//------------------------------// // Something Borrowed, Something Blood Red // Story: The Napoleons: The Confessions & Revelations Of The Greatest Mafia Family // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// 'I always wanted the best for Dusty. Any good father would want that for his children. Even after Sandy's passing, I made it my number one priority that Dusty stayed happy and healthy. That went double for the stallion (or mare, on the outside chance that she 'went that way') she ended up with. I admit, Dusty had her fair share of coltfriends. Some of them were okay, but others were... well, let's just say that if Dusty hadn't kicked them to the curb, we, me and my brothers, would make sure they rued the day they messed with my daughter.' 'So of course, it was something of a surprise when she chose to date Blueblood (or rather, he chose to date her). Before anypony says anything, yes, I was aware of Blueblood's "behavior" back in the day, and how much of a buckhole he was. Now, I am aware that when Blueblood and Dusty first met, this was during the time that Blueblood had begun to become a better stallion, but that didn't stop my brothers and I absolutely loathing him. It was unfair, yes, but when you've been dealing with the kind of rich folk we'd been dealing with for as long as we have, we have our rights to our opinions. We were certain that he was just some spoiled rich brat who wanted Dusty as a trophy wife and that it would never last. In fact, the entire mafia had a betting pool on it. I was not pleased with my cohorts gambling on my daughter's love life... but I did secretly hope that those who bet that it wouldn't last a month would win.' 'But alas, it lasted a lot longer. It wasn't until we met Blueblood that we began to see what Dusty saw in him: a stallion that, while having a couple of flaws, was genuinely kind and compassionate, and was utterly devoted to her. At one point, I sorta saw myself and Sandy in them. Long story short, me and my brothers backed off, and with time, we grew to like the Prince. Murray was impressed by his impeccable sense of direction (which helped out during our hunt with him), Salt liked his stubbornness, Lars enjoyed his urbane, upper-class sensibilities, Sonny found his, shall we say, less than macho leanings to be relatable, Vinny shared with him a liking for fine wines, Slot actually bonded with him over mane products, and Caboose... well, as long as Dusty liked him, so did he.' 'In a way, Blueblood had become the son that I thought I would never have. Sure, I wouldn't be able to teach him how to shave, or show how him how to give a stallion cement horseshoes, but it's the fact that he was the closest thing to a son I had that made me appreciate him. After all, he and Dusty did provide me with two beautiful grandsons, Pureblood and Vito, who were growing into fine young colts themselves (with help from Sonny and Lars of course).' 'Like I said, I had high hopes for Dusty, but I never imagined she'd marry into royalty. Blueblood may not have seemed like the ideal son-in-law at first, but he really grew on me... However, not long after Dusty had started dating Blueblood did we discover a startling revelation that would become a secret that we would desperately keep. A dark and terrible secret that we vowed to keep from Blueblood at all costs... unfortunately, as all secrets do, it eventually came out into the open...' Chapter Twenty-Six: Something Borrowed, Something Blood Red One beautiful morning in Equestria, Blueblood, Dusty, Pureblood and Vito made their way down from Canterlot to Grimoire's new mansion, planning to stay there for a few days, so the family could reconnect after the craziness of the last few months. Grimoire answered the door. "Hey!" He beamed, happy to see his daughter, son-in-law, and grandsons. "Grampa!" Pureblood and Vito hugged him. "Hi, dad." Dusty kissed him on the cheek. "Good to see you, Grimoire." Blueblood smiled. "I trust you and Zecora have settled in to your new home?" "You got that right." Grimoire smiled. "Come on in, everypony!" Grimoire led them to the living room, where the other brothers and Zecora were waiting. "Hi, grandma." Pureblood smiled. "Hello to you, my grandson so true." Zecora beamed. "Hey, guys." Vito grinned at the brothers. "Good to see you kids again." Murray smirked. "It's been so long since we saw you, we almost forgot we had grandnephews." Slot joked. "Speak for yourself." Salt snorted. "I could never forget these little scamps." "Too bad you guys don't live in Canterlot." Vinny smirked. "Me, Lars and Sonny see these guys all the time!" "Now, now." Lars chided him. "Don't boast." "Yeah." Sonny nodded. "It's not the time that counts, it's how we use it." "Speaking of which, how about we have ourselves some fun?" Murray asked. "How about some soft darts throwing?" "Sounds good to me." Vito grinned. "And I'm gonna win." "Oh, brother." Pureblood rolled his eyes. "You kids run along and play." Grimoire chuckled. "The grown ups will stay here, and chat." "Come on, bro!" Vito urged. "Race ya!" "Yeah, sure..." Pureblood sighed. "So, how are things?" Dusty asked. "Pretty much standard." Grimoire shrugged. "Oh, really?" Blueblood smirked. "You consider Salt going for the heavyweight title 'standard'? Not to mention I heard a rumor that Slot married two mares..." "You heard right." Slot chuckled. "And let me tell you, Vi and Octavia are the best wives I could ever ask for. They'd anything for me, and I do mean anything... Have I mentioned how much fun we have in the bedroom?" "Yes!" The brother groaned/ "Faust, only you would wear out the novelty of having two wives." Murray snorted. A short time later, and games and discussion aplenty, Zecora took the colts into the kitchen for a snack, while the others sat around in the living room, a television playing in the corner. "It's so good to catch up with you, my girl." Grimoire smiled. "I know." Dusty chuckled. "Things have been a little... crazy lately." "Life just hasn't been the same without my former gangster father-in-law and his brothers." Blueblood grinned. "Right back atchya, Blueboy." Murray smirked. "Bet things are boring without all of us in your life, huh?" Slot smirked. "I wouldn't put it quite like that." Blueblood chuckled. "Though you do provide some manner of excitement in my live." "Of course we do." Vinny grinned. "Think how boring things would be without us!" "Don't tempt me..." Blueblood smirked. Just then, the news came on. "This just in." The newsreader announced. "A salvage team has discovered the remains of the Royal Blue, the luxury yacht of the deceased Lord Nobleblood, who perished at sea years ago." The brothers froze. Grimoire in particular felt a twinge of dread in his stomach. "Hey, isn't that the boat-" Caboose started, only to have Slot cover his mouth. "The remains have been sent to the care of the Canterlot Royal Guard for now." The newsreader continued, "The boat and its owner were pronounced lost at sea several decades ago, with no word of what happened. Perhaps now, the mystery can be solved..." "My father's boat..." Blueblood gaped. "I remember the day he was announced as lost at sea. I refused to believe it. For weeks, I was convinced he'd come back, that he'd walk through the front door at any minute..." He shook his head. "It was foolish, childish denial. I saw otherwise eventually, and it was one of the worst moments of my life... me and my mother both grieved for him..." "There, there, honey." Dusty comforted him. "It's okay." "I know it was a long time ago." Blueblood sighed. "But hearing that name again... dredged up all kinds of bad memories." "So why dwell on them?" Grimoire said quickly. "Yeah, who cares about some old boat?" Murray added. "Well, we should, considering-" Caboose spoke up, only to have Slot silence him again. "Let's talk about something else!" Vinny suggested. "How are things at the castle, Blueboy?" Salt asked. "They're... good." Blueblood shrugged. "Mist finally had that foal of hers, and just about everypony's been gushing about him." "Don't I know it?" Vinny chuckled. "The kid's all Blue talks about!" As they continued talking about current events, Dusty glared at Grimoire and the brothers. She could tell something was up. Later on, while Zecora, the boys and Blueblood were playing outside, Dusty confronted the brothers. "Okay, what was that about?" She asked. "What was what about, sweetie?" Grimoire asked nervously. "Don't play dumb." Dusty scowled. "I saw the way you guys changed the subject when Blue's dad's boat was brought up." "Did we?" Lars said awkwardly. "I don't recall." "You guys know something, don't you?" Dusty asked. "Something about why that boat was lost at sea?" "...Kinda." Sonny shrugged. "Well, you'd better start talking." Dusty declared. "Where do you get off, talking to us like that, young lady?" Slot scowled. "We're family, aren't we?" Dusty asked. "And family don't keep secrets from each other." "...You're right." Grimoire sighed. "I suppose you deserve to know the truth." "But Grim-!" Murray hissed. "But nothing." Grimoire cut him off. "Dusty needs to know, especially considering how she fits into things." "Fits in?" Dusty frowned. "How do I 'fit in', exactly?" "Well, it's like this." Salt declared. "Do you remember when you were little, and you got really ill?" "How could I forget?" Dusty grimaced. "It was terrible. I thought I was going to die." "You almost did, sweetie." Grimoire admitted. "We didn't want you to know because we wanted you not to panic." "I was... that sick? I don't seem to recall much..." Dusty gaped. "But... how does Nobleblood fit into things?" "Well, it went down like this..." Grimoire started. Flashback... 'Back when Dusty was about ten, she had suddenly developed a nasty cough, and got tired a lot easier than normal. Fearing the worst, I wasted no time in having her examined...' Grimoire was in the office of the best physician in Bitaly. Dr. Cottage, a grizzled Earth Pony with a brown mane (and stubble), blue eyes, pale yellow coat, and a Cutie Mark of a scalpel, was poring over Dusty's file. He had a bad leg, requiring a walking stick. "How is Dusty, doc?" Grimoire asked. "Will she be okay? Please tell me she'll be okay!" "I've looked over the results of Dusty's examination." Dr Cottage declared. "And I'm afraid it doesn't look good." "...Oh." Grimoire's face fell. "What's wrong?" "I'm terribly sorry, Mr Napoleon." Dr. Cottage said grimly. "I'm afraid your daughter is suffering from a rare condition in the kidneys. She will die unless we find a donor." "What?" Grimoire gaped. The concept of somepony he knew dying from a terminal condition was certainly not new, given his wife's demise not so long ago. But even then, hearing those words again, and about his daughter, made his entire body grow cold with dread, "No... no, this can't be..." "Please don't despair, Mr Napoleon." Dr Cottage urged. "I'm sure there's still hope for her. We may be able to save her via a donor's kidney." "Then find one!" Grimoire urged, "Anything it takes to make my daughter feel better! I will even put myself and my brothers under the knife for her!" "A rather noble declaration, Mr. Napoleon, but I'm afraid it's not that easy." Dr. Cottage shook his head, "Your daughter has a very rare blood type. Is there anypony in your family who happens to share it?" "Only her mother." Grimoire sighed. "But she's no more..." "I see." Dr Cottage frowned. "Isn't there any others?" Grimoire asked. "Well, there is one." Dr Cottage admitted. "But I seriously doubt he'd be willing to comply." "Just give me the name, doc." Grimoire urged. "I'll go and talk to him myself. I can be very persuasive..." "Okay, it's... Lord Nobleblood of Equestria." Dr. Cottage declared. "Lord Nobleblood?" Grimoire blanched, "As in one of the leading members of the royal family under Princess Celestia herself?" "The very same." Dr. Cottage nodded. "Aw, buck..." Grimoire silently cursed. "'Aw, buck' would be an appropriate term, yes." Dr. Cottage frowned, "Lord Nobleblood is not exactly known for his charitable streak. In fact, many say he's as callous and unfeeling as they come. I doubt even your impressive negotiation abilities can help change his mind." "We'll see about that." Grimoire said fiercely. Working quickly, Grimoire discovered that Nobleblood was on an extended vacation, not too far from Bitaly. Grimoire traveled to the harbor where Nobleblood's yacht, the Royal Blue, was docked. It was a giant of a boat, easily the size of three houses side-by-side. Nobleblood was on the boat's deck, sunning himself. "Excuse me, your highness?" Grimoire walking over. "What the...?" Nobleblood growled. "How dare you interrupt my relaxation time!" "Sorry to intrude, your Lordship." Grimoire bowed lightly. "But my name is Grimoire Napoleon, and I've come to ask a favor of you. A big favor." "Napoleon, eh? I believe I heard something about you from my aunt." Nobleblood gave a small grunt, "Very well, what is this 'favor' exactly you seek from me?" "You see, my daughter, Dusty, is really sick." Grimoire declared. "She's suffering from a horrible disease and is in need of a new kidney. However, she has a rare blood type and me nor anyone I know matches that blood type. I was told that you were..." "Your daughter, is she a Unicorn, like you?" Nobleblood asked. "No, she's an Earth Pony, like her mother." Grimoire answered, a bit perplexed by the question. "I see..." Nobleblood murmured, though a scowl began forming on his face. "So... will you please help her?" Grimoire pleaded. "Let me get this straight." Nobleblood said flatly. "You want me to give up one of my own kidneys, just to save some commoner filly I've never even met?" "That's about the size of it, yes." Grimoire nodded. "I don't think I'll be doing that." Nobleblood said bluntly. "What?!" Grimoire gaped. "But my daughter-" "Is no concern of mine." Nobleblood snorted. "I feel for you, I really do. But I'm not having one of my precious organs removed (leaving a nasty scar I might add) just for a filly I don't even know." "You... you can't mean that!" Grimoire yelled. "Oh, but I can." Nobleblood glared at him. "I'm afraid you'll just to wait for some other schlub to be willing to mutilate himself." "Look, your Lordship, if it's a matter of money, I can surely pay you." Grimoire frowned, "I am a very wealthy stallion." "So am I. In fact, my wealth is probably ten times greater than yours." Nobleblood scoffed, "There's nothing you can say or do that will change my mind..." "But-" Grimoire started. "Good day, Mr Napoleon." Nobleblood went inside his yacht, shutting the door behind him. The dejected Grimoire could do nothing but go home. As he stepped inside the mansion, the brothers gathered around him. "So, how'd it go?" Murray asked. "It didn't." Grimoire sighed. "What?" Salt frowned. "Nobleblood refused to give up a kidney." Grimoire confessed. "He did what?!" Slot roared. "No way!" Sonny growled. "How could he be so heartless?" Lars fumed. "We oughta give that guy a piece of our minds!" Salt declared. "Yeah, and some piece of our hooves!" Caboose added. "Ease up, guys." Grimoire told them. "What's done is done. If Nobleblood won't help us, then beating him up won't help." "But what about Dusty?" Sonny asked. "We just have to hope that another donor can be found." Grimoire declared. "Let's just hope it's soon." Lars said darkly. Unfortunately, no other donors emerged. Over the next few days, Dusty grew steadily worse. Grimoire and the others did their best to keep her comfortable, all the while keeping the heartbreaking truth from her. One evening, as Grimoire tucked Sandy into her hospital bed, the filly coughed harshly. "There, there, honey." Grimoire patted her on the back. "Daddy, what's it like to die?" Dusty asked. "Wh-what?" Grimoire gulped. "Why would you ask that?" "I was just thinking about mommy." Dusty shrugged. "She was really sick when she died, even sicker than me." "Yes, she was." Grimoire nodded. "Do you think dying made the pain go away?" Dusty asked. "I'd like to think so." Grimoire smiled. "Wherever your mommy is right now, she's happy. I know it." "So... dying isn't so bad?" Dusty asked. "I wouldn't say that." Grimoire shrugged. "After all, when mommy died, we are all so sad, remember?" "Yeah..." Dusty sniffed. "Would you be sad if I died, daddy?" "I'd be inconsolable, sweetie." Grimoire admitted, his throat dry. "In that case, I'll try not to die." Dusty smiled. "That's my girl." Grimoire hugged her. "Now, you get some rest. You need it." "Okay, daddy." Dusty snuggled under the covers. As Grimoire left the room, something inside him snapped, as a sense of anguish and fury overcame him. When Sandy was on her deathbed, it had devastated him, not because he was about to lose his love, but because he couldn't do anything to stop her death... but for Dusty... she was at Death's doorstep... but this time, he could do something. After all, he was a mobster. All he knew that he wasn't going to let Dusty die, no matter what. Returning home as fast as he could, he called the others together in the study. "What's up, Grim?" Caboose yawned. "And couldn't it wait until morning?" Slot asked. "No." Grimoire said fiercely. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not about to stand by and let my daughter die. Not when there's a perfectly good kidney that some selfish stallion refuses to part with." "What are you saying, Grim?" Salt asked. "I'm saying we're going to get that kidney out of Nobleblood ourselves." Grimoire snarled. "Seriously?" Murray gaped. "Yes, seriously." Grimoire nodded. "I checked, and he's still on his boat. We're going to sneak in there, and harvest his kidney." "Whoa, whoa, whoa." Sonny frowned. "Let's think about this for a second. Sure, Nobleblood's a selfish jerk, but he's still innocent. He has a clean track record and everything." "Sonny's right." Lars agreed. "We can't just take one of his own internal organs." "We've done some bad stuff in our time, but nothing like that before." Slot frowned. "We've never done anything close to this." Vinny agreed. "Just doesn't sit well with me." "Plus, it'll probably be super-gross." Caboose gagged. "Don't wuss out on me, wimp." O'Malley growled, before looking to the sky. "Surprised to see me, folks? I know I am. If I'm gonna be wiped out one day, that's one thing. But will you quit bringing me back in these flashbacks already? I'm really getting sick of it!" "I know this isn't in any of our comfort zones." Grimoire declared. "And yes, it goes against our code. But I don't care... especially if my daughter's life is on the line. I am not going to let my daughter die because I let some selfish stallion deny Dusty her right to live! I won't allow it!" He emphasized with a stomp. The brothers looked at each other for a second. It was no question that their brother was desperate. But they knew how much pain he had suffered at the loss of his wife... and if he was to lose his daughter too... they couldn't bear to see what it would do to him. "You're right, Grim." Murray nodded. "We can't let Dusty die." Salt agreed. "Not like her mother..." "It's an extreme situation, alright." Lars announced. "And it calls for extreme measures." "Nobleblood had his chance to do the right thing." Sonny scowled. "Now we'll have to make him do it." "Yeah." Vinny smiled. "Dusty's need is greater than his." "Besides, Mr. royalty could probably buy a new kidney." Slot shrugged. "I want Dusty well again." Caboose declared. "Even if it means cutting into some guy's gross insides!" O'Malley jumped in again. "That's the part I'm looking forward to." "Okay, that settles it." Grimoire smiled. "Let's go get us a kidney." After borrowing a boat from their agent Victoria White, and gathering all the stuff they need for this vital mission, the brothers reached the Yacht, which was floating out at sea. With grapples in hoof, they clambered onto the boat. They were all wearing black clothes and ski masks, to hide their identities from any passers-by. Easily slipping inside past all the staff, they found Nobleblood sleeping on his bed in his bedroom. "This is it." Grimoire whispered, as they whipped off their masks. "All we need to apply some anaesthetics and get him into the tub of ice, and his kidney is good as ours." Lars declared. They pulled back the covers, then lifted up Nobleblood's silk pajamas. Underneath was a hard metal sheath wrapped around his torso, the words "Kidney Blocker 5000" printed on it. "What the-?" Lars gaped. "Looks like somepony thought ahead." Murray scowled. "Oh, Lauren Faust, who buys a kidney blocker?!" Salt griped. "What..." Nobleblood suddenly woke up. "Nice going, big mouth!" Slot hissed. "You!" Nobleblood glared at Grimoire. "I knew you'd come sooner or later. Don't think I haven't heard the stories about you Napoleons! There's no way you're getting my kidney! Not after I have you all thrown in-" Caboose suddenly smashed the bedside lamp against Nobleblood's head, knocking him out. The other brothers gaped at him. "What?" O'Malley's voice growled. "He had it comin'. Now, you guys gonna cut out what we need, or what?" "Yes." Lars pulled out a scalpel. "We just have to unlock that kidney blocker first." "Leave that to me." Slot pulled out some bolt cutters. After tearing off the kidney blocker and moving Nobleblood to his bathtub filled with ice, the brothers got to work on the operation. Lars handled the bulk of the procedure; After learning that Dusty was sick, he had immersed himself in possible medical procedures, in an attempt to be better informed on things. The others handled the tools, anaesthetic, and anything else Lars needed. Hours later, the brothers had the kidney safely ensconced in a specifically designed container (which Grimoire had called in a couple of favours to get). Nobleblood had been stitched up, and they were preparing to leave. "Mission accomplished." Murray grinned. "Hang in there, Dusty." Sonny smiled. "We've got the cure for what ails you right here..." "Enough talk." Grimoire declared. "Even in that special little tub, the kidney won't last that long. We have to hurry back and get it to the doc." Just as the brothers were about to disembark from the yacht, Nobleblood burst out, his stitched-up wound still raw and red, and his body wet from all the ice. He was wielding a loaded crossbow, his eyes filled with hate. "Not so fast!" He roared. "He's awake already?" Slot frowned, as they raised their hooves. "Lousy cheap anaesthetic..." "Now just calm down, your highness." Sonny cringed, "We know this look bad-" "Shut up! Did you really think you could mutilate me and get away with it?" Nobleblood snarled. "Well, think again!" "Look, I'm sorry that it had to come to this. Really, I am." Grimoire told him. "But you left us no choice. I can't lose my daughter. Maybe if you hadn't refused to help-" "Help?" Nobleblood scowled. "Did you really expect me to help some half-breed Earth Pony brat?" "...What did you just say?" Grimoire scowled. "Your daughter is nothing but another Earth Pony serf." Nobleblood spat. "The very idea that I would sacrifice a part of myself to keep some lowly commoner from a lesser race alive is laughable!" "Lesser race?" Caboose gaped. "Well, well. Somepony's prejudiced." O'Malley added. "No kidding." Sonny snorted. "You can't going around totin' that kinda attitude anymore. What is this, the dark ages?" "Don't you talk about my daughter that way." Grimoire bristled. "Why not?" Nobleblood pointed the crossbow at him. "A pony from a second-rate species such as her is nothing special. I say let her die. One less mudcrawler to dirty up the world." "How dare you..." Grimoire growled fiercely. "Considering what her immediate family is willing to do, I'd say she deserves it." Nobleblood sneered. "Besides, it'd be better this way. At least she won't have to live as an orphan." "You'd really kill us?" Vinny asked. "I don't think Princess Celestia would approve." "Well, I don't give a flying buck what that old harlot feels." Nobleblood sneered. "Besides, the nice thing about being part of the royal family is that you have lots of underlings who can cover up unseemly acts like this and I don't have to lift a hoof. I'll have them make it look like you all died in a freak boating accident, and even the likes of Celestia would be none the wiser!" "Jeez." Slot grimaced. "I knew he was a jerk, but now he's just straight-up evil." "I'm evil?!" Nobleblood spat. "You're the ones who cut me open and took my kidney!" "Technically, Lars did that." Caboose pointed. "And for what?" Nobleblood spat. "To save some worthless brat? Well, that's not going to happen. You're all going to die, and that little filly of yours is going to join you soon enough. Maybe I should check in at the hospital and bribe an orderly to... shall we say, speed things up? The faster that brat is gone, the better..." "I told you not to talk about her like that..." Grimoire snarled. "Why not?" Nobleblood jeered. "Not only is she a filthy Earth Pony, she's from a family of crooks. I know a fair few ponies who'd be on my side over this! They'd actually celebrate the demise of your urchin." "Quiet!" Grimoire spat. "Maybe before I end her, I'll tell her that her precious daddy is dead." Nobleblood chuckled wickedly. "Make sure all her hope is crushed before her life ends..." "YARRRRGH!" Grimoire had had enough. Overcome with rage, he charged at Nobleblood. Nobleblood tried to fire at him, but the enraged don was too fast for him to even pull the trigger, as he knocked the crossbow out of his hooves and throwing him to the ground before he could react. "Gah! Release me, you commoner trash!" Nobleblood struggled. "Shut up!" Grimoire punched him in the face. "Just shut up, you smug, self-satisfied piece of filth!" Grimoire kept on punching Nobleblood, pounding his face to pulp. "Grim, that's enough!" Murray yelled. "We got what we came for, so let's go!" Salt added. "No." Grimoire snarled. "Not until I've taught this slime a lesson!" "Yeah!" O'Malley whooped. "Pound that pretty boy!" "Please... no more..." Nobleblood gurgled, his mouth full of blood. "You're the one who doesn't deserve to live." Grimoire snarled. "You callous, racist son of a mule!" Grimoire pounded Nobleblood even more. "Kuhhhh..." Nobleblood let out a death rattle. But Grimoire took no heed of it, being unfinished, as he kept punching the Lord's face to a point in which he was now punching chunks into the floorboard. "Grim, that's enough!" Sonny grabbed his brother. "He's dead! It's over!" Lars agreed, as he helped Sonny pull. "Let me go!" Grimoire struggled. "Grim, snap out of it!" Murray slapped him. The pain helped break through the blood-red fog of rage. Grimoire regained his wits. He looked upon Nobleblood's mangled body with horror, especially the part where his head used to be. Trembling, he glanced at his now bloodied hooves. "...What have I done?" He gaped. "Royally screwed up." Slot declared. "And I mean royally." "If anypony finds out you beat a Prince to death, there'll be some real trouble." Vinny agreed. "Our only choice is to cover this up." Salt announced. "...Right." Grimoire nodded, still shell-shocked. "Let's do this." Putting their ski masks back on, the brothers rounded up the servants still aboard the yacht, and set them on a lifeboat. "This is an outrage!" The head chef yelled. "When we tell the Princess about this-" "You won't tell anypony if you know what's good for you." Slot scowled, waving a knife. "Where is Lord Nobleblood?" The captain asked. "That's none of your concern." Grimoire declared, a lot harshly than he intended. "Now, bon voyage." Slot cut the rope tying the lifeboat to the yacht, and the servants drifted away, on a course to nearby Eurodeo. "Are you feelin' alright, bro?" Salt frowned at his elder brother. "I'm... I'm fine. Now that they've been dealt with, it's time to finish the job." Grimoire said a bit coldly. The brothers raided the yacht's fuel supply, pouring it all over. They then climbed back into their boat and sped off. "Sonny, please do the honors." Grimoire nodded, as they drove away. "You got it." Sonny nodded. He used his fire magic to ignite the fuel. In moments, the Royal Blue was ablaze, becoming little more than an orange glow as they drove farther and farther away. The flames reached the engine, and the whole thing blew up in crimson flare, sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Mere hours later, the kidney was brought to Dr. Cottage (who had been advised not to ask where it came from), and Dusty was rushed to surgery. After waiting outside the operating theatre for what seemed like an eternity, the brothers saw Dr. Cottage emerge, his gloves covered in blood. "Well?" Grimoire asked, still a bit shocked from tonight's events. "The operation was a complete success." Dr Cottage smiled. Most of the brothers sighed in relief. "Yes!" Murray cheered. "Woo-hoo!" Caboose yelped. "Thank Faust." Grimoire smiled a tired smile. "She'll need some time to recover, but she'll be able to go home soon." Dr Cottage declared. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to wash up." "Our girl's gonna be okay." Salt grinned. "At last." Sonny smiled. "Makes the night's work all worth it." Lars beamed. "Dusty's coming home!" Vinny whooped. "It'll be good to have the kid back..." Slot declared. In the midst of their cheering, the brothers noticed how Grimoire suddenly became sad and sullen. "Yeah..." Grimoire frowned. "But at what cost?" "Hey, you said it yourself, we couldn't let Dusty die." Vinny told him. "We had to have that kidney." "But I didn't have to kill Nobleblood." Grimoire declared. "He may have been a selfish, racist jerk, but he didn't deserve to die in such a brutal fashion. I broke the code in which the family had followed for so many years..." "Don't be so hard on yourself, Grim." Murray urged. "Sure, you kinda messed up tonight. Sure, you had us all bend the rules. But it was for the best of reasons." "That's right." Sonny nodded. "Dusty is going to be alright now. All thanks to you." "But I killed him..." Grimoire protested. "On top of stealing his kidney. He was innocent on all counts and I just murdered him! ...I have to turn myself in...I shouldn't be free." "Hey, you listen, and you listen good!" Salt glared. "Nobleblood might have committed no crimes, but he was going to let your daughter die, because she was an Earth Pony. And he was more than willing to kill her and us back there when we took his kidney. There lies a difference between a innocent pony who is evil and a guilty one who isn't." "Yes...but..." Grimoire started. "It was either your daughter or him." Murray growled. "And you chose your daughter. You should take pride in that." "Nopony'd miss that sack a' slime, anyway." Slot scowled. "No kiddin'." Vinny nodded. "Offin' a jerk like that did the world a favour." "Not to mention, he provoked you by threatening Dusty." Lars pointed out. "And was about to kill us." Sonny added. "And besides, turning yourself in kinda defeats the purpose of a cover-up." Caboose shrugged. "...You're right, boys." Grimoire smiled. "Whatever I did, I did for Dusty. As long as she's okay, nothing else matters." "That's the spirit." Slot grinned. "Now, I dunno about you guys, but I'm going to bed for the next twelve hours." "We could all use some rest." Lars nodded. "You guys head back to the mansion." Grimoire told them. "I'll sleep here for now." "Anything you say, bro." Murray declared, as the others departed. "Say 'hi' to Dusty for us!" Caboose beamed. Grimoire lay on the waiting room's couch, happy that his daughter was safe, and determined to never speak of the events of the previous night ever again... The present... "And that's pretty much it." Grimoire explained. "I don't believe it." Dusty gasped. "All these years, I never imagined..." "We thought it would be best not to tell you." Lars declared. "We thought it might be a little jarring for you." "Gee, you think?!" Dusty yelled. Out in the hall, Blueblood heard his wife yelling. Curious, yet not wanting to intrude, he stood outside the door, listening in. "I'm sorry we kept this from you." Grimoire apologised. "You were so young at the time, and as the years rolled by, it didn't seem like it was necessary to tell you..." "Necessary?" Dusty growled. "You didn't think it was necessary to ever tell me that you killed the father of my husband?" "WHAT?!" Blueblood roared, as he burst into the room. "Oh buck..." Murray gulped. "Is it true?" Blueblood asked Grimoire. "Did you really kill my father?" "Look, Blue, it's not what you-" Grimoire started. "Answer me!" Blueblood yelled. "Easy there, Blueboy..." Salt urged. "Yeah, just calm down..." Sonny added. "Calm nothing!" Blueblood snarled. "I want the truth!" The brothers were all frozen in shock. They had never seen Blueblood so angry before. "Grimoire, did you kill my father?" Blueblood repeated. "...Yes." Grimoire nodded. "Yes, it's true... but Blueblood, it wasn't as if I meant to do it... it was an accident..." "I believe you." Blueblood declared, having known Grimoire long enough to know when he was telling the truth. "But whether you meant to do it or not is besides the point. You killed my father, and what's worse, you never even had the common decency to tell me. You've been keeping this secret from me since the first day we met!" "I have, and for that, I'm sorry." Grimoire declared. "I'm afraid sorry doesn't cut it, old timer." Blueblood scowled. "Blue..." Dusty whispered. "I need to go." Blueblood said flatly. "Away from all of them..." Blueblood stormed out of the room, and the mansion. "Oh, no..." Dusty groaned. "I don't think that could have gone any worse." Lars sighed. "Do you think he'll have us arrested?" Caboose asked worriedly. "I really don't like the thought of going to prison..." "We were pardoned, remember?" Vinny scowled. "We can't be arrested for anything we did before the Crystal Sun thing." "That's not what I'm worried about." Dusty fretted. "Your little secret could drive my husband away forever!" "No, it won't." Grimoire declared. "I'll go and talk to him." "But you have no idea where he went." Dusty frowned. "Oh, I have an idea." Grimoire frowned knowingly. Some time later, Blueblood was sat in the evidence yard of the Royal Guard, gazing upon the remains of the Royal Blue. "Hey." Blueblood turned to see Grimoire standing before him. "How did you get in here?" Blueblood scowled. "Relation of the royal family, remember?" Grimoire smirked. "What do you want?" Blueblood spat. "To talk." Grimoire answered. "I don't want to talk to you." Blueblood snarled. "Blueblood, you have every right to be angry with me." Grimoire sighed, "But you gotta understand the circumstances..." "Circumstances?!" Blueblood repeated, "You took my father from me!" "That I did, but it wasn't part of the plan." Grimoire explained, "Dusty was very sick, and needed a kidney. Your father was the only chance we had of saving her life, and he refused to give it up." "I don't believe that." Blueblood frowned. "My father may have been callous, but he would never do something so heartless." "It's the truth, Blueblood." Grimoire sighed. "I had hoped that someone else would come along with a kidney, but none did, and Dusty had little time left. So, in desperation, we snuck onto his yacht, and took his kidney ourselves. The anaesthetics didn't last as long as it should have, and he had us at crossbowpoint. Then he threatened us and her and said some awful things... and I just lost it. I didn't even realise he was dead until the others snapped me out of it." "It doesn't matter how you did it." Blueblood declared. "You killed him. Because of you, I lost my father." "I know." Grimoire sighed. "Why did you never tell me?" Blueblood asked. "Even in the early days, when you hated me?" "There are some lines even I won't cross." Grimoire told him. "Your father, as selfish and callous as he was, was an innocent. I never wanted to kill him." "And I grew up without him because of that." Blueblood frowned. "Well, how good of a father was he?" Grimoire asked. "Honestly?" Blueblood recalled. "He was cold, he was distant, he never had time for me. He never told me he loved me, he never even told me he liked me. The only thing he ever gave me was money, and lectures over how being royalty made us better than everypony else." "Sounds like he wasn't that great a dad at all." Grimoire declared. "No, he wasn't." Blueblood admitted. "But he was still my dad. Losing him really hurt me. It made me throw myself into parties, and random mares. His absence made a hole that I've never quite filled." "I'm sorry." Grimoire sighed. "I knew your father had a son. I also knew what it would mean for a foal to lose a parent. I'm so sorry I never told you. You deserved to know." "Yes, I did." Blueblood nodded. "That's what hurt the most. Over the years, I grew to admire you, trust you. I... I guess I saw you as a new father figure. In many ways, I believed you were a better father figure than my own father was..." "I guess you had to, huh?" Grimoire smiled. "But now, I'm not so sure." Blueblood declared. "I don't know if I can trust you anymore." "If we knew who we could trust, it couldn't really be called 'trust', then would it?" Grimoire sighed. "Besides, you shouldn't make Dusty suffer over this. She's innocent. And right now, she's probably worried sick about you." "I shouldn't have run out on her." Blueblood sighed. "It was... the spur of the moment." "I've been there." Grimoire admitted. "It's hard to resist, isn't it?" "Yeah, it is..." Blueblood smiled. "I believe you when you say you didn't mean to do it. And even so, it was to protect Dusty's honor. I can respect that..." "Still not one of my proudest moments, though." Grimoire sighed. "Even if you did lie, I suppose it was for the best." Blueblood continued. "Things might not have worked out so well if I'd known back then. I may not have married Dusty, or had our kids..." "Let's not dwell on 'what ifs'." Grimoire told him. "My father used to tell me that we shouldn't dwell on the past, or we'll miss out on the present." "A very smart stallion." Blueblood declared. "Let's head back." The two stallions returned to the mansion as fast as they could. The second they entered, Dusty ran up and embraced Blueblood. "I was so worried!" She sniffed. She then cuffed him over the head. "Don't ever do that again!" "I'm sorry, darling." Blueblood apologized. "I didn't mean to worry you. I just had to clear my head." "I'm sorry, too." Dusty declared. "I never knew anything about this." "It's okay." Blueblood declared. "It's in the past." "Really?" Dusty smiled. "Trust me." Blueblood assured her. "I have all the family I need right here." At that point, Pureblood and Vito entered the room. "Hey dad." Vito smiled. "Where have you been?" Pureblood asked. "We missed you!" "I just needed to clear my head." Blueblood shrugged. "Now, what say we go play some more Ping-Pong?" "Yeah!" The twins cheered. "Then let's go." Blueblood smiled. The others watched as Blueblood and his sons went off to play. "Blueblood's quite a father." Grimoire told Dusty. "You should be proud." "I like to think he picked some of it up from you." Dusty admitted. "Me too." Grimoire grinned. 'All's well that ends well, you might think? Not quite, for a few days later, I came in for a fateful doctor's appointment. I had been feeling a little off lately. I thought it was something minor. How wrong I was...' Dr. Stable looked at his notes, a look of sadness on his face. "Well?" Grimoire asked. "I'm sorry, Mr Napoleon." Dr. Stable sighed. "All the signs point to the beginnings of... Prancington's Disease." "No..." Grimoire gasped. "Not that..." "Is there a... history of the disease in your family?" Dr. Stable asked. "Yes." Grimoire nodded. "My father had it." "I see." Dr. Stable mused. "Well, medical science has come a long way since then. There's some medication I can prescribe that will slow the disease's progress considerably, but I'm afraid it's only a matter of time before it destroys your mind completely." "How long?" Grimoire asked. "With the meds slowing it down? About a year." Dr. Stable declared. "Perhaps sixteen months." Grimoire was silent for a moment. "...I'll take what I can get." He declared. "Write up the prescription, doc." "Of course." Dr. Stable nodded. As Dr. Stable wrote up the prescription, Grimoire was still facing the shock of the news... 'There you have it, dear readers. My mind's starting to go, and soon, my life will go with it. But I won't let it stop me from finishing my memoirs. Make no mistake, I have a few stories still left in me. If you're holding this book in your hooves, then you know I'll complete this tome before my mind turns to jelly. This may as well be my last contribution to the world, so treasure it well. I know I will...'