'Why do these city ponies make their buildings so damn shiny?'
A cream-colored earth pony squinted against the mid-morning glare as she squeezed through the masses, out of Center Station. Sweetie Drops reflexively checked for her saddlebags' presence before heading off in search of her rendezvous, only to stop and swivel her head slowly from side to side as she wondered where in Tartarus she was supposed to go.
'All these freakin' buildings look the same to me! Where am I supposed to find anyone here?'
Sweetie Drops knew discretion was extremely important, and so she had to choose her mark carefully. Making sure the bags obscured her distinctive candy-themed cutie mark, she spotted a green unicorn that looked completely at home. With this many tourists everywhere, what was one brave enough to ask for directions? Walking towards the target, the earth pony cleared her throat and summoned the character of a lost mare from a small town. Meekly approaching the pony, she spoke.
"Erm-excuse me? I was hoping I could get some directions to-"
Sweetie Drops stopped and let out an exasperated snort. Of course the bumbling crowds would be too loud. She could barely hear herself think over the cameras flashing, which also didn't help with the glare from above. Getting closer to the mare-she could now tell it was a mare-she put on her character again and tapped her guide of choice on the shoulder.
The mint-green mare whipped around, looking for the one so brave as to call her attention, magic reflexively creating a shield from the glaring light.
"Huh? Who is it?" she asked, looking around, on edge.
Noticing the mare hiding behind two-toned hair, scuffing a forehoof on the ground, the pony calmed down. "Hey, can I help you?" she offered, stepping just a bit closer.
Having gotten the result she wanted, Sweetie Drops continued her plan, "Yeah, um-I was hoping you could maybe, help me with some directions? I got a bit lost..." she trailed off at the end, looking up hopefully.
"Oh, is that all? No problem! Where do you need to go?"
It took a moment for the 'tourist' to remember her address of choice. "I wanted to find a building called-em... oh, yeah! One Hoofson Place. I have an-an appointment there."
The unicorn grinned widely, "I know the place! You just gotta take a right here, then go straight until you see Eighth Avenue. After that, head on up for eight or so blocks, and make a-" noticing the mare's hopelessly lost expression, she had another idea, "you know what? I'll show you. Come with me, erm-what can I call you?"
Thinking quickly Sweetie Drops gave her an answer, not that it really mattered, she'd be gone soon enough.
"You can call me Sweetie Drops"
"Name's Lyra, now come along, city pony!"
With that said, the newly introduced Lyra took off towards their right, always looking back to make sure her new charge was following.
The two mares did not talk again until they had exited the crowds of the station. Most ponies would prefer to see the tourist sites of Manehattan, as there were many, but these two were part of a smaller trickle, leading to the less glamorous (but still wonderfully profitable) side of the city.
The undercover Sweetie Drops gazed around despite herself. Even with her line of work, she still didn't see much of big cities like these. Only Canterlot, and that got stale pretty quickly.
Wonder why they're trying to blind people? I'll have to get my sunglasses from my bags, in case he escapes again.
Engrossed in her own thoughts, she didn't notice that Lyra had been trying to talk to her until she felt a hoof on her muzzle.
"Boop!" Lyra snickered at her companion's cross-eyed stare of confusion, and continued repeating her question, " as I was saying, what's a nice little mare like you doing in the less awesome part of town?"
"I told you, erm... Lyra, right?" the green mare nodded and gestured for her to continue, "I have an appointment with some businesspony about my sweet shop."
She seemed to buy the excuse, and continued walking. Within twenty minutes the duo got to their destination, and Lyra opened the door for Sweetie Drops. As she stepped through, Sweetie Drops' demeanor changed instantly. The timid face behind her hair set itself in stone, and her neck tensed as she scanned her surroundings. Noticing a receptionist, she walked purposefully over to her desk.
The bored receptionist, a blue-gray earth pony, looked up at the sound of hoofsteps. "Can I help you?" she droned.
Sweetie Drops smiled confidently. At some point, she had put on a bow tie without Lyra's noticing, making her look all the more professional. "Yes, I would like to talk to Dr. Caballeron? I was told he worked here, and I have a," she paused, "business proposal for him."
The receptionist leafed through a few papers on her desk, then looked up. Seeing a rather professional looking mare with little in the ways of ill intention in her face, she nodded, pressing a button on a pager. "The doctor is not busy at the moment, I will let him know you're here. Who shall I say is calling?"
"Sweetie Drops, and Lyra Hearstrings," Lyra stepped forward now, having rearranged her mane to something resembling order. She shot her companion a look that expressed the finality in her decision.
The duo was waved through to an elevator. Once out of earshot, Sweetie Drops whipped around to face Lyra. "What are you doing, following me? I can handle myself now that I know where I am, thank you!" she hissed, pressing closer.
Surprised by the sudden intensity, Lyra stumbled back a step. "I was worried. You still don't know your way around the city, and you are not going to make it far with whatever you're doing here if you can't even find a hotel."
"Well, you-uh-yeah, fine. You can come along since I can't rightly stop you now, but you're waiting outside for my meeting at the least, okay?" Sweetie Drops grudgingly agreed with the unicorn.
Lyra nodded, and they spent the elevator ride in silence. Once on the thirtieth floor, Lyra made her way to a stack of magazines next to a few cushions and began to read, leaving the earth pony to enter the sole office on the floor.
Alright, Caballeron, you have nowhere to run now. Time to face the music.
Sweetie Drops marched resolutely up to the door marked 'Dr. Caballeron, PhD' and knocked. Not five seconds later, she heard a smooth, deep voice say, "enter," before a buzzing sound opened the door.
She was welcomed to the room by the sight of a tan brown earth pony with a slick, black mane. She could not see his cutie mark, but the file said it was a golden skull of sorts. Caballeron's entire office was richly furnished. His desk and numerous boookshelves were all made of a lush and dark wood, and filled with antique tomes and research on hundreds of artifacts. His collection also took up a fair amount of space, all in one corner full of glass shelves. Looking to her left, Sweetie Drops saw a small kitchen and a bathroom, once more extravagantly decorated in gold and chrome.
"Nice place ya got here. Trafficking go well this season?" she commented dryly, returning her gaze to the miscreant in front of her.
Caballeron simply smiled, unperturbed. He gestured to a cushion already out in front of her, "please, Ms. Drops, take a seat."
Sweetie Drops doubtfully raised an eyebrow, expecting a trap.
"You've always been smart, Caballeron. I know the seat and my current location are trapped," she took two steps to the side, between the two spots. "And I know you probably expected me to move to the-wait. Why are you smiling? "
Grinning subtly, the millionaire pressed a button on his desk. From the ceiling, a thick metal band fell on to Sweetie Drops and wrapped around her. As it began squeezing, the mare lost her footing and fell in front of the esteemed Doctor.
"As you see, I am smart, Ms. Drops. And now I win."
Sweetie Drops strained against her bonds as the air was slowly crushed from her lungs. The beautiful office she was in had gained a notably sinister feel, as Dr. Caballeron stood over her, chuckling.
"What's that, miss? I'm afraid I can't hear you. You seem to be out of breath."
He leaned closer, still laughing.
She bit his ear.
"Gah! Insolent horse! I won already. You have no backup. You're done for this time!"
Conveniently, Lyra chose that time to barge in to the room, looking around wildly.
"Don't worry Sweetie Drops! I'm here for-what the heck is going on?"
Seemingly confused by the sight of the bound mare, Lyra stopped.
"Ly-ra... Button. On desk. Press it! P-please!" Sweetie Drops managed to cough out.
It took her a few seconds to gather her thoughts. Once she did, Lyra complied and pressed the button while keeping a wary eye on the doctor. Sweetie Drops sprang up, coughing slightly. She growled, but otherwise made no sound. Caballeron was slowly backing towards his collection, all the while glancing towards the two mares.
"An associate of yours, I take it? This one is a new addition, if I'm not mistaken, Ms. Drops," he tried to regain his authority, having no access to his henchponies without his desk.
Lyra stood there, confused. "You said this was a business meeting. Sweetie Drops, what's going on? Who are you? What the hell is a doctor doing here? Who did I just save you from?"
"This is why I don't get ponies to escort me anywhere..." the agent grumbled under her breath, before turning to her befuddled savior, "short version: I work for an agency, this guy is trying to disrupt the peace, and he is now under arrest. Thank you for your services to the crown, Lyra."
"You're telling me that I, some random mare from Ponyville, helped save all of Equestria? That is so, so, AWESOME!" Lyra made an audible 'squee' sound as she beamed.
While the mares were sorting out their confusion, Dr. Caballeron made his daring move. Having made his way to the collection a while ago, he pulled on one certain lever hidden as a golden monkey. That lever opened an also hidden trap door which led to an elevator. Just as he was stepping into it, both mares shouted at once.
"Hey! He's getting away!"
The tan stallion chuckled, "It seems you ladies are better as a team than you thought. For now, I bid you adieu, Ms. Drops. You too, Madame Lyra!"
With that, he closed the elevator and rocketed towards the ground floor.