were here was to wait for him to come out because I needed his help.
“Alright, Clay, you’re free to go.” M4 said. “All of you, clean the streets when you can. If you need help ever, call me. I’d be willing to assist any way I can.”
“We’ll try to remember that, thank you!” I said. Officer M4 walks away.
“So, H, you found your brother and your dad, huh?” Annabelle asked.
“Yeah, but he’s going through some trouble right now.” Turnip said. “His dad would stop hunting for him if Herb does one last job for him.”
“Well, Herb? What’s up?” Annabelle asked.
“Well… I needed all of you with me because… I can’t do this alone.” I said. “It might stand against my oath to keep peace.”
“What did he ask for you to, man?” Angel asked.
“We’ll be there to help any way we can, brother.” Clay said.
“Whatever you want, man, we have your back always.” Angel said.
“You know it, brother!” Clay said.
“Man.” Angel said.
“Brother.” Clay said.
“Man.”
“Brother.”
“MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!” Angel yelled in Clay’s face.
“Whoa!” Clay yelled in surprise. “Ok, ok, calm down, brother!”
“GUYS!” Turnip yelled.
“Man!” Angel yelled.
“Brother!” Clay yelled.
“Herb’s in trouble right now and we need to assist him with his problem. It’s part of Friendship Mob duty!” Turnip explained.
“We’re listening, H.” Annabelle said. “No matter what happens, we’ll have your back every step of the way.”
“Are you sure you’ll be able to help me with this?” Angel asked. “It’ll stop my dad from hunting for me, but it’ll involve doing something evil.”
“What is it, ese?” Annabelle asked.
“I…” I stuttered. “I… umm…”
“Spit it out, man!” Angel demanded.
“Don’t rush him, Angel.” Clay instructed him.
“What happened to brother?” Angel asked.
“What happened to man?” Clay asked.
“You know, you dudes aren’t makin’ this any easier for me!” I said angrily.
“Umm, how about we all head to our usual hang out and discuss it over some appetizers?” Annabelle suggested. So the five of us went over to Applebees and we split a few appetizers.
“Thanks for taking us here, A.” I said as I took a mozzarella stick and dipped it. “I’ve been so stressed out lately over the fact that I have to betray a friend to get my pop off my back.”
“You have to betray a friend?” Annabelle asked.
“Yes.” I said as I took a bite from the mozzarella stick. “I’ve joined the Friendship Mafia for a purpose. I hired Blueberry Pie and Porker Swinebutt to chase Flare out of town by betraying him, and I felt bad over all of it, and I never betrayed him. Now though… now it’s different. I have to actually betray somepony.”
“It’s Angel right?” Turnip teased.
“Nah, man! He wouldn’t do that!” Angel corrected him. He then started to get a little nervous, and then he looked at me and asked, “Would you, Herb? Would you actually betray me?”
“Why would I betray YOU, Angel?” I asked.
“Yeah, we’re all here. Herb is telling us this. It’s obviously not us, it’s somepony else.” Clay explained.
“You’re right, Clay.” I said.
“Are you gonna finish that?” Clay asked as he pointed to the spinach dip.
“Knock yourself out.” I offered as I slid over the spinach dip to him.
“Yay!” Clay cheered.
“Who’s the pony you’re going to betray, Herb?” Annabelle asked.
“The don.” I said hesitantly.
“Poni Cipriani?” Angel asked.
“No the OTHER don!” Turnip said sarcastically.
“Shush, man! I didn’t know!” Angel complained.
“So your dad wants to you betray Poni Cipriani? Why?” Annabelle asked.
“Poni’s the don of the Friendship Mafia.” I said. “He obviously wants me to get rid of Poni so the mob would be weakened dramatically, and the mob won’t be a problem to him anymore.”
“Wow… that’s heavy, holms.” Annabelle nodded.
“GREAT SCOTT!” Clay gasped.
“What?” Annabelle asked.
“Just referencing.” Clay said.
“So does your dad want you to kill Poni?” Annabelle asked.
“He doesn’t care what I do to him as long as I get rid of him.” I said.
“This sucks, man.” Angel said. “Cipriani’s been straight with us since even before we met him.”
“Yeah, this is going to be rough on you, isn’t it?” Annabelle asked.
“What if you don’t do it?” Clay asked.
“If I don’t do it, my pop’s going to continue to hunt me down and probably deal with Poni himself. I don’t want my pop to get to him; I don’t want him hurt. I’m just going to threaten Poni to leave town, and he probably will, and… that’s it.”
“What’s going to happen to the mob though?” Annabelle asked.
“I dunno.” I said. “Either somepony else will have to run it, or it’ll be finished, done, ciao. Arrivederci!”
“Well… if that’s what it takes… I’ll help you out, H.” Annabelle said.
“As will I.” Turnip said.
“For the streets, man!” Angel said.
“If you let me have the rest of those casadias, I’m in!” Clay said.
“Then it’s settled.” I nodded. “Tonight, Poni Cipriani will be banished from Mareami.”
“Then let’s do it!” Annabelle said mischievously. So after we ate, we all went over to the carriage to get some of our supplies and weapons ready. I didn’t want to do this, but I had to. It’s the only way to get the Sharks off our tails. Wow… the way I said it… wow. So we take the carriage over to Little Hoovana, and we park in front of Poni’s house. “Are you sure you want to go through with this, H?” Annabelle asked as he places his hoof on my shoulder.
“No.” I said. “I know I don’t want to do it. Am I sure that I need to do this? No, I’m still not sure, but I can’t think of any better ideas. If any of you do, please, enlighten me.”
“Can we get some ice cream after this?” Clay asked.
“Only if it sells soy too. I’m lactose intolerant.” Turnip said.
“Then let’s do this.” I said upsettingly. So the five of us hopped out of the carriage and started walking over to Poni’s place. We rung the doorbell, and Bright Wing came and answered it. Bright Wing glared at us once he answered it.
“We’ve expectin’ yous.” Bright Wing said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised.” I said.
“The don is waitin’ for yous.” Bright Wing said as he moves out of the way so we can walk inside. The five of us walked in as Clay was admiring the scenery.
“Nice place, brother!” Clay said.
“Hmph.” Bright Wing pouted.
“What’s his problem?” Clay asked Turnip.
“Bad day?” Turnip shrugged.
“Please give me your weapons before entering the don’s office.” Star Trot requested as he takes all of our weapons.
“Awww.” Turnip whined. “Makes me look awesome.”
“You may enter now.” Star said as he moves out of the way and allows us to enter Poni’s office. As the five of us walk inside his office, Star and Wing both enter behind us, aiming their water guns on our backs.
“Well, there goes my dry cleanin’.” Clay said.
“Herb Leafhorn.” Poni Cipriani said as his chair was turned towards the back wall.
“Boss.” I said.
“You mean ex-boss, don’t you?” Poni asked.
“You heard?” I asked.
“I don’t know who to trust these days so I sent Bright Wing and Star Trot to spy on you.” Poni said as he turns his chair. “You really want to betray me, huh?”
“Boss, it’s not like that, not like that at all!” I begged. “I was given no choice. My pop, he… he promised to leave the gang alone if the only way to do it was to get rid of you.”
“I knew you’d still have feelings for your pop, kid.” Poni said.
“I have mixed feelings for him, boss.” I said. “He’s my pop, and I don’t want to fight him. I joined this mob to bring peace, and getting rid of you means bringing peace to the street, do I have a choice?”
“Do yous?” Poni asked.
“Not that we could think of.” Turnip admitted.
“Yous ponies are all the SAME!” Poni yelled as he slides random objects off his desk out of anger. “Yous say you wanna bring peace to the streets, but really all yous want is power! Don’t yous deny it!”
“All I want is peace, boss.” I said. “I also need to redeem my family name some how.”
“And yous think yous gettin’ rid of me is gonna do that?” Poni asked.
“I don’t know.” I said.
“You don’t know. You… don’t… know.” Poni said. “Kid, if I learned one thing about Mareami is that everypony is stupid. Take a look around! Surrounded by idiots!” I turned around and looked at my friends. Turnip was picking his nose, I knew Clay wanted ice cream, Angel might say something stupid and say the word ‘man’ multiple times, but Annabelle… Annabelle… he’s the only sane one in the bunch. He’s even smarter than I. He’s a very loyal friend, and knows exactly what to do. He’s been by my side for as long as I could remember. Annabelle did nothing to harm anypony.
“What? Why are you staring at me, H?” Annabelle asked. I then looked back at Poni.
“You’re right, boss. I am surrounded by idiots.” I agreed.
“HEY!” Turnip whined.
“Man that’s not cool.” Angel said.
“But you know what else? We’re all idiots.” I said. “But that’s ok. We’re idiots that are like family. I wouldn’t do a thing to hurt them. I’d stay by their side no matter what.”
“But you can hurt me?” Poni asked.
“I don’t want to hurt you, boss. How many times do I have to say it?” I complained. “I’m only gettin’ rid of you to protect my family: Turnip Orch, Clay Cement, Angel Heartstrings, and Annabelle; plus, I’m tryin’ to save the family. That includes Bright Wing and Star Trot over there. Sacrifices must be made. I can’t risk this mob to be in ruin because this mob is my life. It’s all of our lives. I just don’t want my pop to lay his greasy filthy hooves on it. I mean really, he barely washes his hooves. They smell like something died in a junkyard.”
Poni was pretty surprised about that speech I had. He nodded and then he took out his pipe and inhaled it, and then bubbles popped out of the end. “Yous really enlighten me, kid. You’re not as much of an idiot as I thought yous was.”
“I’m only doin’ what I think is best, boss.” I said. “You’re like family to me, man.”
“Yous make a good point.” Poni nodded. “Yous would sacrifice me for the sake of the mob? Not for your own personal desires?”
“The only thing I desire is harmony.” I said. “The Leafhorns had taken it away from this city, and now, I’m going to bring it back.”
“Then I’m willin’ to accept my fate.” Poni said as he takes out a piece of paper from his drawer and places it on his desk and places a pen.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“It’s a contract.” Poni said. “Sign this, and the Friendship Mob is yours. I’ll leave town tomorrow, and you’ll have the peace yous desire.”
“You’re bluffin’.” I thought.
“Do I look like a joker to you, kid?” Poni asked. Wow, I couldn’t believe it. Poni was willing to leave town for the sake of his mob. Poni truly showed to me the ultimate test of what the Friendship Mafia is all about. He was willing to pack up and end his career as the don just so the peace could continue. Did I betray Poni’s trust, or did I gain it even more? Just then, I started to gain flashbacks. I looked at Poni Cipriani and when I looked at him, I saw Flare. I saw his sad-looking eyes after Swinebutt betrayed him. I remembered how angry he was. He went berserk and destroyed Swinebutt’s lab, and then Swinebutt gets struck by lightning, grows a scar on his face, and he becomes a changed pig. I made Swinebutt an evil pig, but betraying Flare made him even more evil. Would the same thing happen to me if I betrayed Poni?
Just then, I just remembered, my pop will get off my back if I do this so… I decided to improvise. I’m going to start signing the contract, and it’ll give me a time pressure so it’ll help me think about what I should do and be sure about it. So I started signing the contract, but the pen wasn’t writing. I tried scribbling, but there was no ink. “Umm, boss? Can I have a new pen? This one’s out of ink.” I said.
“Sure.” Poni said as he takes out a new pen and scribbles it on the paper, and then he gave it to me. “Ok this one works.”
“Thank you.” I said as I took the pen. Wow… he gave me a pen! Not even my own pop gives me a pen. I suddenly made my final decision. “Pone, I hope you could understand that I really don’t want my pop to bother me.”
“I do understand.” Poni nodded.
“Perhaps it’s a chance I’ll have to take.” I said as I take the contract, rip it up and tossed it in the garbage.
“Uh, Herb? Paper’s are supposed to be recycled, man.” Angel reminded me. Everypony started to glare at him. “I’m just saving the streets.”
“Why did you do that, H?” Annabelle asked. “I thought this was the only way to get your pop to stop hunting for you?”
“Yeah, well… I’d rather take my chances. I’m not going to be a traitor like that pig! I learned my lesson long ago. I just forgot it for a while.” I said.
“You’re a good kid, Herb.” Poni said as he smiled at me. “That was your ultimate test. You are now an official underboss of the Friendship Mob! Congratulations, kid! Keep it up and I’ll make you made!”
“Thank you, Poni.” I smiled. “Really, I don’t know what went over me. I apologize for that, boss.”
“You done a great deal, kid!” Poni said as he stands up and holds my shoulders. “You are a great pony! I trust yous. You know what’s best for the mob and I appreciate that!”
“Yeah but now my pop is goin’ to be a problem still.” I said.
“Or is he?” Poni asked mischievously. A few minutes went by and I decided to give my dad a call. He answered.
“Hey, son! You done what I asked?” my pop asked.
“It’s done, pop.” I said. “Poni Cipriani will no longer be a problem. He’s leaving town and he ain’t comin’ back.”
“Well done, kid!” my dad said excitedly. “You sure have redeemed yourself. You are no longer on my hit-list. I assume you’re now the don of the Friendship Mob.”
“I would believe so.” I said.
“I don’t care what you do with the mob; just keep them away from my territories. I will not lose business because of your mob, and keep out of our business.” My dad said. “Keep the peace if you want, but don’t interfere with Sharks operations, and then we’ll no longer be enemies. Stay safe, son. Make the Leafhorn name mean something!”
“As you wish, pop. Bye!” I said as I hung up. “It’s done, boss.”
“Good.” Poni said. “I shall lay low for a while. What did he say about the mob?”
“He said as long as we doesn’t interfere with Sharks business, he doesn’t care what we do.” I said.
“Keep a low profile when it comes to dealin’ with sharks.” Poni said. “If you ask me, just keep the peace on the streets, and whatever damage they do, just fix it. Make sure the Sharks don’t know you’re interfering with your business. The Friendship Mob will always help those in need, but they won’t be visible.”
“I understand, boss.” I nodded.
“I’ll keep in touch with yous if I find any jobs, but let’s stay away from the huge bank heists for the time bein’.” Poni suggested.
“Got it, Pone!” I understood.
“Good. You’re dismissed.” Poni said as my friends and I all left the don’s house and we all started walking back to the carriage.
“This is great, H!” Annabelle said excitedly. “The Friendship Mafia and Poni are as strong as ever, and now your pappi will leave us alone! I find this to be a pretty good victory.”
“You did the right thing, Herb! Brothers stick together, no matter what!” Clay said.
“We’ll be reaching the top soon! I just know it!” Turnip said.
“Cleaning the streets, man! That’s what we do best!” Angel said.
“But let’s not say my pop will get away with this Sharks gang forever. Let him have his victories, because one day, it’ll all end.” I said.
“It will end.” Clay agreed.
“So just keep your distance with the Sharks, and keep an eye on my brother.” I instructed my friends. “He’s always been a tattle-tale, and whatever he sees or hears, he’ll take back to my father. Keep an eye for him.”
“Will do, underboss!” Annabelle saluted.
“Dismissed!” I said as my friends all walked away. I am glad we were victories! We tricked my dad into thinking Poni was gone! Now I don’t have to lay-low anymore. Now there’s only one thing left to do. Wait for an old friend to come back home for a visit.