Neon Lights of Manehatten {quest}

[Gilda]

By Celestia’s sun, Manehatten was a glitzy metropolitan-titan where only the best things lived, best ponies, best culture, best of the best. Under the light, nothing would appear tarnished or stained within the confines of its glamorous streets. Even by the soft light of the moon, the neon lights of the city cast off a glow that kept the shadows at bay and it was there, just beyond the warm glow of blinking neon lights lived another city. Hidden away, ignored but never forgotten, the dark city thrived. The underbelly of everything Equestrian lived just under the noses of the pretty ponies in the towers above. With the elite on top, the lesser creatures were free to scurry through the best filth and vice the city had to offer, so long as you were willing to fight the rats over it.

Gilda was not unfamiliar with this world, it was a fast paced existence. Fast bits and even faster lives was the norm down in the lower city, something Gilda could appreciate. For a catbird that had to occasionally hawk goods quick and without question, she was forced to quickly learn the ins and out of the underworld – she also knew that if you wanted to get information, there was nowhere better than here, after a few greased hooves. She just had to be sure to skirt the street thugs in the process.

From Rainlock’s posh manor, Gilda flew to the most notorious of Manehatten’s seedier sides. Nestled against Midtown with its 1,000 bit Daffodil sandwiches and sparkling mineral waters, was the place no decent pony would find themselves – alive at least – but for a griffon searching for a notorious thief and a relic, this seemed like the most appropriate spot. She landed in a inky puddle, cringing at the sickening cold that enveloped her talons. She flicked the foul water off – commenting on the charm of the grime choked place.

She looked around, gathering her bearings, keeping her eagle eyes on a few of the less savory types that lingered on the streets. Before here lay several reputable pawnshops but she figured the Grey Shadow wouldn’t be giving up something like that Eye for a few quick bits. Several salt-licks and a few cideries were spotted between other, specialty shops. There also seemed to be some sort of club at the end of the block, heralded by its flickering neon sign. Gilda begun to walk, eyes suspiciously scanning around for somewhere decent enough to begin questioning while her body was tense and ready in case somepony or whatever else decided to get a little fresh with her, no telling what type of individuals were out creeping around tonight.

[Red Charge]

"Psst." whispered a raspy voice, "Oi, Griffon, get your deriere in 'ere. Before yer spotted." A suspicious looking character said, hiding in a dark alley nearby. "C'mon, I don't bite, cat-berds ain't my flavah." From the sillouette of him she could see, he was rather small, his mane hung down in saggy-looking clumps and his fur, even in the glow of the neon light seemed rather pale and sickly. His eyes were also rather unusual, large and staring, glinting in the darkness. To Gilda's trained eyes it was obvious what he was - a hippocampus, a sea horse, those posed no danger above the sea, especially not for a griffon.

"Yer that Griffon what been hanging with them Rainlock blokes, aint'cha? Ye bin drawin' the wrong kind'a attention y'know. Trying to get the Grey Shadow and whatnot. Risky innit? There's lotsa folk what don't want ye to get anywhere. Going that way ain't the best idear."

[Gilda]

Gilda should have anticipated this, though was surprised how fast word spread already. She gave a suspicious glance around and ducked into the rank alley with what was clearly a kelpie with an accent that screamed Trottingham. She kept her claws ready, senses diligent, her ears tuned to the sound of the rats in the nearby dumpster – so far nothing indicating a trap.

”What’s it to you, kelp-eater?” She indignantly exclaimed. ”A girl needs her bits, don’t she.?” She let the hippocampus continue, acting more indifferent than she actually was. If what the seapony spoke was true, maybe she owed him – certainly this wasn’t out of altruistic intent. ”And what if I am? You know something or are you just being a good Sardinian, warning me?”

[Red Charge]

The Kelpie grinned at her mysteriously, "Let's say I represent an interest diffferent 'en them others, aye? Up to no good that pony is, wreck my boss' interests, see? That ain't good for business now innit? Lucky I ran into ye then."

"But 'ere's what I don't get, see, the Rainlock cat, she could crack the case ten times as fast as you can, how come she ain't dealing with this personally? Can't be the invasion cannit?" He asked, leading Gilda further down the alley, looking around to make sure there was no one to eavesdrop. Once they were at the very lonely edge of the alley the kelpie finally leaned closer to Gilda, he had fish breath.

"Ey say it's got something to do with an eye or another. I ain't got no clue m'self. Whatever it is, up in the high ranks seems like they think it might be important, maybe is a powerful artifact or somethin' what can get them an advantage over other bosses, see? O'course not a lot of 'em wanna mess with Grey Shadow. But if you do take it from 'im, they'll be waiting see?"

[Gilda]

Gilda followed warily, the fishy smell the kelpie exuded making her silently wretch. Like rotten fished heads left in the trash of a back-alley behind a scummy restaurant. Letting him speak, perhaps despite his scent, this was could be a boon to her search. So, he was some low or mid-level goon to some local syndicate, great. She could use that. Enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that jazz.

”It may have something to do with an ‘eye’. That debutant mare wasn’t too forthcoming with information and I didn’t probe. I’m just looking for the Grey Shadow and whatever he/she/it stole. If I find him and it, I may be willing to negotiate with your ‘bosses’, especially if they can help steer me to the Shadow in the first place. So they know anything – you know anything?” She fluffed herself up, rising herself tall over the kelpie in a clear display of intimidation. ”I’d hate for my trail to go cold now, be a shame wouldn't it?” She splayed her talons, flicking grime from each one with quick flicks.

[Red Charge]

"Griffons don't eat fish." The Kelpie shook his head, "And everything's still got a price, lovebird. A sea-horse still 'as to make 'is living, aye?" He said, "But since yere all excited, how about ye make the first offer? What're you willing to give so's you won't bring down Rainlock's wrath on yer head?"

The alley was still empty, the kelpie was the only one in sight so far. There was nowhere for any others to hide, except a dumpster, but even that was at the far end of the alley. Unless the kelpie had a trick up its sleeve, he should pose no problem for Gilda. However his bosses might not take too kindly to any action taken against him.

[Gilda]

"Tell that to the ospreys, fish-breath." Gilda retorted. "Here's how I see it, your bosses are as scared of Rainlock as the rest of this sorry town - and probably just as timid about the Grey Dweeb too, so here's what I propose." She stepped away, figuring that she was safe enough for now. "Your employers help me get to the Gray Shadow and they can have him and whatever he has laying around - sure he's got something worth their time. Minus a finders fee of course. I take the Eye and whatever Rainlock's ivory-tower heart is willing to part with as payment and you and your cronies don't have her security forces breaking down your doors and cracking your skulls. How does that sound for an offer? Heck, I'll even put in a good word with Mrs. Money Bags if your bit-cutters are interested."

[Red Charge]

The Kelpie shook his head again, "No dice to begin with, but I was talking about something fer me." He said, "Me personally, y'digging what I'm saying now?" The Kelpie was hardly threatening in stature, but sure carried the bravado of a salty negotiator. A haggler and a stern one at that. It was obvious he wasn't going to do anything for Gilda unless he got something out of it and that any threat of physical violence was not going to deter him.

"As for yer buddy Rainlock, she ain't a mayor, she's a wealthy lady. She ain't in it fer politics. She in it for whatever she wants, getting messy is not something she likes to do. So ye can lay off the threats. We've been living here for a long time in coexistence. I'm sure the status quo won't be breached any time soon."

[Gilda]

Bold, didn't expect that from a kelp-eater, she liked that. Alright, he wanted a greased hoof, fine. Gilda retrieved the bits she pilfered off that piano crushed unicorn and offered them up. "Fine, take the bits. Consider it a gift of good-will. If you can get me close to Grey-boy, I may have something more for you."

Gilda was going to call his bluff on Rainlock, if she wasn't as intimidating as he suggested, then why were they desperate enough to go through an outsider to get a hold of something stolen from her. "Money and politics go hand in hoof, so you can either assist me in getting back what she wants or risk ticking the mare off. She doesn't strike me as the type to take getting yanked around by underworld thugs lightly, specially if your bosses even want to lay eyes on whatever this Eye is. We understand each other?"

[Red Charge]

The Kelpie shrugged, "Long as I get a fair share, I could give less of a hayroll about yer fancies love." He took the bits and counted them with experienced quickness, "Y'don't mind if I join ye for a walk eh? Sometimes the back alleys have ears and eyes where main streets don't. I says we go somewhere else to continue our conversation, ey? Maybe around southern edge of the city, near the woods. That way we could really talk."

He led her through the city, making sure to take the most populated route, more people meant less chance of him being spotted and he did know how to blend in a crowd, twice Gilda's sharp eye lost him and he had to stick his head up above for her to notice him again. Although his walk did seem clumsy and klutzy, even with his outlandish looks he failed to attract any attention to himself, a respectable feat.

They finally reached the woods at the southern part of the city, the area was still in the barrier placed by Rainlock's security but was heavily patrolled. How could the Grey Shadow be anywhere near here without being spotted? The Kelpie stopped, "ere we can talk."

[Gilda]

"Lead on." Gilda said, though not entirely liking the idea of leaving the populated area. When they arrived, Gilda expected impatiently for the Kelpie to talk - that's what he wanted after all wasn't it?

She kept herself ready for anything that may appear, prepped to kick into the air if this was some sort of lame-trap orchestrated by some pony or kelpie syndicate. Even with Rainlock's private security one call away, she wasn't taking any chances. She trusted her only slightly more than she trusted fish-breath.
"Ok, here we are, let's talk. What can you tell me about The Grey Shadow? Where does he operate? Have a name? Does he work for anyone? Spill it before I get antsy."

[Red Charge]

"'E don't work for none... not usually. 'cept this time I hears, this time 'es got some really powerful bloke backing 'im up see? I ain't jus' talking crime family powerful, I'm talking major power deal-with-the-adversary kind of power. 'Course you can only put so much stock inter rumors y'hear over where we are. But makes sense t'me for someone that powerful, and I'm talking some real powerhouse, to want that eye, whatever it is."

He leaned in closer, his fishy breath again filling Gilda's nostrils, "Mind you, could be that is a dragon, could be that its something far more. Y'never know anymore aye? I used to think them dragons were the strongest but up came that feller Discord and then that Eclipse... who knows what Shadow's got pulling the strings. Sure ain't going to take orders from any regular pony can tell you that much."

He looked around again, this time more alarmingly, "Y'ain't heard it from me, but I hears some of the bosses talking, yeah it got some of 'em talking alright, not heard that in a while 'ave you? Says scrying can't find the eye, but they 'as eyes and ears everywhere except south of the city. Never could get anyone to come back from 'ere. Like someone doesn't want to be reported on."

At that the Hippocampi stood as tall as he could, he fulfilled his end of the bargain, it was time for Gilda to fulfill hers. "Course, y'ell never get anywhere south without the bosses' say so. Just one talon outta line and there'll be worse things than monsters that'll tear you to shreds eh? Time for compensation I thinks, I'll make sure you get some safe passage over, hmm?"

[Gilda]

Gilda tried to dodge the kelpie's breath as if it were the embodiment of a plague of the foul stench of a fish genocide left to rot on a salted shore. She kept irking away from the sea-pony, taking a half step with every close leaning word he muttered, she'd do anything to get away from his fishitosis stank. Sinister rumors, deadly crime families, places of no return, threat of death; frankly, Gilda would take any of those over carp-breath right now.

"I 'ain't' hearing nothing, go on." She interjected, confirming she had no interest in letting her one lead get axed. Despite his foul odoriferous nature, he was invaluable at this point. So, she figured, go to the South and find out what's up, what's the worst that could happen - surely, she thought herself, better than some lamo-pony thief, she was a proud griffon - not a loser grass eater, or seaweed eater in the case of her new salty friend. The foolish shield of hubris.

Then came the catch, he wanted something. Typical, not like the bits were enough. Bloody vampires sucking what little the poor and downtrodden had. She'd need to find a sucker to pilfer a few bits off if these was going to continue being a trend in this dark city. "Already gave you all my bits, what more could you possibly want? And don't even think a 'date', no fish stink gets near my feather-" Motioning to herself. "No offense. So, you want a relic, promise of bits, a good word in with that gingered flank Rainlock?" She crossed her arms, looking at the sea-pony indignantly with her fur and feathers fluffed. "'Cause whatever it is, I need to know that first you're not going to buck me over before I give anything else up."

[Red Charge]

"Nothing to worry about luv, how 'bout this then? You can tell Lady Rainlock she's got an informant in the underbelly, she'll know how to track me down... and a kiss from a fair maiden, sounds a fair deal don't it? Pucker up, luv-bird. The fish said with a grin. Obviously not going to let that 'fish stink' comment slide by.

He leaned in closer and waited for her to initiate, "C'mon now, most esteemed Lady Rainlock ain't got all day does she?" He asked.

[Gilda]

Gilda couldn't believe this, nasty old kelpie demanding something so vile, so sickening. She felt like she was going to be sick and with every inch he leaned in closer to her, she skirted her head away as if being repelled by the wall of his fishy scent. She knew she was backed into a corner - or alley and obviously she could use him, but to degrade herself to the level of a kelpie-kisser, that was a line she never thought she would ever have to cross. Not much else she could do about it now.

"Ugh... fine, but any tongue and I'm biting it off." She bemoaned, thinking on where she'll be able to get a shower to scrub of that icky scent. Wincing she leaned in towards the kelpie till, holding her breath, till her beak met his lips. Throughout the kiss, she held back the urge to throw up in the kelpie's mouth. His lips were so salty and stank of the low tide, it wasn't as penetrating horrid as his overall unwashed fishy scent but the taste made up for that in spades.

When the kiss broke, Gilda spun her head to the side and let out a few dry wretches, using her talons to desperately wipe away the taste from her beak. How the ospreys tolerate this she'd never understand. With that ugly little piece of her life now done and tucked away in a corner of her mind to forever haunt her whenever she was near cannery row, she was ready to leave. "There, let's go now can we?"