//------------------------------// // A Tale Of Two Storms // Story: The Napoleons: The Confessions & Revelations Of The Greatest Mafia Family // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// 'As strange as it was, having O'Malley with us, he actually managed to integrate himself with us pretty well after our initial friction. He could always be counted on to pull his own weight during our operations. In fact, we had even grown comfortable enough around him that I let Caboose escort Sandy on her trip to the market place, months later. Unfortunately, we had no idea how big an impact that trip would have...' Sandy and Caboose were walking through the marketplace, Caboose carrying most of the shopping in his saddlebags. "Are you sure you don't want me to carry some of those, Caboose." Sandy asked. "They're probably pretty heavy..." "I'm good." Caboose smiled. "No problem." "If you say so." Sandy smiled. "It was so nice of you to offer to help." "Anytime." Caboose grinned…before shifting to O'Malley's frown. "What? I get no compliments?" "Of course, O'Malley." Sandy smiled. "Having you around is actually quite comforting. If there's any trouble, you can take care of it." "'Course I can." O'Malley smirked. "Nopony messes with my sister-in-law. Not unless they want a face full of hoof." "Thanks, O'Malley." Sandy grinned. "Don't mention it." O'Malley nodded. As they continued down the street, Caboose caught sight of somepony, a banana yellow Earth Pony stallion with a brown mane, orange eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a pigeon. "Hey, that's Stoolie Squealer!" He pointed. "Who?" Sandy asked. "He's the snitch who ratted out our lumber operations in the mountains!" O'Malley snarled, taking control. "I've been waiting for a chance to nail that scum!" He charged toward Stoolie. "You're gonna get what's comin' to ya, you piece of slime!" Realizing he'd been spotted, Stoolie ran away as face as he could. But even weighed down by all the shopping bags, O'Malley easily caught up to him. "Gotcha!" O'Malley tackled him. "No! Please!" Stoolie struggled to escape. "Let me go!" "No way." O'Malley growled. "You cross the Napoleons, you pay the price." O'Malley struck Stoolie in the head with his hoof, knocking him out. He then lifted the unconscious stallion onto his back. "What are you doing?" Sandy asked. "Bringing this slime back to the mansion." O'Malley declared. "He needs to get a taste of his own medicine." 'O'Malley carried Stoolie all the way back to the mansion. At the time, myself and the others were on the other side of town, attending to some business, and Bonnie had taken Dusty to the park. We were all completely unaware of what was about to be set in motion, in a chapter I call...' A Tale Of Two Storms After Sandy put all the shopping items in it's proper place, O'Malley joined her in the kitchen. "Yo, Sandy, come with me." He asked. "I've got something to show ya." "Okay..." Sandy said, still a little wary of O'Malley. O'Malley led Sandy to the basement, where he tied up Stoolie. "What is this, O'Malley?" Sandy asked. "It's simple, really." O'Malley declared. "This squealer betrayed our family, and for that, he needs to die." "Die?" Sandy frowned. "Die?!" Stoolie screeched. "Yep." O'Malley nodded. "And I figured 'who better to do the honors than the wife of the don Stoolie betrayed?'" "Me?" Sandy gaped. "Sure, why not?" O'Malley shrugged. "But I... I've never killed anypony before." Sandy trembled. "Now's a perfect time to start." O'Malley declared, passing her a crossbow. "But...." Sandy stuttered. "You can do this." O'Malley declared. "You're Grim's wife, aren't ya? Doesn't it make you angry, knowing what this slime has done? Grim was at the lumber yard when the authorities investigated Stoolie's tip. He only just managed to get away. If he had been just a second slower, they would've nabbed him. You would've lost your husband, me and the others would've lost our brother, and Dusty would've lost her dad, all because of that rat. And I tell ya, the folks in prison would've eaten him alive. Doesn't that make you mad, thinking about what could have been?" "I suppose." Sandy admitted, as she looked upon the sweating Stoolie with contempt. "Then do it." O'Malley told her. "Get a little payback. Show him that you won't stand for him almost getting Grim arrested, just to save his own skin!" "But-" Sandy gulped. "If you don't, he's just gonna wind up snitching on us again." O'Malley pointed out. "And next time, we might not be so lucky." Reluctantly, Sandy raised the crossbow. "You wouldn't" Stoolie quivered, as Sandy pointed the crossbow at him. "You wouldn't..." "Come on, do it!" O'Malley urged. "Do it!" Sandy pointed the crossbow straight at Stoolie's heart. The weapon shook in her grip, her hooves trembling... "I'm sorry." Sandy turned away, dropping the crossbow. "I just can't do it." "I knew you didn't have it in ya." Stoolie mocked Sandy. "I knew-" O'Malley grabbed his head and twisted it sharply, snapping his neck. "Shaddup." He said spitefully, before letting out a sigh. "I was really hoping that would turn out differently..." Caboose suddenly returned. "Hey Sandy, what's going on? I-" He realised he was standing next to a dead body. "Ugh... lemme guess: O'Malley's work?" Sandy nodded silently. "Hey, who left this crossbow on the floor?" Caboose pondered. Without a word, Sandy left the basement. "Sandy?" Caboose frowned. "What's wrong?" Sandy didn't answer him, as Caboose was left alone in the basement. "…Dang it all, O'Malley, I thought we would let each other know if we were going to kill somebody." Caboose frowned to himself. "Hey, I didn't exactly plan for it." O'Malley shrugged. "It was spur of the moment." "Isn't that always the way with you?" Caboose pouted. "You have no self-control." "What are you, our mother?" O'Malley sneered. "Quit nagging me!" "Somepony's gotta be the grown-up here." Caboose shot back. "And that would be you?" O'Malley snickered. "Good luck with that!" "I may as well be your mom." Caboose retorted. "You're always making messes and leaving me to clean them up." "Hey, now there's an idea." O'Malley grinned. "O'Malley, don't you dare..." Caboose growled. "Have fun cleaning." O'Malley smirked. "See ya later, 'mom'!" "Hey!" Caboose yelled, as O'Malley vanished. "You get back here, O'Malley!" He hit himself on the head. "I know you're in there!" He hit himself again, to no avail. "Okay, fine." He pouted. "I'll dispose of the body, as per freaking usual..." Caboose begrudgingly dragged Stoolie's body out of the basement, grumbling to himself all the while. 'It was at that point that the brothers and I returned to the mansion. We were in high spirits, due to another job well done...' "Score another win for the Napoleons!" Slot cheered. "Boo-ya!" Vinny whooped. "We're looking to make a substantial profit from today's venture." Lars grinned. "In other words, we'll have a little extra spending money." Salt declared. "Sweet." Sonny smirked. "I've been needing some new utensils..." "Wow, you really know how to live, Sonny." Murray joked. Sandy walked by, her head bowed, just as Bonnie came in, Dusty at her side. "Mommy!" Dusty raced over Sandy. "Hi, sweetie." Sandy managed a half-smile as Dusty hugged her. "Were you a good girl for grandma?" "Uh-huh!" Dusty nodded. "We play, mommy?" "Sorry, honey, but I'm not in the mood to play right now." Sandy sighed. "Aww!" Dusty pouted. "Why not?" "It's... big pony stuff." Sandy told her. "Why don't you play with daddy, or your uncles for a while?" "Okay." Dusty sighed. "Sandy?" Grimoire frowned, noticing his wife's mood. "What's wrong?" "I don't want to talk about it right now, Grim." Sandy replied. "Why not?" Grimoire asked. "You're my wife. Your problems are my problems." "You wouldn't understand, Grim." Sandy sighed. "Any pony who's lived their entire life as a Napoleon can't understand this problem." 'As Sandy walked away, I couldn't help feeling utterly confused. Sandy had never hesitated to share a problem with me before. As curious as I was, I knew I couldn't force her to tell me. Fortunately, mom decided to step in...' Bonnie entered the study to find Sandy sitting in a chair, looking morose. "What's wrong, dear?" She asked. "It's nothing." Sandy lied. "Come on now." Bonnie tutted, seeing through the fib. "We're family. You can tell me anything." "It's just..." Sandy made a deep sigh. "While I was out shopping with Caboose, we ran into a snitch. Caboose grabbed him and brought him back here, in the basement. He wanted me to kill him." "Oh, he did, did he?" Bonnie frowned, "I didn't think Caboose would be the kind of…" She paused. "It was O'Malley, wasn't it?" "Yes it was." Sandy admitted. "But I couldn't do it, though. I couldn't bring myself to take a life. So O'Malley killed him instead." "Typical O'Malley." Bonnie sighed. "That boy can be so callous sometimes..." "I know." Sandy nodded. "But he meant well. I know why he wanted me to do it. But I couldn't handle it. I couldn't handle the aftermath, either." "I'm starting to see the problem..." Bonnie mused. "Seeing the dead body lying there... it really drove the point home." Sandy continued. "I know Grimoire and the others have all killed before. I know they only did it because they had to, not because they wanted to. Before today, I'd never actually seen any of it, so I could just push it all to the corner of my mind. But seeing it happen right in front of me..." "Death can be a jarring thing." Bonnie admitted, placing her hoof on Sandy's shoulder. "I'm not sure if I'm really cut out to be part of a family of criminals." Sandy murmured. "It's not the family that's the problem, though. It's the crimes. It is one thing to know about them, but that was it. Now, seeing it first-hoof, I'm starting to realize that there will come a time when I'll be called upon to do some of these things myself, and I don't know if I'm ready for that." "I see." Bonnie nodded. "I just don't know if I have it in me to do anything like that. Murder, drug smuggling, robbery, torture..." Sandy sighed. "And there's a part of me that doesn't want to know." "I can see where you're coming from." Bonnie nodded. "I let you in on a secret... I hadn't killed a pony till I was but a young mother of two." "Wait, you hadn't?" Sandy raised a brow. "But you were Clopelli's-" "Oh yes." Bonnie nodded. "But, as much as I hated to admit it, I wasn't really a fighter back then. While I could pull off robberies and drug runs, I could not do somepony in. My father had tried to get me into it by having me kill a pig, but even then, I couldn't do it. My hooves were still clean by the time I married Clyde." "But you were eager to kill him..." Sandy mused, having trouble believing the old mare's story. "There's a difference between wanting to kill and actually killing, dearie." Bonnie explained. "I feared that my family would not respect me for not being willing to do what a Mafioso must do to preserve the family honor... but then, I realized that all I needed was the right motivation." "What do you mean, 'motivation'?" Sandy asked. "I mean, I just needed to find somepony I hated enough to want to hurt, to maim, and to kill." Bonnie stated. "And that somepony was Ma Parker, one of the no-good crooks who tried to muscle in on our territory, years ago, when Anarchy was just starting out as a mafioso." "Ma Parker?" Sandy frowned. "Don't think I ever heard of her." "It's best that you didn't." Bonnie explained. "She was a real piece of work. Her and her rotten sons caused the family a bit of grief back in the days. Made Anarchy's first couple months as a Mafioso a living Tartarus, and drove Clyde up the wall with their interfering. I myself was upset, but I didn't know what to do. So I hoped that if I just sit things out, Clyde and Anarchy would take care of it..." "I sensing a 'but'..." Sandy declared. "But..." Bonnie said, as Sandy predicted. "One night, I was helping a few of our men in ripping off a jewellery store of a guy who had been ripping other ponies off, and while the others were in the back, I checked the front... and I saw none other than Ma, robbing the store. I was planning on leaving her be for the time being... before she started talking to herself. Or rather, throwing out insults at my family." "What kind of insults?" Sandy asked. "All sorts of them. 'Mule-faced cowards', 'Diamond Dog-breathed losers'... I can't even remember half of them... but then, she began saying awful things about Anarchy... how he was some kind of 'cow-brained loser' and 'a bucking joke of a mafioso', and I just... snapped." Bonnie revealed. "You... snapped?" Sandy asked. "Yes." Bonnie nodded. "Without even thinking, I stepped from the shadows, ran up to her and began laying the smack down on her. Naturally, she pulled a knife on me and almost slit my throat, but I was too quick for her, and in a flash, I took her knife and stabbed her in her ear... not one of my proudest moments, but I had to do it. For my family." "Family..." Sandy mused. "That's really part of the problem. Growing up in an orphanage, you guys are really the only family I know. If only I had grown up with my own family, my real parents, maybe I could know what kind of pony I really am... whether I truly have what it takes for this..." "Yes..." Bonnie nodded. "It's important to know where you came from..." "But I don't." Sandy sighed. "Like I told you, I was left on the doorstep of an orphanage. Neither of my parents wanted anything to do with me. They abandoned me, and I never even knew why..." "It'll be okay, Sandy." Bonnie smiled. "In fact, I think I know of a way to help you with your problem." "Really?" Sandy asked. "How?" "Oh, you'll see." Bonnie said cryptically, as she left the room. 'As it turned out, Sandy didn't have to wait too long to find out what mom meant. A week later, while I had taken Dusty to the local playgroup...' Sandy was sitting in the garden, lounging in a deckchair, when Bonnie walked over to her. "Sandy, would you come with me, please?" Bonnie asked. "I have something I'd like to show you." "Sure." Sandy nodded, climbing out of the deckchair. Sandy followed Bonnie into the mansion, following her as she walked into the east wing. "So, what is it you to show me?" Sandy asked. "It's a surprise." Bonnie grinned. Bonnie finally stopped at a door which led to a sitting room. She opened it to reveal a bloody-nosed Earth Pony stallion. He had a reddish-brown coat, a black mane, eyes which looked remarkably similar to Sandy's, and a raining cloud Cutie Mark. "Surprise!" Bonnie declared. "Hey!" The stallion yelled at Bonnie, struggling against the ropes tying him to his chair. "Let me outta here, ya crazy old broad!" Sandy was quick to shut the door on the struggling pony. "What is that?!" Sandy gasped. "Who is he?! Why did you show him to me?!" "That is your father, Rainstorm Kamek." Bonnie revealed. "I brought him here to you so you could exact your vengeance and learn to be a mafioso." "Wha... why?!" Sandy gaped. "Dearie, when I told you about Ma Parker, I had a theory." Bonnie explained, "What I needed to get into killing was to find that one pony that made me want to do it. So I figure that if I brought one of the two ponies that left you in the orphanage, you will be able to get some closure while letting out the rage inside. Two birds. One stone." "That's asinine!" Sandy yelled. "How do you know if that's even my father? All I ever knew of my parents was a note my mom left me with, saying she's had me with a politician! For all we know, you just kidnapped a political figure all for nothing!" "Your name is Sandstorm. His name is Rainstorm..." Bonnie raised her hooves up and down, with a gesture. "I kinda guessed." "That doesn't prove anything!" Sandy yelled. "I know." Bonnie nodded. "That's why I beat him until he admitted a mare he slept with had a kid at around the time you were born." "Seriously?" Sandy frowned. "You could have just given him a DNA test." "I did." Bonnie smiled. "I just beat him because he deserved it." "Deserved it?" Sandy repeated. "You beat him to within an inch of his life just for abandoning me?" "Not even close." Bonnie said sternly. "You wouldn't believe the vile, repulsive things this stallion has done." "What kind of things?" Sandy asked. "Think of every bad thing Cavallo had done... times 1000." Bonnie said grimly. "Extortion, rigging elections, accepting bribes, embezzlement, kidnapping, arranging assassinations of political rivals, drug abuse, the 'very bad' ones, mind you, illegal imports and exports, and even a few sexual assaults here and there... you name it, he's done it." 'Sandy was stunned, to say the least. She later told me what she was thinking: That this sleazeball of a stallion couldn't possibly be her father, that mom had to have made a mistake... but deep down, she knew it was the truth. She could tell just by looking at his eyes, which were her own. It was a truth she had to face.' "What... what exactly do you expect me to do here?" Sandy asked. "Well for starters, why don't you introduce yourself?" Bonnie asked. "I'm sure you've wanted to meet your father for some time." "Well, yeah... but not like this!" Sandy yelled. "What do I even say to him?" "How about starting from the top?" Bonnie pointed out. "Just go in there and tell him who you are." "I... I can't..." Sandy gulped. "Not after all this time..." "Surely there's something you want to ask him about?" Bonnie asked. "Anything?" "Well, there are a few things." Sandy admitted. "Here's your chance." Bonnie urged. "Go in there and get those answers you've been wanting all your life. And if you don't like what you hear, well... I put a crossbow on the table." "…Are you actually expecting me to kill him?" Sandy murmured. "I don't know." Bonnie declared. "But what I do know is that stallion in there had you put in a orphanage, left you to deal with abusive, uncaring, and slavedriving foster parents, just to cover up some scandal. I'm giving you the chance to finally put all those demons of yours to rest... and if it involves blowing his head off... so be it. Whatever happens, happens." "And what of my mother?" Sandy asked. "She's probably at much fault as Rainstorm." "I'm afraid I couldn't find her." Bonnie declared. "I don't know if she's dead, changed her name, or just left the country, but there's no trace of her, or anypony with the name 'Speck' anywhere." "Oh..." Sandy frowned. "So this is all I have of my past? A sleazy politician who ditched me before I as even born?" "I'm afraid so." Bonnie nodded. "But this is your chance to even the score. I've put a crossbow on the table, along with some torture instruments, like water and cloth for waterboarding, a cat o'nine tails, and even a water-filling glass box, courtesy of Jigsaw's apprentice Hoffman." "I probably won't go that far." Sandy frowned. "We'll see." Bonnie smirked. "Once you actually get to know that stallion, you just might change your mind." Sandy turned back to the door. She took a deep breath, put her hoof on the knob, and slowly opened it. "Hey, hey!" Rainstorm yelled, as Sandy entered the room, closing the door behind her. "You think you can just kidnap me, beat me up? You won't get away with this! Do you know who I am?" "Yes." Sandy nodded. "But the real question is: Do you know who I am?" "No." Rainstorm answered. "Should I?" "My name is Sandstorm Speck." Sandy announced. "I'm... your daughter." "What?" Rainstorm frowned. "If this is some kind of joke-" "I wish it was, but it's not." Sandy declared. "Just look at me. I have your eyes. And I'm sure my face looks familiar, too." Rainstorm squinted at Sandy. "Now that I think about it, I do vaguely remember nailing some broad a while back who you look a little like..." He admitted. "Vaguely?" Sandy growled. "You mean you don't even remember her?" "Well, I can't be expected to remember every mare I've ever slept with, can I?" Rainstorm smirked. "...Exactly how many mares have you slept with?" Sandy asked. "Way more than I can count." Rainstorm smirked. "And you're proud of that?" Sandy asked, disgusted. "Why not?" Rainstorm grinned. "It's not my fault the ladies find me irresistible. Your mom was another notch on my bed post, I'll bet." Sandy choked back her disgust for a moment, deciding to ask the biggest question. "Why did you abandon me and mom?" Sandy asked. "What?" Rainstorm asked. "Is that why that old bag brought me here? So I could answer some questions?" "Yes." Sandy told a half-truth. "I've lived my entire life without ever knowing my parents. And now I have a chance to find out where I come from." "You could have just come to me yourself." Rainstorm frowned. "Or at least written a letter. Anything would have been better than kidnapping me!" "It wasn't my idea." Sandy admitted. "I was as surprised to see you here as you were to be brought here." "Surprised, maybe, but at least you weren't beaten up along the way." Rainstorm grimaced. "Boy, that old broad hits hard..." "Let's not get off-topic." Sandy said firmly. "Answer my question. Why did you leave my mom?" "Because I had better things to do than waste my time with some mare I'd knocked up and her whiny brat." Rainstorm sneered. "I never wanted a freaking kid. It's your mom's fault, really. She should've used protection!" "You didn't want me?" Sandy gaped, crestfallen. "At all?" "Buck, no." Rainstorm snorted. "I had my career to think about. I couldn't get tied down to some mare and a kid." "Did you... ever think about us?" Sandy asked. "At all?" "Why would I?" Rainstorm asked. "You were both just an inconvenience. I had bigger things to focus on." "Like your career?" Sandy asked hotly. "I hear you have quite a habit of abusing your position. I've been told about all the crimes you've committed, all the while hiding behind your position." "What can I say?" Rainstorm shrugged, totally unrepentant. "I wouldn't be much of a politician if I weren't a little on the sleazy side." "'Sleazy' is one thing, but you've had ponies killed, just to further your own agenda." Sandy spat. "I had to." Rainstorm smirked. "Some of those guys were really getting on my nerves. Sandy couldn't believe what she was hearing. The father she'd dreamt of all her life was a monster. A sleazy, mare-chasing crook. It made her sick. "I can't believe I spent my whole life imagining the kind of pony you'd be..." She growled. "Hoping that someday, you'd come back for me..." "Me neither." Rainstorm snorted. "Like I'd care either way about some rotten little brat... or were you actually thinking that I'd become your doting daddy, just like that?" "Without you to support her, my mom had no choice but to leave me at an orphanage." Sandy declared, her eyes fixed on the crossbow Bonnie left. "You ruined my life before it even began... I spent years bouncing from one lousy foster home after another, never knowing what it was like to have a real family... all because of you." "Oh, boo-hoo." Rainstorm mocked her. "That was years ago, Get over it." "Get over it'?" Sandy repeated. "That's what I said." Rainstorm sneered. "Look at you, whining like the little brat I never wanted. 'Waa-waa, my daddy abandoned me!' You're a grown mare, and you're still hung up on that? Pathetic. Guess I was right to ditch your mother when I had the chance. Saved me a major headache." "Why, you..." Sandy growled, her anger rising. "To be honest, I don't think I could handle the shame of having a daughter like you." Rainstorm smirked. "Nothing kills a political career like having a lousy family..." "Stop it." Sandy spat. "You probably get it from your mother." Rainstorm mused. "She was a whiny little floozy herself..." "Quiet!" Sandy trembled with rage. "What, you can't handle the truth?" Rainstorm snickered. "Your mom was just some two-bit call girl I had some fun with, then ditched at the earliest opportunity. You should thank me. Having a mother like that would have been a real nightmare. You were better off in the orphanage. Or better yet... aborted. That would have been the smart thing to do, but she just had to be stupid and keep you... What was the point, if she was just going to toss you away the second you popped out? Dumb mare..." Sandy could take no more. She punched Rainstorm in the face. "Ah!" Rainstorm yelled. "You hit me!" "Very observant." Sandy mocked, before kicking him hard. "Ugh!" Rainstorm grunted. "Stop it!" "I don't think so, 'dad'." Sandy snarled. "I've got so many years of pain to pay you back for. And I'm giving it to you... with interest." For the next ten minutes, Sandy beat and pummeled Rainstorm, taking full advantage of the self-defense lessons Salt had given her (along with a couple of low-level torture techniques she had once heard Slot brag about in vivid detail...). "This is for abandoning my mom." Sandy whipped him on the back with the cat o' nine tails. "Yah!" Rainstorm yelped. "And this for all the cold, uncaring foster parents I was forced to live with." Sandy punched him in the nose. "Ugh!" Rainstorm groaned. "And this is for being a basic, all around slimeball." Sandy took a few steps back, then charged over and drop-kicked him. "Gah!" Rainstorm yelped, as the chair tipped from the force. "Ohhh..." "Don't tucker out, father dearest." Sandy pulled the chair back onto its legs. "We're just getting started." "No, please..." Rainstorm pleaded. Sandy ignored him, and continued the beating. By the time she was finished, Rainstorm was a bloody, broken mess. "No more..." Rainstorm groaned, spitting out a tooth. "Please, I'm begging you. End this..." "I'm about to." Sandy growled, grabbing the crossbow off the table. "Whoa, whoa!" Rainstorm gasped. "Easy there!" "I could do it, you know." Sandy noted, pointing the crossbow at him. "It would be so easy. Just a squeeze of the trigger." "Yeah, but it wouldn't be so easy handling the aftermath." Rainstorm pointed out. "I'm an important politician. You snuff me, and you're bound to get found out." "Oh, I don't think so." Sandy said calmly. "Did I forget to mention that I'm married to Grimoire Napoleon, don of the Bitalian mafia?" "You... you are?" Rainstorm gulped. "Finally taking an interest in me, are you?" Sandy sneered. "That's right. My husband is a stallion far more powerful than you will ever be. He and his brothers. You see, I finally found a family, one that cares about me. I have a wonderful husband, and a beautiful daughter. This family will always look out for me, protect me, no matter what. Don't you see, 'daddy'? I could kill you, break every bone in your body, burn you alive, make you a mare, and I would get off scot free. And with ease, I could ruin your life and reputation, all with a whisper..." "You wouldn't dare…" Rainstorm glared, though it was a pathetic one, given his quivering and bruised stature. "I would. It is because of you that my life had an awful beginning." Sandy declared coldly, "It is like they said: karma's a cagna." "...L-look, maybe I was a little hasty before." Rainstorm trembled. "Maybe we could get to know each other, reconcile, have a cup of tea." "You should have thought of that twenty years ago." Sandy whispered darkly. "Y-you wouldn't kill your own father, would you?" Rainstorm quivered. "You've never been a father to me." Sandy declared. "The closest I ever had to a father died for this family. You could never compare to him..." "Please, don't..." Rainstorm started crying with fear. "I don';t want to die. I'll do anything! I'll find your mother. You'd like that, right? We could be a family. That's what you want, isn't it?" "I already have a family." Sandy declared. "And besides, considering what you've done, I don't think I can trust you to keep your word. It's best if I make sure you don't get the chance to abandon any other other innocent mares and their foals in future..." "No!" Rainstorm bawled. "No, no, no!" Sandy held the crossbow in place, at point-blank range, ready to shoot him in the head… then suddenly, she shifted her aim, and the bolt tore through his left ear. "Yaaah! Son of a mule!" Rainstorm yelled, as a spray of blood splattered Sandy's cheek, falling over in his chair. Gritting from the pain, he glanced up at Sandy. "You- you didn't kill me..." "No, I didn't." Sandy nodded. "No matter how much pain you've caused me, I won't kill you. That would be letting you off too easy..." Sandy marched out of the room, slamming the door behind her. "Well?" Bonnie asked. "Did you do it?" "No." Sandy shook her head. "No?" Bonnie frowned. "But I don't understand... I thought..." "It's okay, Bonnie." Sandy declared. "I know what kind of mare I am now. Whatever the future holds, I'm ready to face it. I am the wife of Grimoire Napoleon, don of the Bitalian mafia. Even if I don't have it in me to kill, I know I'm tough enough to handle this life…" "Are you sure?" Bonnie frowned. "What will you do when you do have to kill? What then?" "…I'll be ready." Sandy nodded, "I don't need to kill to prove anything. If I ever do have to kill, it will not be out of vengeance, or anger, but it will be to protect the ones I love. That's who I am. And nothing will ever change that. Not even the hate I feel for a father who was never there." "And you're not worried about being part of this family anymore?" Bonnie asked. "Not at all." Sandy smiled. "Considering what my father turned out to be, this family is nothing but an improvement. "In fact, I'm proud to be a part of it. And I'll do whatever I can to protect it, and help keep it afloat." "That's just what I was hoping you'd say." Bonnie smiled. "Pardon?" Sandy frowned. "Well, dearie..." Bonnie glanced out a nearby window. "As you can see, I'm getting on in years. After over fifty years of leading this family as the matriarch, I believe the time had finally come for me to retire. With Clyde gone, and all my boys grown up, I am going to pass my title down to you." "To me?" Sandy murmured, "But why?" "Why not?" Bonnie smiled deeply, "You already shown to be a strong mare, and you are just as motherly as I am. Of course, after hearing your woes about killing, I had to help you overcome your worries... which you did. You are ready to take your place as the leading lady of the Napoleon Empire." "Thank you, Bonnie." Sandy grinned. "I won't let you down." "I know you won't." Bonnie nodded. "And I doubt you ever will." "But..." Sandy frowned, "Before you retire, could you do me one last favor?" "Name it." Bonnie smiled. "I need somepony... disappeared." Sandy declared, looking back at the door. "For good." "Say no more." Bonnie nodded, "By the time I'm done, nopony will ever hear from Rainstorm Kamek again..." Half an hour later, Grimoire and Dusty returned home. "There's my girl!" Sandy scooped Dusty up. "Welcome back, sweetie!" "Hi, mommy!" Dusty giggled. "Well, you're in a good mood." Grimoire noted. "Would I be right in thinking your little problem has been solved." "With a little help from Bonnie, of course." Sandy pointed out her mother-in-law. "Thanks, mom." Grimoire smiled. "You always know just what to do." "A mother always does." Bonnie beamed. 'It would be quite a few weeks before Sandy told me just what happened that day. In the meantime, mom announced her retirement, and we threw her the mother of all parties to celebrate her years of service as matriarch to the family. The following morning, we gave her one last farewell… Bonnie and the rest of the family were outside the mansion, ready to take her away. "I can't believe this day has finally come." Murray sniffed. "No doubt." Salt bit back a sob. "You were an exemplary mother." Lars declared. "And you were great, too." Vinny added. "This place just won't be the same without you." Sonny declared. "Mom..." Slot was on the verge of tears. "Have a nice retirement, mom." Caboose smiled, before O'Malley popped up. "Don't take any guff from those other old timers, okay? Show 'em that you're still a Napoleon!" "We're all going to miss you, mom." Grimoire declared. "I'll miss you all too." Bonnie smiled. "Grammy... go?" Dusty sniffed. "Not forever, my little darling." Bonnie picked Dusty up. "I'll still come and visit. And you'll be a good girl for grammy while she's away, won't you?" "Yeah." Dusty smiled weakly. "That's my favorite grandfoal." Bonnie kissed her on the forehead. "Bonnie, you were always there for me." Sandy declared. "From the very beginning, you gave me support, and friendship. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me." "It was my pleasure, Sandy." Bonnie smiled. "You gave my Grim love, and a beautiful daughter. As far as I'm concerned, that makes us even." "Good luck out there, mom." Grimoire declared. "Don't worry about me, Grim." Bonnie grinned. "No matter what happens, we'll always be family. And I'll be back to visit very soon. Now, everypony get over here!" Bonnie pulled them all in for one last group hug. After they separated, she walked over to the carriage, the rest of the family cheered her off. "Bye, mom!" Caboose called. "Remember what I told about taking no guff!" O'Malley added. "Have a fun retirement!" Murray smiled. "See you soon!" Salt waved. "Let me know if you need some baking done!" Sonny offered. "And I'll always have a bottle of wine ready for you!" Vinny added. "May the road rise to meet you!" Lars smiled. "Love you, mom!" Slot yelled, tears streaming down his face. "Farewell!" Grimoire smiled. "Thanks for everything, Bonnie!" Sandy called. "Bye, grammy!" Dusty waved. Bonnie waved back, then got into the carriage, which was pulled out of the driveway, and beyond the gates. 'And with that, our mom moved away to live the remainder of her years in retirement. She told us that she would come back to visit us on holidays and birthdays, but we were to never know where she went. For safety precautions, she said. Either way, she deserved to live out her remaining years in peace and quiet. With her gone, Sandy was there to succeed her. And she was ready to do it her way, with fairness and restraint. That night, Sandy told me what happened that fateful day.' "You did all that?" Grimoire gaped, as they lay in bed that night. "Yes." Sandy nodded. "I gave that lousy father of mine just what he deserved." "I'm sorry I couldn't have helped you." Grimoire admitted. "You were right, I couldn't have understood that problem…" "It's okay, Grim." Sandy smiled. "I know what kind of mare I am now. That's all that matters. And I'm going to live up to being the matriarch of this family." "I know you will." Grimoire kissed her. "I never doubted that." "That makes one of us." Sandy joked. "You know I'd never ask you to kill somepony, right?" Grimoire asked. "O'Malley had no right to ask you, and neither do I." "It's okay, Grim." Sandy smiled. "In fact, if it hadn't been for what O'Malley did, I'd never have had the chance to faced my demons." "I'm just glad you're feeling okay again." Grimoire smiled. "Your happiness is really important to me." "I know." Sandy nuzzled him. "But this family makes me happy, and so do you." "And you make me happier than anything else." Grimoire embraced her. "Oh, Grim..." Sandy sighed gleefully. "Anyway, what did you do after you pummeled that father of yours?" Grimoire asked. "Oh, I had your mom send him to one of your containment houses up north." Sandy smiled. "For somepony from the Caymare Island, cold is the worst." "If it were me, I would have killed him." Grimoire admitted. "But you make your own decisions, and that's why I love you." "I love you too." Sandy snuggled against him. 'With mom's retirement, another chapter closed for our family, with Sandy ascension marking the beginning of a new chapter. As for Rainstorm? Well, he had a long stay at our containment facility. But not a comfortable one...' In the northern mountains, with a large bunker-like structure, Rainstorm pounded hopeless against the door of the room he was locked in. His torn ear was bandaged up, as well as most of his body. "You can't do this to me!" He yelled. "Do you know who I am? I demand you let me out this instant!" "Zip it, jerk." The Unicorn guard fired a magic beam through the door's window bars, hitting Rainstorm in the face. "You're lucky we haven't just tossed you down a hole somewhere." "A hole would be better than this." Rainstorm spat. "Let me out!" "Keep yelling, and it's no porridge tonight!" The guard snarled. Rainstorm ceased his yelling, his growling stomach cowing his anger. "I should never have hired that floozy in the first place..." He pouted. 'Eventually, Rainstorm would perish, after fifteen years of imprisonment. Nopony ever did thought to look for him, even after we exposed all his crimes to the public. Ponies just didn't care if he was dead or alive. The daughter he had spurned ensured that he would pay the price for his twisted deeds. That is just one reason why I tried never to get on Sandy's bad side. Ultimately, Sandy had proven to be better than her father. A kind, decent mare, and one I was proud to call my wife.' 'I can only hope Zecora, or any of my brothers' wives, will have the strength to do what Sandy did. I suppose only time will tell... So ends this chapter. Until next time, my friends.'