You're special to me (Patreon)

 Heartbreaker took a long pull from her cigar and then let the smoke swirl around in her mouth before slowly blowing it out in my Equestria dreamscape. Then she took a sip of brandy and let the two flavors mingle on her tongue. She closed her eyes and took in the experience.

   
  Just having access to her liquor cabinet is reason enough to work for her. Thought the mare. She's got exquisite taste when it comes to stocking her cabinet; same when it came to smokes. 

  
  Sadly the mare reminded herself that sitting and drinking fine liquor and smoking excellent cigars was not why she was there. Reluctantly she returned to the reason why she was in Celestia's office and she continued with her report. Over the past hour she'd told the Co-Ruler of Equestria what she'd seen while working at the House of Roses. 

  "The one thing that bugs me is not that they did what they did, but how they did it." 

  Celestia gave the mare a curious look as she levitated the bottle of brandy over to refill both their glasses. Heartbreaker still had her Hoofington accent but her mannerisms were now much more refined and professional in nature. "Oh. What do you mean by that?" 

  The earth pony took another sip of brain lubricant and organized her thoughts. "It was how and what they were a doing. Many of these Associations have been around for more than a hundred years. They'd figured out how to gain influence, and make a bucket loads of bits." 

  She paused and took a pull from her cigar then continued. "They knew how the game was played and just what they could and could not get away with, but all of the sudden they decided to take that playbook and throw it away. Suddenly they started being stupid and taking unnecessary risks." 

  "And it wasn't that ponies in the Associations didn't realize that they were doing stupid things and tried to warn other ponies of it, but they were ignored or in extreme cases eliminated." 

  Celestia swirled her brandy and took a moment inhale the rich aroma of the drink then she took a small sip of the warm liquid. "Very strange. Did it appear to be a case of younger members of the Associations attempting a coup d'etat to displace their elders?" 

  Heartbreaker shook her head. "Nah! In fact in some cases it was younger members who were raising the alarm. However at the same time I did observe young members who were pushing their luck in an effort to climb to higher positions in the Associations. Sometimes this was just cases of ponies being brash. But I also observed younger members doing things that can only be described as self-destructive behavior for not just themselves but the Associations they were affiliated with. In many cases their superiors knew and did nothing to discipline them?"   

  Celestia nodded her head. "I agree. Most unusual." 

  Heartbreaker took an angry pull on her cigar. "Yeah, but if the Associations were acting like idiots that would be one thing. However at the same time it seemed like a good portion of the Manehattan City government developed a taste for stupid juice! Ya always have a few ponies will abused their jobs in city hall to fatten their coin purses, but once again I observed numerous ponies in the city government acting like dumb asses! Not taking any precautions to avoid being observed and openly doing things any pony with two brain cells knew it would land ya in the pokey downtown!" 

  As Heartbreaker became more agitated Celestia could see the mare reverting back to the rough and tumble pony that she'd discovered on the streets and rescued many years before. The mare slugged back the remainder of the brandy in her sniffer and then held it out without saying a word. The princess recognized the gesture and refilled it. The chocolate brown mare took a large swig of it and swished around in her mouth before continuing. 

  
  "That's the one thing about all this that bugs me the most. I was observing ponies who should've known better, but suddenly they were throwing caution to the wind on gambles that weren't worth the risks! Yeah you'll get somepony that suddenly thinks their invincible, or get themselves into some mess that makes them take stupid risks. But it bugs me to see so many smart, ponies suddenly acting like dumbshits!"

 
  "Perhaps they saw other ponies doing it I thought perhaps they could get away with it as well?" Asked alicorn. "Or for some reason felt compelled to do it out of some form of peer pressure?" 

  "Nah governor!" Growled the mare. "These were ponies who had their shit together. They couldn't have gotten where they were without wits, a spine, and healthy dose of self-discipline. Also I find it too convenient that quite a few of them suddenly decided to commit suicide because they suddenly felt sorry for what they'd done! Answer this question yer Highness. Does the mayor of Manehattan strike ya as a pony who'd blow her damn brains out in her office?" This is where we part ways 

  Celestia started to take a sip and paused and looked down at the latest edition of the Canterlot Courier that was scattered across her desk. She shook her head. "No Heartbreaker she doesn't. I didn't know Spring Meadow personally, but I did talk to other ponies who'd known her since foalhood. Also I read the dossier the court had compiled of her. I expected her to fight this out in court and for her to have used every procedural and legal angle she could've. She knew the system well." 

  "Same for the Chief of the Police." Grumbled the bowler wearing mare. "He was supposedly the most honest, reliable pony in the force before he supposedly turned into a freaky sadistic monster. And even if he had taken leave of his wits for a while and then suddenly came back around. I'd expect him to face the music. Not burn himself and his damn apartment down in an inferno he supposedly created when police tried to arrest him. If the letters he supposedly sent to the local papers are true!" 

  The princess sighed. "Well hopefully when the entire investigation is over we'll know why they did what they did." She looked at the mare. "We should wrap this up. I'll have the guards take you back  to your cell. However I will have the chief prosecutor drop all charges against you, and have you released. I know I've asked you this before, but do you want make this to be your final mission. I have a place in the court I can have you assigned to. Over years you've served the crown above and beyond the call of duty. It might be hard to go back into the underworld again after this. Ponies maybe suspicious." 

   Heartbreaker actually blushed a little. "Thanks for the offer yer Highness, but I believe I can still best serve ya and the Crown out there on the streets. However I will take a bit of a vacation if ya don't mind. I assume a blind drop of funds will be made to cover my expenses?" 

  "Of course! So you're going to take some time off ? Where will you be going so I can arrange for the funds to be sent to right location?" 

  "I was thinking of heading down to Neighpoles." Said the mare as she tapped off the ash on her cigar into a cut crystal ashtray. I've heard it's mighty nice. Probably rent me one them houses that looks out over the bay. A place where I can lay in the sun all day and drink to my heart's content!"

 
  "Sounds nice." Said the princess.

   
  Heartbreaker grinned. "Well if ya want drop by some time yer always welcome. Ya can even set up one of yer long range teleport targets if ya want. So what do ya say yer Highness. I still give awesome back rubs!" The mare's grin got bigger. "And other things. It's been awhile ya know."

 
  Celestia laughed heartily. "Oh don't tempt me right now!" She sighed. "Maybe after this investigation and the wedding are over I might take you up on that offer." 

  She rose over and as she did she levitated the hobbles over with her. "Now I'm afraid you're going to have put these on for your trip back to your cell."

   
  The mare sighed and held her front hooves up so Celestia could hobble them. Quick fashion the princess had the mares front and back legs restrained. Then princess leaned forward and gave the mare a long, deep kiss. After several seconds they separated. 

  
  "Please be careful dear. You're special to me." 

  The mare got a positively lecherous look on her face then she looked down at the hobbles. "Oh yeah! I need to get me some these. They definitely bring out a different mare in ya!"

 
  Celestia shook her head. Chuckled, and then went to get the guards.  

 
 To be continued.