The Princess Conspiracy - Relative Consequences - You must sign-up

[Ryo_D_Disk]

((that a very good question ))
It should just be down the street a bit not too far from here it's on Horseshoe Avenue

[GalvinRoe]

Morning Glory reached out and took the slipper. "Yes, thank you." She lifted her hoof and pulled the slipper back on . . .

"No miss, I don't expect I will." He smiled his cold smile down at her but his fury was very plain. "Will you come back with me, I'd like to make this report official. As I need to inform the FBI on this . . . tip, it would be convenient if you came with me." There was a hint of warning in his voice.

  The captain pulled Morning to her hooves, gently, carefully. "The commissioner will be very interested in hearing your situation and although I could relate your story it wouldn't have the . . . emotion, the fullness you could give it. Living through the event gives it a whole new dimension in telling. Shall we  miss?" The captain pulled Morning's hoof through his leg and began leading her away.

  The captain smiled, patting Morning's small hoof. "We'll get all this cleared up quickly, I promise." The words were just words, a talisman he held in reserve to calm down ponies, there was no feeling in those words and his cold smile would of dispelled any heart-felt wishes, if they had existed.

[Morning Glory]

Morning Glory found herself pulled gently but firmly along. She paused, doing her best to read his face without giving anything away on her own. "You won't? Wha-err, yes, of course, Officer." She hesitantly followed, looking grim. Morning Glory was starting to think those onlookers were less and less worth all the effort. She had the feeling things were beginning to unravel. But maybe she could snag some info on Strokes while she was here...

"The FBI? Please, tell me officer. Is the Green stallion really that dangerous? Is he really at traitor? He...he won't come looking for me, will he?" She simpered and clutched his hoof as they walked together.

Meanwhile her mind whirred, inventing a way to escape. She knew if she went through intake at the Bureau that her identity would be revealed. And then she would have some serious explaining to do. She needed to slip away before they reached the precinct.

[GalvinRoe]

 The captain's false smile disolved completely, a sneer and bad attentions typed plainly across his face. "You can stop with the play-acting, miss. You know as well as I you never encountered Strokes, at least not here. Of course this means you probably have had interactions with him, previously."

  He scoffed at her suprize. "I was skeptical, miss, but I wasn't sure you were lieing until we got here." He looked pointedly at her back. "Your 'torn' clothes are unbelieavably clean there, miss. I think we both know any kind of contact with those alley walls would have soiled them and if it was as 'agressive' as you say your clothes would be entirely black. Of course the whole story about Strokes being aggresive is fishy, at least we were told the pony wasn't agressive and you'd think the Sisters would of informed us about him being agressive." He put his 'smile' forth again. "Seeing as we would be dealing with him and if he really is public enemy number 1, you'd think they would WANT us to catch him."

  He patted Morning's hoof again. "Ahh, it's just too bad we've missed capturing your friends . . . but don't you fret my dear, with you at headquarters I'm sure they'll be pleased to share some information to get you back." He chuckled. "We'll get it all cleared up, soon enough." Making sure her hoof was secure he pulled her along, a little less gentily.
 

[Tiger]

((that a very good question ))
It should just be down the street a bit not too far from here it's on Horseshoe Avenue

"Great! Let's go there then!" Falliver said with a smile.

[Morning Glory]

Morning Glory's eyes bulged, and her breath quickened. Her lip trembled, before she plonked down on her rump and started to bawl. "I-I'm sorry! I'm not a criminal!" She sobbed and sobbed, and much less attractively so. Snot bubbled out of her nose as she wailed, her eyes turning red and her make up becoming overwhelmed by all the wetness.

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out her entire coin pouch. It bulged with heavy gold bits. Far more than any common pony carried. "He paid me to lead you away! He said to take you away from the purple mare...I-I didn't mean to cause any harm. I just needed the money!" She tossed it to the ground and gleaming coins spilled out the top. "I haven't paid rent in months, and my landlord is going to kick me out on the street! Oh Celestia! What have I done!"

She grabbed for his hooves, groveling before him. "Please don't arrest me!" She paused and her eyes lit up. "Please! I'll tell you where the brown stallion went! I know where he was heading! He must be important!" Her eyes looked wild and desperate. "Just don't arrest me, please! I can't go to jail!" She gasped for breath and wept into her now damp handkerchief.

[GalvinRoe]

Morning Glory's eyes bulged, and her breath quickened. Her lip trembled, before she plonked down on her rump and started to bawl. . . .

The captain recoiled, his eyes caught on the sack of golden bits. "Dear Celestia, girl! Couldn't you have considered what you were doing would get you in serious trouble? I mean the sheer amount of coins he offered you . . ." He looked at her shaking his head. "You know I have to confiscate this, don't you? All you've earned yourself is a reprimand and eyes, because miss I can't accept just your word of this, the FBI must watch you for future interaction with Strokes."

  After a moment the captain's eye's softened. "If you could guide me to Right-Hoof though . . .  THAT would earn you some respect in the eyes of the government. I wouldn't need to arrest you, but one way or another miss, you'll need to come to the Headquarters." Finally a tone of sympathy and reassurance creeped into his speech. "Not to arrest you, miss. But we DO need to sort out your whole story, you'll be out by the end of the day." He nodded compassionately. "After we retrieve Right-Hoof of course, the brown stallion."

[The Wandering Magus]

The aristocrat thought quickly.  "Je comprends, Madame.  It may be of great interest to us indeed.  And I would be....

"Ah, problème, monsieur.  The group did not seem much encouraged to meet authority. But we shall do our best, with promise of your best, Monsieur Fantaisie." She bowed again and backed away into the shadows.

  Immediately after-wards an enthusiastic, gray, earth stallion came dashing into Fancy's chambers. His clothing marked him as one of the archivists even so, a few of Fancy's guards were on his tail, wide eyed with surprise and fear. Closing their halberds in-front of him when he stopped, they shouted to Fancy for instructions, already pushing the archivist out of the room.

  The desperate pony waved a piece of paper in the air, trying to show the scripture recorded on it? Or just using it to draw Fancy's attention? He yelled: "Sir! Look what I've found! I was given permission to snoop in the royal archives, I think I've found something concrete!" He tried to break free of the guards, a futile attempt and was pushed further OUT of the room. 

  "SIR! LOOK!"

Fancy did not have the slightest bit of worry on his face.  "Bloodblade, if you please..."

The butler bowed.  "Master's wish is Master's Servant's command."

The surprisingly swift pegasus was suddenly no longer in sight, and before the archivist quite knew what was happening he found his hooves empty and several anti-magic barriers in place.  It was the last thing he remembered, in any case, as he fell softly to the floor, mind and ideas intact but unconscious from a precision strike to a critical nerve center.  He would feel no discomfort upon waking, but if he held any ill intent, he would be incapacitated for the next hour or so.

The aristocrat continued looking passively at his map of conspiracies as maids and servants, as well as replacement archivists, came forward from the shadows and side doors to review the paper, and his butler reappeared at his side.

[Morning Glory]

Morning Glory blinked and snatched for the purse before he lifted it out of her reach, but missed and gave a disgruntled huff. She looked up and sighed, then got to her feet, scuffing her hoof along the ground.

"Well, I don't know exactly where he was going." Her ears flattened as she looked up sheepishly. "He said I could get the rest of the payment outside the city. Off Cherrybranch street, there's a crooked tree, and the rest of my money is supposed to be there. So, he has to go there sometime, right?" She looked nervous. She had to be sure she didn't make it to the Headquarters.

"Can't I just give you my name and address? I need to get home." Her horn glowed as she pulled a quill and paper out of her bag. Under the pretext of using her levitation spell, she prepared a teleport, as the glow on her horn was already accounted for. She just hoped she could run fast enough. But she had noticed he seemed to have chronic injury, favoring his shoulder. Maybe, just maybe...

[GalvinRoe]

Morning Glory blinked and snatched for the purse before he lifted it out of her reach, but missed and gave a disgruntled huff. . .

  The captain watched, amused by her attempt to retrieve her 'illicit' bits. He carefully stowed the bag away in his armor. After a moment or two he removed his helm to rub his fore-head.

"No miss, you will keep close to me until we have cleared you of any and all acts of treason. Then and only then will you be free to return home. We head to the Administrator of Operations, Madame Malberry. She has ordered any and all connections with Strokes brought before her personally." He didn't seem enthralled about this circumstance, indeed worry could be discerned behind those neutral eyes.

"We'll organize the thing quickly, I'll be sure to help pass it through. No need for you to be detained longer than necessary . .. " His voice held no malice, no sarcasm no laughter. He meant what he said and even nodded solumly, but he quikly recovered with his next sentence: "Then you can tell them 'exactly' where this payment is."

[Morning Glory]

Morning Glory's eyes lifted to meet his, her green feather quill, ink, and parchment still floating before her. "That's...that's very kind of you sir. I'm, I'm humbled, that you would be so kind to me, after I tricked you." She looked genuinely guilty for a moment. "You're a good stallion. An asset to the city." She stepped forward, allure back in her gaze. "And so handsome when you're working." Sweat had begun to build on her brow, the strain of her building magic starting to take it's toll. Morning Glory was not a particularly powerful unicorn.

She glanced to the side, then back at him. "I'm sorry. Really I am." She moved to tenderly brush his foreleg with her own, just for a moment.

Then the feather was unceremoniously jammed up his right nostril. The parchment was rolled up and wedged deep in his left ear. And the bottle of ink upended right over his eyes. Then she released the spell. In a green flash she vanished, appearing 10 feet away.

She broke out into a gallop, ducking behind a corner and running for all she was worth.

[GalvinRoe]

Morning Glory's eyes lifted to meet his, her green feather quill, ink, and parchment still floating before her. . .

The guard hollered, his eyes rolling in globs of black ink. Instinctively flapping his wings, trying to get away from trouble, then forcing control back over himself and landing clumsily to the ground.  "Get back here! YOU'RE ONLY MAKING IT WORSE FOR YOURSELF!" Finally he called upon the civilians and pedestrians. "Grab her, stop that mare!"

  No-one reacted, those who saw what happened passed on without assisting, and those who weren't present blinked at the guard's words. A few even suspected some kind of play or show was about to begin. But the blood that trickled down the Guard's muzzle proved otherwise. Even with the un-helpful confusion of ten hooves attempting to assist him, the captain eventually removed the quill and parchment.

  "DID anyone see where the mare had gone, the one talking with me? DID ANYONE SEE . . ." But eventually the guard was forced to admit defeat, his eyes were red, blood-shot and he could hardly see in front of him. This had been a sad day for Captain Ress Whitesword. So sad he looked at the bag of bits he had confiscated from the manipulative mare and thought perhaps the best course of action would be in-action. Maybe the guards had caught Bright Mane but the group around the burned building were most certainly gone, at least he had their images in his head.

  He rubbed that head of his, he had played his cards badly, very poorly, now that he looked back on those choices he had made. The group most likely didn't know much, since they showed up at the building . . . but this mare he lost, she was more than a common gardener, that was certain. He sighed and turned the pouch over in his hand. A fine 'S' was embroidered into the delicate Satin cloth, it wasn't much to go on.

  The captain sighed falling against the stone patchwork of the roads; he wouldn't report this mare, he would be in enough trouble as it was. He patted the pouch brimming with gold coins. "A bribe . . . I suppose." He sighed, placing the pouch in his armor. "My morals are slipping. . . ." He chuckled. "Again."

[Morning Glory]

Morning Glory ran for all she was worth. As a noblepony, she didn't do much physical work. She huffed and puffed until she was well out of earshot. Reaching a busy part of the city, she called a cab.

*****

Of course, it was only once they arrived back at the Silver Manor that she remember she had no bits to pay. After tediously explaining to the driver that she lived at the lavish mansion, she ran inside and collected his payment.

*****

Next on her list was a bath. She basked in the warm, soapy water as her personal handmaid ran a comb through her sun-kissed mane, mulling over the day. She initially thought she hadn't learned much at all. But now she knew that Strokes was not just wanted for questioning; he was public enemy number one. The FBI was conducting the investigation. This was no small matter, not in the slightest. The Bureau was desperate for any scrap of information. So, where ever he was, Strokes was well-hidden. But Bright Mane had returned to a hot-spot. Why? She had heard one of the others gathered there mention an ad. Strokes was looking for help?

Whatever he was up to, it was big. Big and dangerous.

She couldn't wait to tell her uncle.

[Link]

Silver stood in the midst of the other ponies, all plotting and planning where to go and what to do. When some rushed for the library, and others seemed to still be making up their minds, Silver stood there dumbfounded at the entire situation.
Nervously brushing his front-right hoof on the ground, he sat down and began to think the entire thing over. Pulling out his diary, he started to chronicle what he'd learned and seen so far, before hastily stowing it back in his saddle-bags.
Gah! Idiot! What if they were to confiscate any of my belongings? Ugh, what a mess....

He looked about at the group of ponies again, looking for any sign of someone who might actually know what they're doing or where to go. If only he could find that mare who distracted the guard, she obviously knew something, if only he knew where to find her...
With a start, Silver jumped up and trotted next to Majem, being a smaller pony, he stood on his tip-hooves to peer over the other stallion's shoulder.
"Excuse me, but I noticed you picked up that card that the odd mare dropped earlier, you know, the one that distracted the guard captain. Do you mind if I take a look at it?"

[Chirp]

((Majem's not exactly a tall one, either.))
"Huh? Oh, sure. Here." Majem said and handed the card over to Silver. "Do you think she knows anything? Either way, the more the merrier." He paused for a moment, then continued. "I'm Majem, by the way. What's your name?"

[Link]

Carefully taking the card from Majem, he gently stowed it into his saddle-bags to read later. Hoping for some sort of help, it was likely this mare knew more than he did, so it was worth looking into. Noting the other pony speaking to him, he quickly snapped out of his thoughts and responded.

"I'm Silver Flask, but I usually just go by Silver. It's a pleasure to meet you Majem. I live out in the woods outside the city, and came here to do a bit of shopping. Guess I got more than I bargained for. However, I'll say this much; I know a high-class pony when I see one, and this one obviously knows more than we do, I'm quite sure. But then, how could she not, being up there with all those aristocrats, with all their conspiracies and politics...Our best bet is to go speak to her; she seemed an intelligible mare, I'm sure she's outwitted that guard captain by now and gotten back to...wherever this card will point us."

[Chirp]

"Maybe she knows something, maybe she doesn't. You're right, though. It's our best bet." He said whilst nodding.
Majem looked over at Ryo and Falliver, then called to them. "Hey, you two. We'll meet you at the library, alright? There's somepony we need to talk to, first."

After letting the others know he and Silver would leave, Majem was ready to talk to Morning. He turned back to Silver and stared at the saddlebag he put the business card in. "Well, then. Where does the noble mare live? I haven't been able to get a good look at it, yet."

[Link]

Noticing the others still leaving for the library, Silver returned his attention to Majem.

"Ah, yes, I haven't had a chance to look at it either, come to think of it..." Gently and discreetly withdrawing it from his saddle-bags, Silver held the small business card in his hoof where he and Majem could read it:

Lady Morning Glory of the Silver House
Capitol Building 624
Governmental District, Canterlot

"Hmm, I can't say I've been to that section of town before; much more ritzy and glamorous than areas I'm familiar with...The capitol building at that too. This mare is obviously more important than I thought..."

Starting to walk in the general direction of the governmental district, Silver donned his travelling cloak. After the latest incidents, being recognized would be....disadvantageous.

[Chirp]

Majem was a little confused about Silver putting on a cloak, then realized what he was doing. Sadly, he had no clothing with him to hide himself, but he knew how to look quite a bit different. Majem's horn glowed for a brief moment; His mane and tail, which were made of water before, were now completely white again. "Ugh, I don't like it like this, but the guard would immediately recognize me like that."

With his 'camouflage' on, Majem followed Silver. "Governmental District, was it? Ugh, I don't exactly feel like walking all the way. Mind calling for a cab? I'll pay, of course."

[Link]

Noting Majem's transformation, Silver raised an eyebrow.

"An impressive transformation, to keep your tail and mane constantly in the form of water, consistently having a flow of magic like that. As for a cab, I'd be fine with it. And we can share the fare; no reason to pay for my part. With any luck, the word hasn't gotten around about any of us yet, and we'll have no trouble with the cabby, or anyone else, on our way there."

Hailing a cab, Silver looked around quickly from under the hood of his cloak. Luckily, the hood shadowed his face and kept anypony from beign able to notice his wandering eyes at a glance. As Majem and Silver climbed into the buggy, he calmly asked the driver to take them to the governmental district, and they were off down the paved roads of Canterlot in no time, heading for the governmental district.

((I'll be back later this evening; my brother needs to use the computer for a bit, so sorry if I'm a little slow with any responses... ))