//------------------------------// // Chapter three- Garden Game // Story: The Canterlot Caper // by Silvermyr //------------------------------// Coco was shaking ever so slightly, and it had nothing to do with the train’s rocky movement. She was more nervous now than when she was about to have her work presented to some big shot critic. She swallowed a few times and felt Rarity’s comforting hoof on her shoulder. She and Rarity had visited Twilight Sparkle a few hours earlier, and told her what had happened. After the initial freakout, Coco had understood why Rarity had gone to Twilight. Once the Princess had calmed down, she began to analyze the problem calmly and methodically. It had been decided that Coco should stay with Rarity until the media storm passed; that way, Coco could still work with clothes and hone her skills. Furthermore, they had the media’s forgetfulness on their side. When some new scandal hit, Coco would soon be forgotten, and then Rarity could speak with Hoity Toity. Once he knew the whole story, Coco would soon be back on her hooves. Also, since the police were out of the question, Twilight had managed to persuade Coco to visit a higher authority: Princess Celestia. ”Hey,” Twilight said with an encouraging voice, ”it will be fine. Princess Celestia will always listen to anypony who asks her for advice.” ”B-but the Princess herself? Doesn’t she have better things to do?” Coco asked with a nervous voice. She had never even seen the Princess before, and certainly never expected to talk to her. ”There is nothing more important to her than to help her subjects,” Twilight explained. ”Trust me, she will be glad you came to her.” Coco did not know how to respond, so she remained silent and tried to make the thought of seeing and talking to the immortal Princess of the Sun sink in. Too soon did the train slow down to stop at Canterlot Central Station. Coco and her friends got off the train and began the walk towards the castle. Coco had only visited Canterlot briefly before, and Suri’s bags had effectively blocked most of the view, so this was the first time she really saw the city. It was breathtaking. The cobblestone paths seemed to be made for walking, not driving like in Manehattan. The houses were a lot smaller and more elegant than the skyscrapers she was used to. Despite the somewhat cozy feeling emanating from the houses and streets, Coco could see that the shops she passed had a selection of items just as good, if not better, than their counterparts in Manehattan. All in all, Canterlot gave a feel of combining the luxuries and services of a big city with the comfy spirit of a smaller town. And towering over everything was the gigantic castle. The structure was not quite so tall as the skyscrapers, but still too big to fathom in one thought. The pinnacles and towers reached high in the sky and gave a slender, delicate touch to the otherwise massive building. The walls gave the feeling of security, but the gardens around the castle managed to make the whole structure look inviting rather than intimidating. It was easily the most beautiful building Coco Pommel had ever seen, and she was about to go into it and meet Princess Celestia. She nearly stopped and turned around at that thought, but she found herself moving along with her friends. ”Princess Twilight,” A guardpony said at the gates. He did not seem to care for the ponies Twilight brought with her, Coco realized. Twilight could literally bring whoever she wanted into the castle. Coco was too nervous to look around the corridors. Thus, she missed most of the castle interior’s beauty, but not all of it. As she looked on the floor, she could see the perfection in the carpet she walked on and the dazzling sheen of the marble floors. Even that was enough to make her realize just how beautiful this castle truly was. ”Twilight Sparkle,” a warm voice said in front of Coco. There was something special with it, something that could not be put into words, something inviting and friendly. She looked up at the radiant glory that was Princess Celestia, living embodiment of the sun. Coco gasped and instinctively bowed down. Celestia giggled. ”Who is your friend, Twilight and Rarity?” ”This is Coco Pommel, a skilled designer and good friend of mine,” Rarity said. Coco immediately became aware of how she looked. Why hadn’t she dressed in something more fitting for this? She just wore her usual scarf and mane pin. She was a designer for Celestia’s sake, why was she dressed like this? Foolish! ”Hello,” Coco mumbled to the floor while hoping not to be noticed. Celestia giggled again. ”What was that, Miss Pommel?” Celestia asked with a teasing tone. Coco blushed deeply, and forced herself to look up. ”Hello,” she said, just as meek as before. ”Hello,” Celestia said with a kind look that made Coco feel a little better. ”Princess, there is something you should know,” Twilight said in an urgent tone. ”Is there someplace more private where we can speak?” ”Certainly,” Celestia said in a more serious voice, having picked up on Twilight’s urgency. She clopped her hooves together once, and the guards lining the room left. The four ponies were now alone in the large throne room. ”Now, what is it, Twilight?” Celestia asked with a cool and composed tone. ”Ehm, it’s something that happened to me a few nights back…” Coco said with a small voice. She was now utterly convinced that she should not be here. It was just a break-in, why would the Princess care for that? ”Yes, Coco?” Celestia inquired with her warm voice and a comforting smile. Cocoe felt her anxiety melt away. She took a deep breath. ”Well, you see…” Coco began and told Celestia everything. The Princess of the Sun sat still on her throne and listened. She did not interrupt once, nor did her expression change at all. Yet somehow, everypony knew she was listening attentively. When Coco went silent, Celestia’s collected had smile vanished and was replaced by a tired frown. ”Do you remember their names? Did they call each other something?” Her voice suggested that Celestia knew the answer. ”First of all, I’m The Equilibrist, criminal mastermind, and this is my colleague, The Clown. Hello.” Coco remembered the unicorn in the Hoity Toity mask’s voice clearly. ”They called themselves The Clown and The Equilibrist, if that tells you anything.” Celestia got a grim look on her muzzle. ”I am afraid it does,” she said with a sigh. ”It seems you have somehow been targeted by an organization called The Circus.” Twilight looked at Celestia with confused eyes. ”The Circus?” ”It is an organization I have known about for a long time, but never managed to expose,” Celestia said with a tired voice. ”I don’t know much about them, for they go to great lengths to keep secret.” ”Pray tell, what do you know?” Rarity asked with an inquisitive glance. ”Rarity, this is not a mystery novel,” Twilight said with an apologetic look towards Celestia. ”The Circus is basically underhoofed deeds for sale,” Celestia said without taking notice to Twilight’s comment. ”They perform what their contractor wants them to, whatever it might be. That’s one thing that makes them so hard to catch, not even their clients know who they are.” ”And what about these Clown and Equilibrist guys?” Twilight said. She was getting curious herself. ”You know anything about them?” ”Those who belong to The Circus take the names of different artists,” Celestia explained grimly, ”and their names tend to reflect what they do, though that’s not a rule. I only know a few. There is The Clown, The Wizard, The Escape Artist, The Tamer and their leader: The Equilibrist. However, there might be others I don’t know of.” ”But why would they go after me?” Coco asked unhappily. ”I am just a designer, who would want to do this to me?” ”That I don’t know, my dear,” Celestia said apologetically, ”But The Circus does not act on their own, so there might be a jealous colleague or something like that…” ”Well, I’m going to take them out!” Twilight declared in an agitated voice. She emphasized her point by stomping her hoof on the marble floor. This ”Circus” was destroying the lives of ponies, and had gotten away with it for what sounded like quite some time. Well, not anymore. She was a Princess, it was her solemn duty to put a stop to just this kind of thing. ”Twilight, you do realize that you are going up against what sounds like the most skilled criminals in Equestria, right?” Rarity asked with a doubtful voice. ”Please keep in mind that not even Princess Celestia has managed to catch them…” ”I know,” Twilight responded, ”and I know that they are likely dangerous, but I am not going to let this slide. Please, Princess, let me look into this,” Twilight looked with hopeful eyes at Celestia, who looked back thoughtfully. ”You are a Princess, so I cannot stop you,” Celestia said, ”besides, you might be clever enough to help me finally catch them. That would be a great relief indeed…” ”Thank you, Princess,” Twilight said with a resolute smile. ”I won’t let you down.” ”I know you won’t,” Celestia said with a tender smile. ”Well, then I am joining you too,” Rarity declared loudly. ”This seems positively exciting, and I know I will be of great help.” ”Are you sure you are up for this?” Twilight asked, ”Rarity, this will not be a walk in the park. I thought you were more into fashion than fighting criminal organizations.” ”Pish-posh,” Rarity said as she tossed her hair. ”I will be perfectly fine. Coco, will you watch my boutique for me?” ”Ooh, yes of course,” Coco said quickly. She was thankful to Rarity for giving her that chance. She certainly did not want to embark on this adventure. She was not a police officer nor part of the royal guard, she was a designer. Maybe she could throw together a police uniform at the most. In either case, she wanted to stay as far away from anything Circus related as possible. ”If you are truly going to do this, then I will make sure you have the help of one of my best agents. She has been the one leading the investigations on The Circus for some time,” Celestia said. ”I will call her to Ponyville, so you can get started. I suggest you return home and meet her, she will contact you tomorrow.” ”Thank you, Princess,” Twilight said. ”Good luck to both of you,” Celestia said. ***** The Escape Artist trotted briskly on the long stone path leading up to Fancypants's villa with a new mask over her face. This time she wore a unicorn mask with neon blue mane and golden contact lenses. The house was probably the second largest building in Canterlot, barring the castle itself. The garden would probably qualify as a park, complete with half a dozen gazebos with pristine crystal roofs. The Escape Artist counted five ponds with fountains and eight without as she trotted up the path. ”One day The Escape Artist shall have a house like this, and servants who run it for her…” The Escape Artist mused to herself. ”Garden parties, dinner with the Canterlot elite, and fireworks every evening… ” ”Can I help you, ma’m?” A voice asked from the side of the path. The Escape Artist snapped out of her daydream, and saw a gardener mowing the grass with a sickle, each blade individually. For whatever reason he was dressed in a perfect suit. ”Will you please notify the master of the house that I have come to see him?” The Escape Artist asked with a haughty voice. She would have to speak in first-pony for now, as her normal way of speaking was too distinct. ”Certainly, who is it that has come?” The gardener asked as he brushed off his pants. ”I am expected. Just tell him the entertainment is here,” The Escape Artist said. The Gardener shrugged and left. The Escape Artist did not have to wait long. Fancypants came walking from his house with a nervous twitch in his steps and tired eyes. The Escape Artist recognized anxiety when she saw it, and Fancypants looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown. He probably hadn’t slept at all last night. ”So?” He asked before he had even gotten up to her. ”What will it be?” The Escape Artist gave him her most adorable smile. ”Let’s take a walk and discuss the terms, shall we?” She said. ”So then you accept?” Fancypants asked with a hopeful voice. His anxiety vanished quicker than The Escape Artist thought possible. ”If you meet our demands, then maaaybe,” The Escape Artist said as she stepped from the path and began to walk towards a small grove of trees. She liked to hold Fancypants on the rack for a little while longer. It was amusing to see one of the most powerful ponies bow to her every whim. The stallion’s anxiety returned as he scurried after The Escape Artist. ”I am sure we will come to a fitting agreement, Miss…?” Fancypants inquired with a concessive tone. ”I am The Escape Artist,” she answered. She looked at Fancypants with a look that told him to continue. ”Well, Escape Artist, how much do you want in order to do this?” Fancypants asked silently. The Escape Artist assumed there could be gardeners and butlers around. ”Fifty million bits,” The Escape Artist said casually. She noted with glee how Fancypants’ eyes became at least twice as large. ”I am sorry, I presume I misheard,” He said with a nervous laugh. ”Did you say five hundred thousand bits?” ”Times one hundred, yes,” The Escape Artist said, ignoring Fancypants. ”And you will consent to pay the way we tell you, won’t you?” Fancypants swallowed, and looked around nervously. The Illusionist had told The Escape Artist everything. The Canterlot nobles could surely put together such a sum, even if it probably was enough money to mistake for a larger bank’s total wealth. Even Celestia could not sneeze at such a fortune. ”How do you want the payment?” Fancypants asked as he licked his lips. ”I cannot get such a sum together too quick, and it will look most suspicious if-” ”I know,” The Escape Artist interrupted in her calm voice. ”You will send five hundred thousand on ten different occasions to ten different addresses. That is a total of five million bits, two days from now at the latest. As soon as we have the money, the coup will begin. Once it is completed, you will send us the rest via other accounts when we ask for it.” Fancypants nodded slowly. The Escape Artist knew that five million bits, despite it being more than the ten lifetimes worth of bits for most ponies, would not be a problem for the Canterlot nobles. ”Done,” Fancypants said. ”Now listen, for there is something about the regalia you must know.” The Escape Artist looked at Fancypants, but remained silent. ”It is enchanted, so only another Alicorn can remove it. As soon as you have got it off Celestia though, it should behave like any normal piece of metal.” Fancypants gave The Escape Artist a hard look. ”I trust this is not going to cause any problems, is it?” ”Of course not,” The Escape Artist said. In truth she had no idea how the hay they were supposed to steal the regalia now, but they would find a way. They always did. For now, she had to keep the client happy and unknowing. ”Well then, I presume that will be all,” Fancypants said and turned around to leave. ”Actually, there is still one more thing we need to take care of,” The Escape Artist said with a sweet edge in her voice. Fancypants turned around again with an annoyed look. The Escape Artist held out a small note, and Fancypants took it. She smiled at the look of utter horror and confusion that spread over his face. ”I trust you will keep our organization’s existence a secret, won’t you?” The Escape Artist asked with a mock pleading voice and nasty glint in her eyes. ”Else… there will be much grief…” ”Impossible. He is dead. It cannot be genuine,” Fancypants said, more to himself than The Escape Artist. ”Topsy is alive and well, and if you breathe a word about us, then not even Celestia herself will be able to save your sorry flank,” The Escape Artist said darkly. Fancypants looked down on the note again and gave it back to The Escape Artist. She could clearly see the jagged twister that was scribbled on it. ”Understood,” Fancypants said in a slightly higher pitch than usual. ”Is that all?” ”Yes,” The Escape Artist said. She trotted past the shocked noble with a spring in her step. Now the only thing left was to wait for the payment, and then the show could start. ***** ”Circus … on their own… a jealous colleague … like that…” Celestia’s quiet voice drifted up to Silverwings. He was fluttering as silently as he could outside the window to the throne room. He quickly glanced over his shoulder to ensure that the small part of the garden from where he could be seen still was deserted. ”Well, I am going to take them out!” Twilight’s voice reached Silverwings loud and clear, a nice difference from Celestia’s quiet voice. He swallowed and clenched his teeth as he continued to fly just below the window. Why did his wings have to burn like that? One would think he’d be used to this type of stationary flying by now, but no. ”You are a Princess, so I cannot stop you,” Silverwings heard Celestia’s muffled voice after having missed a couple of sentences. That happened a lot due to the bad position he listened from. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. ”Go on, I need more,” he whispered to himself. He had missed the beginning of the conversation, and even more was lost because of Celestia’s silent voice. ”Well, then I am joining you too,” he heard Rarity’s voice. For the first time, Silverwings was thankful to Celestia for making her guard to learn the names and faces of Twilight Sparkle’s friends. Somepony else said something Silverwings could not make out, so he took the opportunity to look over his shoulder again. Still nopony there. He clenched his teeth to suppress the burning feeling in his wing joints. ”If you… do this, then… make sure… of my best agents. Ponyville… tomorrow,” Celestia responded in her typical quiet manner. Silverwings cursed Celestia’s way of speaking for the thousandth time. It made an already hard mission even harder. He listened for a couple more minutes, but heard nothing else. With an exhausted sigh, Silverwings slowed his flapping and descended to the ground. He had not heard the whole conversation, but probably enough to ensure a healthy boost on this month’s paycheck. He returned to patrol duty and forced himself to remember everything he had heard. After about two hours of walking around Canterlot’s upper district along with another guard, he retreated to his home in the middle part of the city. His house was somewhat larger than most rank-and-file guard’s, largely due to his role as informant for… whoever it was he informed. ”Hello, honey!” A white pegasus mare with kind, pink eyes and mane called as he went through the door to his home. ”Hello, sweetheart,” He said with a relaxed smile as he kissed his mare tenderly on the lips. It was moments like this that reminded him why he did what he did. Stardust, his mare, deserved the best he could give, and if selling information gave her a better life, then it was worth it. ”I have made your favorite vegetable soup, dear,” Stardust said as they broke the kiss. ”Sounds lovely, sweetheart. I just need to write a letter, and then I will be right with you.” Silverwings sat down in the comfy chair by the desk in his and Stardust’s bedroom. He took out a pen and paper and wrote down what he had heard. Twilight Sparkle has learned of something called The Circus. She has vowed to shut it down, whatever it is. Her friend, Rarity, has done the same. They have both received Princess Celestia’s blessing for this and will probably receive help from one of her agents. If so, they will meet the agent in Ponyville, tomorrow. Sincerely, The Looker. Silverwings read through the letter again and hoped the information was valuable enough. It always seemed much less when he actually put it to paper. He shook the doubts out of his mind, opened a small drawer and got out an envelope, put the small note inside it and sealed it with hot wax. He then stamped it with the seal of the Royal Guard and picked up the pencil in his mouth to write the address. He had looked into the address when he first got his informant job, and had become even more confused than before. It was the address to Twilight Sparkle’s own castle in Ponyville. Why would she want to know what Princess Celestia was doing? Couldn’t she just ask? Silverwings actually asked the young Princess once if she received a lot of mail from the Canterlot Guard, but she said she never had gotten one. Was it true or did she lie? And if Twilight did not get the letters, then who did? A simple guard like him did not know what this mess meant, but he understood that it probably was none of his business. Better not to ask too many questions, or he might lose his informant job. Silverwings placed the letter on the desk, and went down to have dinner. He could post it later that day when he and Stardust took their evening walk. Once again, he wondered who would be interested in knowing everything the Princesses did.