"When we're all ready, we go to his house. Asmodeus and Cricket sneak in, and when we're ready, you and I storm the building."
(Well *squee!*.) "We're going to Hollow Shades," Nightshade said bluntly. "I'm not going to let you be afraid anymore. It doesn't suit you." ************************************************************************************************* In a small diner in downtown Baltimare, a meeting was starting. Racket Hoof sat down across from Blackheart, a thin smile on his face. "Blackheart. CEO of Black Forge Incorporated, Archmage of the Longhorn Society, and the only pony that I would agree to meet with at this ungodly hour. What is it that you wish to discuss?" Blackheart glanced around. Just as Cricket had predicted, Racket had brought the majority of his security detail with him. A dozen dangerous-looking ponies sat around them in the booths, trying with little success to look inconspicuous. He counted at least another ten outside, likely more. "Partnership," he answered. "It's no secret who controls this town. You run the docks, you own the unions, and a third of the police force is on your payroll." He smiled. "I wish to make use of your resources. I have big plans for this city... plans that could benefit both of us." "And what do I get out this?" "Fifty percent, for a start. I'll put up all the capitol, and all you have to do is... intervene... on my behalf now and again. Nothing major. A few approved permits here and there, the occasional un-inspected shipment, maybe a missed patrol once in a while... not that I'd be doing anything illegal, of course." Racket chuckled. "Oh course. You have my attention, Blackheart. Now let us discuss details..." *********************************************************************************************************** After a short walk, Cricket and the others found themselves outside Racket's property. It was rather impressive, in truth. Ten acres of private orchard with a century-old brick mansion sitting in the center. Cricket did a quick flyover and returned several minutes later. "It's a skeleton crew. A guard at each gate, and one more by the front door. Asmo and I will slip in through the kitchen. We'll take out he chef, and Asmo will take his place. Maybe we can even slip something into everypony's midnight snacks when the other guards get home. The rest of you, take to the trees, and wait. When Asmo and I give the signal... unleash hell."
Raven's eyes widened. "What? But that's where... the thing..." ~~~~~~~~ Azrael grinned as he eyed the property. "Yes. You will get to blow stuff up." Asmodeus took on the form of a cat. "Meow. Now I'm small and *squee!*."
"Don't do this to her!" Nightshade screamed at herself in her own head. "You're just going to hurt her again!" She sighed, unable to look at Raven. "I know. It's time to face what happened." ******************************************************************************** Cricket cleared the fence, and Blackheart's mercs followed. Moving silently, they climbed the surrounding trees and disappeared into the branches. She started towards the kitchen, moving slowly and and carefully to avoid detection.
"Yes! Mind if I make ourselves an entrance when we get the signal?" She pulled out some headphones with her cutie mark designed onto both sides. "I like listening to music when I'm in the mood to break stuff. It also keeps me from going deaf most times."
Asmodeus followed close, well-hidden I'm the grass. "See anypony inside?" ~~~~~~~~ "I... are you... are you sure that's your best idea?"
"No," Nightshade answered honestly, "I'm not. But this is something that has to happen." ************************************************************************ Cricket nodded. "Chef in the kitchen, and a few maids. Let's go in."
As Star waited for the signal she looked through her music Playlist to see if there was any music that would play during a fight scene. "So when do you think the signal is gonna show up?"
"Well..." Raven sighed. "If you say so. I guess." ~~~~~~~~ Asmodeus took that as a go ahead to slide open the window and enter. Azrael shrugged. "Soon, probably."
Nightshade knocked lightly on the kitchen door. "Delivery." A moment later, the chef opened the door. "At this hour?! Who do you work...?!" His tirade was interrupted by a brutal blow that sent him reeling across the kitchen... and right into Asmo's path. ********************************************************************************************************** Nightshade landed just outside the village. Raven's old house was a short walk away.
Star's eyes turned green and her iris' turned blood red. Purple smoking leaving her eyes. "Welp,I'm ready to *squee!* *squee!* up."
"Nothing personal." Asmodeus conjured a tentacle from the ceiling, launching it, hoping to pierce the chef's skull. Assuming the chef wasn't a total badass in disguise, the chef would die and quickly be absorbed into the tentacle, not even a pool of blood left behind. Azrael nodded. "Very same." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Raven landed next to her, shaking some.
The chef, in fact, was not a total badass in disguise. "Take his place," Cricket advised. "Start making up some snacks for when Racket gets back with the guards." She opened the cabinet under the sink, finding a large box of rat poison among the cleaning supplies. "Here's your secret ingredient." She walked out of the room, shifting into one of the maids as she did so. The unfortunate mare whose appearance she was borrowing was cleaning the living room when Cricket found her. She was so focused on her work that she never saw the blow coming. A minute later, and the lifeless body of the maid was shoved into the closet, and all seemed normal in the house. **************************************************************************** "I know this is going to be hard," Nightshade said quietly as they walked up the path to the house. "But I'm here for you."
"Ugh...WHEN'S THE SIGNAL COMING?!" she started getting impatient. Tapping into dark magic made her quite blood thirsty.
Asmo took on the form of the chef he just ate. "Hey, maybe just knock out the mai... Well, *squee!* me, nevermind." He started gathering completely random ingrediemts. "You need to calm down," Azrael said bluntly. "It will come." ~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Alright..." Raven approached the home with shaky breath. It was a modest house, small, one story, and one front window, still broken with an old blood stain on the glass.
Nightshade didn't comment on the blood. She'd already seen it, earlier that day. "The door is unlocked. Let's go inside." ************************************************************************************** The gates opened and the carriages of Racket and his security team entered. Racket went straight to bed, and his guards took their positions in the house and grounds.
