//------------------------------// // Ladies' Night // Story: The Napoleons: The Confessions & Revelations Of The Greatest Mafia Family // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// 'As bad as my condition is getting for me, there's another pony who has it worse: Mom. Good old Bonnie Napoleon, our family's faithful matriarch. I know it has been a rather long time since I talked about her. And just for the record, no, she is not dead... at least... she wasn't. Ever since she left for that retirement home for old mafia matriarchs (and yes, that is a thing), we hadn't seen much of her. She would pop up randomly from time to time to visit, usually on birthdays. But then came the day that Caboose got married. The moment she realized that her baby boy was finally marrying and we had found new marefriends, Bonnie began checking up on us more frequently, determined to make sure that we were treating them right and vice versa. While some of us did find it a bit intrusive, this was our mother.' 'Fortunately, we seemed to have done right by her, each of us marrying our mares. And surprisingly, she was rather receptive towards Slot's marrying of two mares... unfortunately, this lead her to cracking several uncomfortable jokes about them making a "Slot sandwich", and claiming to brag to her roommates about one of her boys getting "two for the price of one". Nonetheless, she loved every one of them, not to mention she was beyond all reason ecstatic at the grandfoals the others had provided her. She encouraged Hurricane's wild and wacky attitude (saying it reminded her of a young Caboose), absolutely doted after Michael (thinking he was the sweetest foal around), and loved playing cards with Pureblood and Vito (or the "twin angels" as she called them). She hadn't spent much time with Lightning, but she loved to hold the little filly in her hooves.' 'I am happy to see her happy... she had been through a lot in her lifetime, and I know it wasn't easy, especially after Pa had died. But in spite of that, she was always there for me and my brothers, and we like to think she always would be. But alas, even the best of ponies can't fight the ravages of time. She's in her eighties now, and, to be brutally honest, growing more and more decrepit. Though she'd never admit it; She still tries to be as active as she was when she was young. Aside from the occasional slipped disk or broken hip, that attitude had actually served her well. Unfortunately, not even she could withstand the hooves of time... but she wasn't going to let the Grim Reaper take her yet...this is the haunting ballad I like to call...' Chapter Thirty-One: Ladies' Night 'After the Crystal Sun incident, Mom would regulary make visits to the new manor, making time for me, my brothers, our wives, and our kids. It was on one occasion, when we were all together, that she made an unusual request...' The Napoleons and their wives had gathered in Grimoire's mansion. While the brothers were in the study, talking business, the mares were in the living room, looking at the Napoleon family photo album. "Wow, check out Vinny back in the day." Berry admired a photo of her husband as a young adult. "He was even hunkier than he is right now!" "Salt was hunkier." Redheart sighed. "Murray was no slouch either." May smiled. "Look at that cute dopey smile on Caboose's face." Daring cooed. "Nice to see some things haven't changed..." "Sonny sure hasn't." Bon-Bon grinned. "He looks just as cute now as he did back then." "As for Slot... look at that mane." Octavia gaped, the Slot in the picture wearing a wild mullet. "I remember when that used to be in style." Vinyl nodded. "Of course, 'style' may not be the right word..." "And Lars..." Lyra took note of his stern face. "Always so serious..." "Ah, to see my Grim in his heyday." Zecora sayed. "Not a bad sight, I must say..." "Hello, ladies." The mares looked up to see none other than Bonnie entering the room. Her once smooth face sported several wrinkles, and she utilized a cane to walk with. "Having fun?" Bonnie smiled. "Bonnie, hello to you." Zecora grinned. "How do you do?" "As well as you can expect from a gal nearing ninety." Bonnie shrugged. "You're still quite spry for a lady your age." May declared. "That's right." Redheart agreed. "As a physician, I can safely say you've aged remarkably well." "I can only hope I look half that good when I'm your age." Berry chuckled. "What's your secret?" Lyra asked. "I don't really have a secret." Bonnie admitted. "Guess I'm just lucky." "I'm guessing a good diet is part of it." Bon-Bon declared. "And staying active." Daring added. "Whatever it is, we're just glad you stayed around long enough for us to meet you." Vinyl declared. "Things wouldn't be the same around here without." Octavia agreed. "So, you girls are looking through some old memories, eh?" Bonnie mused as she picked up a picture. "Oh, yeah." Vinyl smiled. "Did you really let Slot walk around looking like that?" "Barely." Bonnie snickered. "The boy avoided scissors like the plague. I was tempted to just cut that thing off in his sleep, but in the end, I decided to let him grow out of it. It only took six months..." "Yes, Slot can be a stubborn stallion when he wants to." Octavia admitted. "He was still cute though." "They all were." May admitted. "If only we could have met them back then." Redheart declared. "Just look at how far they've come since then." Daring smiled. "Yeah, they went through so much." Berry admitted. "Hardship..." Lyra declared. "Strife..." Bon-Bon continued. "And don't forget all that trouble with Red Eclipse." "But they came through it all together." Octavia smiled, looking at a more recent photo. "And now look where they are." Vinyl grinned. "They truely have risen above the crowd." Zecora declared. "Bonnie, you must be so very proud." "I am." Bonnie smiled. "They've all grown up into fine stallions. Not to mention got themselves some wonderful wives." "Oh, stop." Bon-Bon gushed. "I mean it." Bonnie smiled. "I couldn't have hoped for my boys to marry such fine, compassionate, talented and understanding mares. And so beautiful, too... Angelic, you might say." "...Okay, what's going on?" Lyra frowned. "What do you mean?" Bonnie asked. "You're a nice mare, Bonnie." Octavia noted. "But you're never this nice." "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." Bonnie said nervously. "You want to ask a favor, don't you?" Daring smirked. "That's why you're buttering us up like this." "Oh, that's ridiculous." Bonnie laughed airily. "As a former politician, I know a bluff when I hear one." May smirked. "That is so very true." Zecora agreed. "Tell us this favor, why don't you?" "...Okay, here it is." Bonnie declared. "I need your help, ladies." "With what?" Berry asked. Bonnie quickly edged over to the door, making sure that the boys couldn't hear them, then closed the windows and drew the curtains. "I need your help... with him." Bonnie pulled out a picture, clearly taken from a spy camera. The image was of a stout old Unicorn stallion (not as old as Bonnie, but older than Grimoire), in a black suit and hat. He had a slate-covered coat, graying black mane, brown eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a fedora. "And who is 'him' exactly?" Daring inquired. "That would be Al Capony." Bonnie frowned, "A long time ago, before I married the boys' father, he was this cocky little upstart enforcer from the Black Hooves Mob in Germaney. The Clopellis never got along well with the Black Hooves, and this guy really made things difficult for us. However, one day, he got lucky, and managed to put a bolt right between my dear uncle Dagger's eyes." "That's horrible." Daring frowned. "Yes." Bonnie slightly growled, "Dagger was very dear to me. So I made it my mission to avenge him. Shortly after marrying Clyde, when I didn't want to kill him, I had taken a few of his men aside and have them keep a all-day , all-year vigil for this runt. However, each time he pop up, he disappeared. Nowadays, I hear that he gone into hiding, and had taken control of the Black Hooves Mob. To this day, the agents I chosen to find him could never catch him." "Not to sound insensitive, but I fail to see what this has to do with us." Redheart declared. "Well, as you can see from this picture, an agent finally found him over in Whinneyapolis." Bonnie declared, "Unfortunately, he's heavily guarded, and he and his stallions know all of the agents under our employment, so I can't send any of them without risking their safety or Capony getting away again. That is why I need all of you." "Come again?" May frowned. "Are you asking us to help you?" Bon-Bon raised a brow. "Why?" "Capony is an infamous chauvinist." Bonnie revealed. "He has a very old-fashioned opinion when it comes to mares, something he's taken care to impress on his flunkies. They are so sexist that they'll never consider a group of mares like us to be a threat." "You want us to infiltrate the lair of a mob boss, and help you take him down?" Redheart gaped. "Are you serious?" "Just because we're married to former mobsters doesn't mean we know how to act like them." Lyra frowned. "Yeah!" Berry nodded. "What, you want us to help you make Capony sleep with the porpoises?" "That's 'sleep with the fishes'." Daring pointed out. "Exactly my point!" Berry declared. "And it's a good one." Octavia agreed. "We can't be sure we can do this." Vinyl declared. "Then this is your chance to find out." Bonnie smiled. "Think of this as a family bonding experience. Just a girl's night out, a mother and her nine daughter-in-laws." "A night out that could end very badly." Bon-Bon pointed out. "Surely, you've been in worse scrapes than that." Bonnie declared. "No, we haven't." Vinyl snorted. "The worse situation any of us were in was when Caboose warped May's offfice onto the side of the cliff." "What?" Octavia frowned. "Long story." May grimaced. "Well, I don't know about you girls, but I see no harm in it. Wouldn't be the first time I tangled with bad guys." Daring shrugged. "Um, you're a mare that fought with some... whatever Ahuizotl was supposed be for like, twenty years." Berry Punch groaned. "Come on, girls, please." Bonnie urged. "I need to do this. I can't pass up the chance to have closure, at long last. To finally avenge my dear uncle Dagger, and make sure that monster never hurts anypony else. I'm an old mare, with not much time left for this world. I might not ever get another chance." Bonnie bowed her head in sorrow. The others looked at each other, and came to a decision. "Okay." May nodded. "We'll do it. We'll help you." "You will?" Bonnie smiled. "Of course we will." Zecora nodded. "Now, we have a stallion to kill." "But... what about our husbands?" Redheart asked. "Yeah, I doubt Grim will allow Zecora to go on a hit with a nine month-long bun cooking in the oven." Lyra pointed out. "And Murray and Sonny would go ballistic if either me or May go." Bon Bon frowned. "Don't you worry about that." Bonnie grinned, "I already let them know that I am going to be taking you ladies out to Whinneyapolis for a night out on the town. They will be none the wiser." "And you are sure of that?" Octavia raised a brow. "Of course. I raised each of those boys from little foals. I always found some way of talking them into something... usually involving bribes." Bonnie boasted. "Well, that is comforting." Bon-Bon frowned. "Now we have to worry about a old don and possibly hundred of goons with knives and crossbows. "Make that about a dozen stallions." Bonnie declared. "The Black Hooves Mob is on its last legs. Capony's old-fashioned views have been running their business into the ground for years. There's hardly even that many of them left." "You couldn't have told us that sooner?" Octavia asked. "I wanted to know if you could commit to my request, no matter how difficult it seemed." Bonnie smiled. "The truth is... it would have been very easy to have Grim's boys head over there and kill them all easily, but like I said, this is personal. When Capony dies, I want to be there to see it." "You wiley old mare..." Lyra shook her head with a grin. "And proud of it." Bonnie nodded. "Now, I'll let you have a day or two to prepare, and we'll be off." "Roger that." May nodded. "Prepare yourselves." Bonnie chuckled. "It's going to be quite a trip..." "Well, how about that?" Redheart smiled. "Looks like we're going on an adventure." "All those years without any adventures, and suddenly I get two, just like that." Daring grinned. "Must be my lucky year..." After taking the time to gather up some essentials (aided by their husbands, who were kept in the dark), the mares were ready to set off. Their husbands were sharing goodbyes. "Have fun out there, 'Cora." Grimoire smiled. "I shall, my dear." Zecora smiled. "But not as much as I can when you are near." "See you soon, babe." Murray told May. "Not soon enough." May smirked. "I'm missing you already." Salt told Redheart. "Thanks, sweetie." Redheart beamed. "Try not to drink too much... just kiddin!" Vinny joked. "Oh, you." Berry giggled. "Have a most enjoyable expedition." Lars urged. "Indubitably." Lyra chuckled. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Sonny told Bon-Bon. "You got it." Bon-Bon smiled. "How about a couple of goodbye kisses?" Slot asked Vinyl and Octavia. "Go for it." Vinyl smirked. "Like you even have to ask..." Octavia smirked. "Don't be gone too long, okay?" Caboose embraced Daring. "Oh, honey..." Daring cooed. "I'll be back before you know it." "Okay girls, it's time we were off." Bonnie declared. "We have a schedule to keep, you know." "You girls have fun." Grimoire smiled. "Try to take easy, mom..." "Not a chance." Bonnie joked. "Don't wait up!" The mares gathered into their extra-large carriage, big enough to carry them all (and pulled by six Pegasi). "To Whinnyapolis!" Bonnie ordered. "Yes, ma'am!" The Pegasi chorused. The carriage was pulled into the sky. The brothers waved their loved ones off as they steadily vanished into the sky. "So, there they go." Lars sighed. "Yeah." Sonny nodded. "All our favorite ladies, off on a fun night out." "Let's hope they don't overdo it." Murray declared. "Not Berry." Vinny chuckled. "Trust me, you don't know how much she can drink..." "And Daring's really tough." Caboose smiled. "One night out, she ate a whole tray of extra spicey nachos!" "Yeah, have a little faith in them." Salt urged. "They can handle anything." "Sure." Slot nodded. "They're our girls, aren't they?" "Exactly." Grimoire smiled. "And while the mares are away, the stallions are going to have a little guy time." "That's what I'm talking about." Murray grinned. "Let's just hang out together, like the old days." "Sounds good to me." Slot nodded. "how about you, Vin?" "Yeah, sure..." Vinny nodded. He was still thinking about what he had overheard recently. The knowledge of Grimoire's condition was slowly eating away at him... "Something wrong, Vinny?" Grimoire asked. "You tell me." Vinny frowned. "Come on, Vin!" Caboose put him in a friendly headlock. "Let's have some fun!" "Okay, sure!" Vinny gagged. "Just quit choking me!" "Let's get inside." Sonny smiled. "I'll make us up some of my famous nachos." "Yum." Murray licked his lips. As the brothers walked back to the mansion, Vinny kept on thinking about Grimoire. 'I can't just tell the others Grim' got Prancingson's.' He thought. 'Grim'd never forgive me. I gotta get him to confess. And I think I know how...' As the brothers (except for Sonny, who headed to the kitchen) entered the study, Oakley greeted them, barking happily. "Hey, how's it going, mossface?" Salt playfully razzed the Timberwolf. "So, how should we kick off our guy's night out?" Lars asked. "Maybe a movie?" Caboose suggested. "How about putting on some tunes?" Salt suggested. "Anything you guys want." Grimoire smiled. "Hey guys, how about we play a little truth or dare?" Vinny smiled. "Oh, yeah!" Caboose whooped. "Isn't that a mare's game?" Slot snorted. "...No." Vinny said bluntly. "Now, who wants to go first? How about you, Grim?" "Okay." Grimoire nodded. "...Truth." 'Perfect.' Vinny thought. "My question is this: How are you feeling today?" "What kind of question is that?" Murray frowned. "Please answer." Vinny declared. "Well, aside from a slight headache this morning, I'm feeling pretty good." Grimoire admitted. "Really?" Vinny asked, a tad deflated. "No... maladies, or unusual medical problems?" "For somepony of my age, such things are expected." Grimoire shrugged. "And I'm dealing with them as best I can." Vinny scowled inwardly. 'Of course.' He thought. 'Grim always was good at being vague with the truth...' "Okay, my turn!" Caboose yelled. "Slot, truth or dare?" "Dare me, bro." Slot smirked. "Jam this stick up your butthole!" Caboose held up a long, pointy stick. "What?!" Slot spluttered. "No way!" "You know the rules, bro." Salt smirked. "You have to do it." "Make sure to get it in there, nice and deep." Lars smirked. "Where'd you even get that, anyway?" Sonny asked Caboose. "Oh, y'know." Caboose shrugged. "Nowhere..." He passed the stick to Slot. "You're up, bro." "...I really hate this game." Slot cringed. A short while later, after the nachos were done (and Slot had extracted the stick from his backside), the brothers eagerly ate the chips, while also enjoying Vinny's wine. "Ah, this is the life." Murray smiled. "Just us guys, hanging out, relaxing..." "While our mom and wives go out to paint the town red..." Caboose chuckled. "Yep." Salt nodded. "Same old, same old." "More wine, Grim?" Vinny offered. "Yeah, why not?" Grimoire smiled, holding out his empty glass. "Here ya go." Vinny smiled. His new plan was to get Grimoire drunk enough to blurt out the truth about his condition. "Plenty more where that came from..." Meanwhile, the mares landed in Whinneyapolis. After landing, Bonnie escorted them to their new carriage; A large golden vehicle, pulled by two burly buffalo. "Here's our ride." She smiled. "Pretty fancy." Daring noted the extravagance of the carriage. "I thought we might like to travel in style." Bonnie grinned. "It's the only way I travel." Octavia grinned. "So, where exactly is this Capony guy hiding?" Berry asked, as they all got into the carriage. "In a gated community on the other side of the city." Bonnie revealed. "It's supposed to have been open to the public by now, but Capony's using the last of his connections to keep it shut, so he and his minions can use it as a nice, big hiding place." "Smart thinking." Lyra nodded. "But not smart enough." "Let's go, boys!" Bonnie declared. Nodding, the Buffalo pulled the carriage away. Back in Ponyville, the wine was starting to get to Grimoire. "Boy, we had some good times, huh?" He smiled. "Back in the day?" "No kiddin'." Murray hiccupped. "Where'd all the time go?" "Search me." Salt shrugged. "Time, time, time to get a new watch!" Caboose giggled, tipsy. "You know, I'm getting the oddest urge to tell you guys something I've been hiding." Grimoire declared. "Something I've been keeping from you." "Yes?" Vinny asked hopefully. "I recently learned something..." Grimoire declared. "I have contracted..." "Yes?" Vinny urged. "Clog dancing fever!" Grimoire whooped. "What?!" Vinny gaped. "It's true!" Grimoire chuckled. "I saw a bunch of ponies dancing in the town square with those wooden shoes, and I just loved!" "Oh-ho, that is so weird!" Slot snorted. "Isn't that the nuttiest thing, Vinny?" Sonny asked. "Oh, yeah." Vinny nodded. "Nutty..." Back in Whinnyapolis, the mares' carriage stopped a short ways away from the gated community, Bonnie surmising that it would be guarded, and they didn't want to announce themselves. Sticking to some nearby bushes, they snuck up to the front gate, finding that a stern-looking stallion was indeed guarding it. "Okay, this is it." Bonnie declared. "No turning back now." "None of us will even think of turning back." Zecora declared. "Now, who wants first crack?" "I've got this one." May declared. She pulled out a rubber strap, placed a nearby rock in it, then swung it around, finally letting it go. The rock struck the guard right in the head, knocking him out. "Nice shot." Bonnie smirked. "I'm guessing Murray taught you a few things?" "You could say that." May nodded. "Now, let's keep moving." The mares slipped into the building. They stalked quietly through the corridors, keeping an eye out for guards. "Here's another one." Bonnie noted. "Leave him to me." Zecora urged, pulling out a small pouch. "I have a gift for him, one for free." Zecora threw the pouch. The second it hit the floor, it burst open, releasing a green gas that enveloped the guard. "What the..." He gagged, before collapsing. "Whoa, what was that?" Berry smirked. "A little something I did brew." Zecora remarked. "It helps deal with bad juju." As they continued on their path, they scouted out the area, and counted five guards (one of whom was much bigger and brawnier than the others) protecting five houses. "Okay, this... complicates things." Bonnie noted. "Capony is in one of those houses..." "We'll just have to split up, deal with a guard each, and search the houses." Redheart declared. "Me and 'Tavi'll take the big one." Vinyl declared. "You girls stick with Bonnie." Daring told Zecora, May and Lyra. "If there's trouble, you can jump in and help." "You got it." Lyra nodded. "Okay, girls." Berry smirked. "Let's show these chauvinist pigs what a bunch of mares can do." The mares split up, sticking to the shadows as they approached their targets. Bon-Bon reached hers first. "Hello there." She said pleasantly, as she approached him. "What the buck do you want?" The guard asked menacingly. "Oh, don't be like that." Bon-Bon smiled. "I'm just going door to door, offering samples of my delcious cupcakes." Bon-Bon pulled out a plastic bag filled with the confectionaries. "Cupcakes, huh?" The guard smiled. "That's right." Bon-Bon nodded. "Care to try one?" "I really shouldn't..." The guard frowned. "The boss'd have my flank... but I suppose one wouldn't hurt." "That's the spirit." Bon-Bon smiled. The guard picked a cupcake out, and took a bite out of it. "Mmm... not bad." He smiled. "Frosting, whipped cream... and some other flavour I can't quite-" He suddenly collapsed. "That would be the sedatives." Bon-Bon smirked. As Bon-Bon searched the house, Redheart approached another guard. She pulled out a map. "Excuse me, but I think I'm lost." She declared. "Could you help me?" "Heh, ditzy mares." The guard smirked. "The boss was right. You can't read maps to save your lives." "Yes, I'm ever so helpless without a big, strong stallion to help me." Redheart tittered. "I just need to find the train station." "Well, see, the town hall is there." The stallion pointed. "And there's the Whinneyhaha Falls... So the train station is right over there." "Thank you so much." Redheart took his hoof and held it in her own. "You're a lifesaver." "Hey, that's what stallions are..." The guard started feeling woozy. "F... for..." He collapsed also. "Stallions like you, that is." Redheart smirked, removing the tiny needle she had hidden in her hoof, which contained a powerful anaesthetic. Vinyl and Octavia approached the hulking stallion. "What are you gals doin' here?" The stallion growled. "This ain't no knittin' circle, ya know." "Not our style." Octavia snorted. "We're more into musical entertainment." "Perhaps you'd like to hear some?" Vinyl offered. "We couldn't help but notice you looked a little bored. Some tunes could liven things up." "...Okay, sure." The stallion shrugged. "Just make it quick." "Listen to this." Octavia passed him some headphones. The stallion slipped the headphones on, a jaunty tune emerging from them. "Hey, not bad." He smiled. "Wait for it..." Octavia smirked. Suddenly, a screeching sound replaced the mellow tunes, deafening the stallion. "Ah!" He threw off the headphones. "What are you tryin' to-?" "Say cheese!" Vinyl held up a strobe light, blinding the stallion. "My eyes!" The stallion groaned. "Worry more about your face!" Octavia declared, as she and Vinyl both punched him, knocking him out. Daring, taking a moment to don her old A.K. Yearling disguise, walked over to her target, carrying a clipboard. "Pardon me, sir." She declared. "I'm the safety inspector." "Get lost." The stallion snorted. "We don't need no safety inspector. This place is plenty safe." "Oh, really?" Daring asked. "Because it looks to me like all sorts of accidents could happen." She pointed to one of the house's windows. "Take this window, for example. All sorts of trouble could happen there." "Like what?" The stallion asked, turning to look. "Like this!" Daring pulled a club out from under the clipboard, and struck the stallion in the head, knocking him out. "You see? Unsafe." "Hey, good lookin'." Berry sauntered over to her target. "Hey yourself." The stallion smirked. "What brings you out here?" "Just looking for some fun." Berry smiled. "And I think I just found it." "You sure did." The stallion. Without warning, Berry punched him in the stomach. "Ugghhhh!" The stallion collapsed. "There, wasn't that fun?" Berry smirked. After getting past the guards, the mares searched each house, finding only illegal and stolen goods. "No luck there." Redheart shrugged. "Nice move, Berry." Lyra smiled. "Thanks." Berry grinned. "It's a little something Vinny taught me. He calls it the 'kidney crusher'." "Only one house left." Lyra noted. "Mind if I do the honors?" "Be my guest." Bonnie nodded. Lyra walked over to the guard. "Hey, what are you doing in here?" The guard asked. "You lost, little lady?" "Actually, I've got a riddle for you, mister." Lyra declared. "One you'll never be able to answer." "We'll see about that." The stallion smirked. "No riddle a mare could come up with could stump me. Fire away." "Okay then." Lyra grinned. "Here goes... What gets wetter as it dries?" "Wetter as it dries..." The stallion mused. "Hmmm..." As the stallion fell into deep thought, the other mares slipped past him, Vinyl using her magic to open the door silently. Lyra brought up the rear. 'Works every time...' She thought. "Wait... a towel!" The stallion realised. "Take that, missy!" As he looked around, he saw that Lyra was gone, and the door he was supposed to be guarding was wide open. "Hey, wait a minute. I've been had!" He made to run after them, but tripped on a loose piece of carpet, knocking himself out. Inside the final house, the mares rushed into the living room, finally coming face-to-face with Capony. "What the-?!" Capony spluttered. "What the buck is this?" "Al Capony." Bonnie stepped forward. "Remember me?" "Why should I-" Capony stopped in his tracks, as he slowly realised. "Oh no..." "That's right." Bonnie nodded. "Bonnie Napoleon. Formerly Bonnie Clopelli, niece of Dagger. The stallion you killed. I'm here to finally settle the score." "Aw, c'mon." Capony said nervously. "You're not still holding a grudge over that, are ya? That was a lifetime ago!" "Yes." My lifetime." Bonnie scowled. "I've been waiting all these years for this chance. You are finally going to pay for what you've done." "You're gonna make me pay?" Capony sneered. "You and the lady league?" "That's the plan." Bonnie nodded. "Well... nyah!" Capony yelled. Capony made to punch her, but she caught the blow with her walking stick, then flung him across the room. "It's a good plan, isn't it?" Bonnie smirked. As he got up, Capony realised he was in trouble. Using his horn, he blasted out the house's window. "So long, ladies!" He waved, before leaping outside. "Not this time." Bonnie scowled. "After him!" The mares chased after Capony as he fled the community. After passing through the back gate, he leapt into a carriage, a stallion already reined in. "Go, go, go!" He yelled at the stallion in the reins. "Yes, sir!" The stallion started to run. The mares emerged as the carriage was pulled away. "He's getting away!" Bonnie yelled. "No, he's not!" Daring pointed to an empty carriage. Daring, Bon-Bon, May and Redheart slipped into the reins. As Earth Ponies (and a Pegasi), they had enough strength to pull the others. "Here we go!" Daring yelled, as they moved into pursuit. "We're losing him!" Berry yelled. "How about a boost?" Lyra's horn lit up, her magic helping to push the carriage along. "Count me in!" Vinyl smiled, adding her magic to the mix. "Now that's the stuff!" May smiled, as they sped up. It was a determined chase. Though the mare's had speed on their side, Capony's carriage was lighter, and the stallion knew the roads better. As his persuers drew nearer, Capony had an idea. "Slow down!" He told the stallion. "Sir?" The stallion frowned. "Just do it!" Capony urged. The stallion obeyed, slowing down considerably. "Look out!" Bonnie yelped, as they were seconds from collision. "Turn!" Daring yelped. The mares pulled the carriage to one side, running up a dirt road that led up a hill. "Get moving!" Capony yelled. "Yes, sir!" The stallion started running again. "He's not getting away that easily." May growled. "How do we catch him now?" Bon-Bon asked. "Follow the road." Lyra pointed. "We'll have our chance soon enough." "You heard the mare!" Octavia urged. The mares kept on running, following the road. "Please don't dead end..." Bonnie muttered. "Please don't dead end..." The other mares joined her, all saying "Please don't dead end..." in unison. As they neared a turn, they saw Capony's carriage on the road below. "There the motherbucker is!" Vinyl pointed. "Go, go, go!" "Get 'im, get 'im, get 'im!" Daring urged. Down below, Capony, believing he had evaded his pursuers, breathed a sigh of relief, then cackled madly. Just then, the mares' carriage came in from a turn leading from the dirt road. "Now!" May yelled. The mares swerved, slamming the side of their carriage into the back of Capony's own. Capony's carriage was sent flying into the air, spinning end over end as it crashed back onto the road, eventually landing right side up... right on top of Capony. The mares advanced on the wreck. Capony had been badly hurt by the crash. The stallion pulling the carriage was scraped, scratched and unconscious, but otherwise unharmed. "Help me!" He screamed out to all and sundry, one leg bleeding profusely. "Sure." May glared. "Whatever you say." The mares pulled Capony out of the wreck. "Careful, one of my legs is broken- Ahh!" He yelled, as they removed him from the wreck, and stood him up. "No... please..." Capony wheezed. "Don't..." "You had to know this day was coming." Bonnie said coldly. "This is for my uncle Dagger, and all the others you harmed, monster! Ladies, shall we?" As one, the mares started beating on Capony, pounding what little life was left out of him. Blow after blow rained on the merciless crime boss. One punch sent him right into another, and another. After a brutal beating, Bonnie kicked him hard in the face, and bringing him down. As he lay on the ground, helpless, she dealt the finishing blow, bringing her hoof down hard on his head. "...We did it." May said breathlessly. "We actually did it!" "We brought down a big-time crime lord with nothing but our bare hooves." Berry smiled. "Not bad for a bunch of mares, huh?" "Not bad?" Daring smirked. "It was awesome!" "Quite a rush, I'll admit." Lyra nodded. "I'm starting to understand why the guys did that kind of stuff." Bon-Bon added. "A tad uncouth, but satisfying." Octavia noted. "Yeah, we gave that slime what he deserved." Vinyl nodded. "That fiend is no more." Zecora agreed. "We put an end to that oafish bore." "Ah, it's been so long since I've had this kind of excitement." Bonnie said, still short of breath. "Glad I got to enjoy it one last time..." The mares returned to the mansion, the boys there to greet them. "How was your trip?" Grimoire asked Zecora. "It was... exciting." Zecora admitted. "But compared to seeing you again, it is nothing." "I missed you like crazy." Murray hugged May. "Same here." May grinned. "Good to have you back, babe." Salt smiled. "It's good to be back." Redheart beamed. "So, how wild was your trip?" Vinny asked Berry. "You wouldn't belive how wild." Berry chuckled. "Seeing you again sets my soul into rapture." Lars told Lyra. "Boy, I've missed those big words." Lyra kissed him. "The second we get home, I'm baking you your favorite cake." Sonny told Bon-Bon. "It won't be sweet as you, though." Bon-Bon hugged him. "Miss me, girls?" Slot smirked, as both his wives embraced him. "You bet." Vinyl kissed his cheek. "Like crazy." Octavia kissed his other cheek. "Please don't leave again." Caboose begged Daring. "I can't stand it." "Neither can I." Daring nuzzled him. "Now that's what I like to see." Bonnie sighed. "My boys, with the mares they're meant to be with." That night, Grimoire entered the lounge, where Bonnie was sitting in a chair. "Hi, mom." He smiled. "What is it, mom?" Grimoire asked. "Grim, I know you have Prancingson's Disease." Bonnie declared. "What?!" Grimoire gaped. "No, I don't..." "You think I don't recognise the symptoms?" Bonnie asked. "Clyde had it, remember? Clyde think I would had never found out before he died... well, I wasn't born yesterday." "I... it's true." Grimoire sighed. "I'm running out of time. "It's not fair. There was so much I still wanted to do. I'm trying so hard to hang on, if only so I can see my foal be born. But if I can't? What if I''m already on the way out?" "Then use what little time you have left." Bonnie urged. "Live it up. Have fun. Cherish what you have. Don't wallow in despair. Just enjoy yourself while you can. Be a simple kind of stallion... can you do that for me?" "Of course I can." Grimoire nodded. "Anything for you, mom..." "That's my good boy..." Bonnie smiled weakly. "You gonna be okay in here, on your own?" Grimoire asked. "I'll be just fine." Bonnie nodded. "I just need to rest. I've seen a lot of action lately." "You can be forgiven for being a little tired." Grimoire declared. "You're not as young as you used to be." "No, I'm not." Bonnie sighed. "One day, I'll be gone..." "But not someday soon." Grimoire declared. "I don't know what we'll do without you." "You'll do just fine." Bonnie smiled. "All of you. You'll carry on without me, just as you carried on without Clyde, Faust rest his soul. Such fine, good boys..." "Good night, mom." Grimoire nodded. "Good night, darling." Bonnie whispered. Grimoire left the room. Bonnie laid back in her chair. "Time to rest..." She sighed. Later that night, Grimoire woke up in bed, struck by a sudden urge. Taking care not to wake Zecora, he left the room, and went down to the lounge. Bonnie was still in her chair, but her head was tilted at an odd angle. "Mom?" He asked, nudging her slightly. "Are you...?" As he nudged her again, he noticed that her skin felt cold. He felt for a pulse, but found none. "Mom..." Grimiore whispered. The funeral was a private, sombre affair, just immediate family and close friends. Everypony was inconceivable, especially the foals. "Great-grandma's really gone." Hurricane sniffed. "I can't believe it..." "Great-grammy..." Michael wept. "She was also so fun, and cool." Pureblood sighed. "And now she's..." Vito choked, unable to finish the sentence. "Goodbye, grandma..." Sandy declared, as she hugged her sons. During the wake, the brothers were all gathered with the executor of Bonnie's will, Ink Blot, a drab Earth Pony stallion with a gray coat, black mane, silvery eyes, and an ink stain Cutie Mark. "I'm afraid your mother didn't have very much." Ink Blot declared. "In fact, all that was in her personal effects was this note, addressed to all of you." "Just a note?" Murray frowned. "What does it say?" Salt asked. Grimoire opened it. 'Dear boys, I know you're feeling heartbroken by my passing, but this day was inevitable. Nothing lasts forever, and I have already lived a long, full life, so don't get bogged down in grief. You should keep living your lives to the full, and keep making those mares of yours happy. And no matter what happens, now that I am so very proud of you all. You've all come so far, grown so much, and as your mother, it has been my glorious honor to help you grow. Grimoire, Murray, Salt, Vinny, Lars, Sonny, Slot and Caboose, you've all done me proud. A mother couldn't wish for better sons. Whatever happens, I know you'll keep making me proud. Love always, Mom.' "Mom..." Murray sniffed. "I'm really gonna miss her..." Salt sniffed. "We all will." Lars agreed. "Come on, guys." Caboose put on a brave face. "It's not like we'll never see her again. We can go to that sanctuary and talk to her spirit..." 'Not long after Vinny's wedding, Caboose had been called upon to go on an adventure, seeking out the ancient Serpent Deities, Isis and Osiris. For more information, please check the work "Project: Transcendence".' "Seriously?" Slot frowned. "You still expect us to swallow that tripe?" "It's true, Slot." Grimoire declared. "Caboose spoke with dad, Anarchy and Sandy. He knew things only they would speak of." "You see?" Sonny smiled. "It's not the end. Not even close." "Yeah, but still..." Vinny frowned. "It's not like that place is just around the corner. It's not like a quick trip to the store." "Let's just be grateful for what time we had together." Grimoire declared. "That's what mom would want..." After the funeral, the brothers went back to their homes, but not before pledging to take her note to heart. The mares fondly remembered the adventure they had together, and vowed to never forget it. Vinny, shaken by Bonnie's passing, decided he couldn't let them suffer the same thing with Grimoire. 'I have to tell them.' He thought. 'They need to know, before it's too late...' 'So there you have it. The final glory of our glorious matriarch. The pain of losing mom hit us all hard, but we consoled ourselves with the fact that least she would be reunited with dad at long last...' Somewhere... beyond Equestria, Clyde Napoleon was sitting at a table in an old-style diner. Outside, it was nothing but white mist. Suddenly, the door bell rang as Bonnie emerged from the mist. Her haggard wrinkled face was no more. She looked as beautiful as she did in her prime. Clyde watched her as she sat down at his table. "Well... you took your dear, sweet time." Clyde joked, "For a moment, I thought you planned on living forever." "Sorry, darling." Bonnie apologised. "I still had a lot to do before I finally shuffled off my mortal coil." "Better late then never, I always say." Clyde shrugged. "I'm just glad we're finally together again... I missed you so much." "So did I." Bonnie placed a hoof on one of her husband's. "Ever since that day, I had hoped that someday I would see you and Anarchy and the others again." "Yeah..." Clyde sighed. "Look, I figure I should say that... I'm sorry for not telling you about... well, my disease before I died. You shouldn't had to learn from some gramophone." "Well, I understand why you did it." Bonnie admitted. "While I was not happy with it at first... I never knew you to simply go out with a whimper." "Not only that." Clyde shook his head. "When I found out I was going to die... I just... I just couldn't bear the fact that you or the boys would be going on without me... It felt like I was abandoning you all... But not before I lost all my faculties, and degenerated into a drooling mess..." "And now, our own son will have to bear that burden." Bonnie sighed. "And he has a child on the way." "Something tells me Grim will be okay." Clyde smiled. "How can you be sure?" Bonnie asked. "I can't explain." Clyde shrugged. "It's just a feeling I have." "Speaking of feelings..." Bonnie looked around. "This diner brings up some good ones." "Yeah." Clyde nodded. "This is where we had our first date." "And that date lead to so much more." Bonnie sighed. "Remember when Anarchy was born?" "Boy, do I." Clyde nodded. "What about when Grim married Sandy?" "Ah, memories..." Bonnie sighed. 'Just a smalltown girl Born and raised in South Detrot...' "I remember this song." Bonnie grinned. "The boys sang it at our wedding. And they sang it so lovely... They sure didn't get their singing voices from my side of the family." "Hey, I'm sure that having a bisexual grandfather that was a part of an acapella group had no impact on how well they sang." Clyde pouted. "Of course not." Bonnie chuckled. "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm ready to make up for lost time." "There's no rush, though." Clyde smiled. "We have all of eternity to spend together, Bonnie. Just you and me." "And I'm going to enjoy every second..." Bonnie beamed. The two kissed for the first time in over thirty years, happily reunited once more.