A wooden blue call box materialized in the dark depths of the Canterlot alleyway, and out of it came two ponies: one was a grey unicorn stallion wearing a purple frock coat, blue shirt, a blue fez, and a bow tie. He had black glasses, bright green eyes, and a brown mane and tail. Next there came a mare, with blue fur, turquoise eyes, matching blue wings, a mane and tail composed of flowing stars, and a long, pointed unicorn horn. She wore a tuxedo.

"We see thou hast left the brakes on again, Agent Shadow," comments the mare, smirking a bit to the unicorn.

"I like the noise!" protests Orion. "Give me a break, Luna."

Luna's smirk grew wider. "Later tonight, of course. When we are not on duty."

Orion made a show of checking his pocket watch, "We'd best get going… Blueblood's party will be starting soon."

Nodding in agreement, the blue alicorn led the way toward the distant nightclub and casino, its neon lights bright in the nighttime darkness. They breezed inside, showing their passes to the bouncer, who waved them through. Then they walked through another door into the main room.

The music was, if possible, even louder here. Ponies danced and gyrated with all sorts of glowing objects held in their hooves, mouths, or wings in time to the beat, while elsewhere other ponies were playing at slot machines or card tables.

Orion glanced to his companion, "We'll split up… you cover the card tables, I'll take care of the dance floor and slot machines!" With that the two went their separate ways.

---

The Golden Pony Casino wasn't nearly as flashy as the ones in Las Pegasus, but the locals seemed to like it a great deal. The showpiece, a gilded statue of a pony, stood at the cewnter of a large fountain at the main entrance, enhanced by a light and dancing-water show once every hour. Another feature, in an attempt to bring a more 'highbrow' clientele, was the addition of chamber music in the card arena.

Seated on the raised platform with the rest of the quartet, a grey-coated, black-haired earth pony brought out a fine cello from its as one of the finest cellists in all of Equestria, the casino staff was practically falling all over themselves to welcome Octavia and her ensemble. Little did the know her true reason for being here tonight.

Spotting her quarry, she mimed continuing to set up her cello. Rreaching down in a very smooth and barely perceptible manner, she picked up her 'special' bow, and readied a special surprise for the incoming agent.

Luna makes her way into the chamber music room, her tuxedo clinging nicely to and accentuating her form. Flicking her wings, she spots a game of Blackjack about to start and sits down to join the other ponies there. "Salutations, good gentle colts and mares!" she greets, paying Octavia no mind.

Raising her bow, and nodding to the other members of the chamber quartet, a flurry of notes floated amongst the gamblers, many of them paying no attention, at least consciously. Octavia worked her bow against the strings, sending soaring melodies out to lull the herd into a false sense of security. The sudden increase of higher than normal wagers indicated that it was working.

Octavia kept a close eye on Luna, and smiled slightly when she saw which table she had picked. she would have a long rest coming up in a few more bars, and she knew this would be the time to act.

Luna's ethereal tail swishes somehow as she plays, her masterful poker face in full effect. One of her fellow players comments, "I admire your luck, Miss..." Luna smiles, "Bond. Luna Bond," before placing the winning card into play.

Octavia looks over the top of her cello as he rest arrives, the two small marker dots acting as an aiming sight. She reaches down into her case, retrieving a rosin bag anda small case. Opeing the case, she selects a small crossbow arrow, its tip coated with a paralyzing agent. She did not want to kill Luna; quite the contrary, the big boss would be furious if that were to happen.

Touching a spot on the back of the cello's neck, the larger string popped out slightly further than the others, tensing up as a bowstring. She loaded the arrow and took careful aim at Luna's flank.

Luna wins the card game and cheers quietly, taking her sizable sack of chips with her, intending to redeem them. She rises to her hooves, preparing to leave, when Octavia's arrow strikes true. Gasping in shock, she faints, poker chips falling down onto the floor beside her.

Octavia smiles, and nods to two henchunicorns standing nearby, Quickly, they levitate the fallen princess (and her winnings - after all, fair's fair) and cart her off toward the unseen recesses of the casino.

---

Elsewhere, Agent Orion is dancing spectacularly badly among the younger generation, various glow rings attached to his forelegs. Occasionally he bumps into another dancer and apologizes fiercely.

Vinyl Scratch, better known to her fans and most of Equestria as DJ PON-3, was busy at her turntables as usual. She had a lot to do, what with keeping a roomful of ponies dancing and energized, cueing up the next music tracks, and keeping an eye out for certain nosy secret agents wearing fezzes. She spotted Orion dancing out on the main floor, and used her magic to levitate two special records from their bin. Smaller than her normal 10-inch discs, these had their edges sharpened to a razor-like state, sharp enough to possibly cut through solid rock if thrown hard enough. She readied her first disc and, with a magical burst, let it fly, watching it sail over Orion's head and embed in a stone column near the entrance.

Orion Shadow feels his ears flick as something whooshes over his head. He looks up, spotting the disc embedded in a column, and turns to see where it might have came from... his eyes widen in shock, and he looks comically surprised, complete with his muzzle forming an 'o' shape. Then he ducks, worming his way through the other dancers to take a more defensive position by the refreshment table.

Vinyl sees Orion moving and quickly launches two more sharpened discs, one cutting through the heavily coiffed mane of one of the dancers. This started a mini-panic, with ponies bumping into each other as they scrambled to get out of the way. Cursing under her breath, Vinyl readied for a return strike from Orion, ducking down behind the DJ booth.

Orion concentrates and fires two bursts of magical light at the DJ booth, causing the turntable to start warping and break down. In the ensuing panic he scrambles closer toward the booth, looking for Vinyl. Bolts of blue strike near Orion's hooves as Vinyl attempts to slow him down long enough for another record attack. Finally seeing an opportunity, she readies her last disc and, after taking careful aim, slips and sails the disc over Orion's head, hitting instead one of the fire sprinklers, sending water cascading down around them.

Orion's hooves slip and slide as he loses control, he ends up zipping right into the other unicorn's DJing stand, possibly into the unicorn herself, "Whuaaaaagh- ow! Sorry about that... I'm a little damp!"

"More like you're all wet, dude!" Vinyl says, grabbing hold of Orion. "Ha! Gotcha! And Tavi's got your partner in crime! Now let's go, it's time to see the boss!" She tries to drag Orion away, but her hooves slip on the slick floor.

Orion rolls his eyes, "Villains... you really should have thought ahead, Miss Scratch!" His own hooves slip and slide as he holds onto her, "Wouldn't it be faster if we just teleported?"

"OH, right, teleport… DUH!" Vinyl says, smacking her head. "I keep forgetting that part." She pulls Orion closer, and in a brilliant blue flash, both ponies disappear from the dance floor... and reappear just outside the office of the boss. "Huh. Guess I didn't project far enough…" says the DJ, sheepishly.

---

Orion Shadow shakes himself dry, "Should've let me do it... I'm very good with teleports." He looks around for Tavi and Luna, "I'm guessing they're all inside? Let's go in!" He blasts the doorknob off with a burst of magic, then pushes it open, still dragging Vinyl along. "Hello? Are we late?"

"I'd say you're right on time," said a voice from within the office. A dark figure stood in front of a bright doorway, slowly stepping forward to reveal himself. A deck of cards floated in his magic aura. "Welcome, Mister Shadow. I am Con Mane, assistant to His Majesty, Prince Blueblood. I believe you already know Luna Bond, " he said with a chuckle. The lights come on to reveal Luna suspended over a large tank. Inside that tank are hundreds of piranhas, each swimming about and gnashing their teeth. Luna's horn is covered with a magic damper, and she is still paralyzed from the arrow striking her flank.

"How fortunate of you both to arrive... just in time for dinner." Con Mane throws a whole plucked chicken into the water. After several minutes of furious bubbling and thrashing, the frenzy parts, a completely stripped chicken skeleton sinking to the bottom. "Unless you want the same fate to befall your accomplice, Mister Shadow... let's play a game."

Orion shivers at the sight of the chicken skeleton, already picturing something similar happening to Luna... he looks back to Con Mane, letting go of Vinyl at last, "Fine... I'll play your game, Mane."

A card table appears before Orion, Con Mane stepping up to it. "Excellent. Pick correctly three times and I will consider letting her go. Each incorrect guess lowers her closer to... snack time." An evil grin spreads over his face as he selects two red face cards and the queen of spades. "The rules are simple: find the black queen and you win the round." The cards are turned face down and Con begins moving them rapidly with his hooves. Stopping, he says, "Make your choice."

Making sure he watches what he thinks is the black queen, Orion selects the middle card.

Con Mane flips the card to reveal ... the queen of spades. "Lucky guess," he says, "you won't be as lucky from now on." Using his magic this time, he shuffles the three cards quicker than before. "Pick your card," he commands once the shuffling stops.

Orion watches the card carefully again, concentrating hard, and selects the left card.

Con Mane flips the card to reveal... the jack of hearts. "Too bad..." he says, as the rope slips down a notch and jerks to a stop. Luna's eyes widen in fear. More shuffling, the pace dizzying now. "You'd better be careful, Luna's almost at ... the end of her rope."

Heart racing, Orion selects the right-most card.

Con Mane flips the card to reveal... the queen of spades. He scowls. "You're making a mockery of this. Very well, then... you need one more match." The cards fly at a dizzying pace, almost impossible to watch. Con Mane smirks. With his hoof, he indicates that Orion should pick a card ... not realizing one card is poking out of his mane.

Orion however does realize it, and picks the card poking out of Con's mane, smirking. "Now let her go. Unharmed. Or I'll shoot," he informs, politely.

Con Mane sputters, then sighs. "Yes, you are correct... you can shoot me... or you can save Luna." His horn glows, and the rope starts lowering to the water. With a puff of dark blue smoke, Con Mane disappears.

"Orion! Save us!" Luna cries out, her voice recovered from the paralysis spell.

"I'm coming, Luna!" Horn aglow, he fires a burst of magic at the rope, severing it. But before Luna has time to fall to her demise, he teleports her near himself, safe. It only took a few seconds, but it had to be precisely calculated.

Luna breathes a sigh of relief. "We thank thee, Orion. Truly this was a fishy caper." She smirks. "Dost thou think thou could help us with... " She points a hoof toward her horn, which still has the magic damper on it.

"Oh! Of course, Luna." He smiles and removes the magic damper easily, it wasn't the first time he'd had to do it after all. He gives her a hug, "I'm glad you're safe."

Luna hugs back royally. "We are glad for thee, Orion. Blueblood is down that hallway, we must catch him before he can escape once again!"

"Let's go then, we haven't a moment to lose!" He takes off, galloping down the hall as fast as his hooves can carry him. Luna trots alongside him.

---

They enter a brightly-lit room, with rows upon rows of workstations set up along the perimeter of the room. Ponies work entering calculations and checking figures on slide rules. Seated on a raised platform, overseeing all, is Prince Blueblood. He sees the two agents arrive and sighs. "Oh drat, my fun is about to be ruined," he huffs.

"It would have been sooner, but we were delayed." Orion looks up at Blueblood, "So, what's the nightclub then? A front for your secret base?"

"What, just because I'm a supervillain I can't have a bit of fun myself?" Blueblood said testily. "Besides, it's a rare treat to have both Octavia and Vinyl performing for me at the same time." He rises to his hooves. "But, enough idle chit-chat. You are far too late to stop me! The plan is already in motion, and soon ALL of Equestria will tremble at my hooves! Bwaaahahahaaaaaa!" He motions to a henchpony, who pulls down on a big red lever. Rising up from the floor are a set of giant subwoofer speakers, on top of which rides Vinyl. "Allow me to demonstrate my newest secret weapon - the Bass Cannon 10,000!" Vinyl seems suitably awed, but goes back to setting switches and dials. "One wub from these subwoofers will be enough to level half of Equestria and anything in its path!"

"And what art thou doing that for, wretched knave?" inquires Luna. "To build a statue of thyself from the ensuing rubble?"

"I'm doing it to prove I'm serious," Blueblood replied, a hint of anger in his voice. "Unless my demands for ten million bits is met, I start leveling cities, one per hour. Princess Celestia has fifteen minutes to reply to my first demand, and if she doesn't... goodbye Appleloosa!" He sat back down in his chair. "Stupid mean ol' Auntie Tia cutting off my allowance... " he mumbled.

"Thou art an ungrateful whelp, Blueblood! Thou art lucky to not be disowned!" She takes to the air, horn flaring to life as she aims it right at the bass cannon, firing a flare of magic straight at it. Klaxon horns and red lights create a scene of confusion and catastrophe, sending the henchponies scrambling as Luna scores a direct hit! Blueblood drops to the floor, looking up and crying, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Composing himself, he sits back down on his chair, and presses a large red button. "You win this time but I'll be back! and next time I will not fail! Mwahahahahahaha!" Just before his chair is enclosed by canopy glass, he says, "Oh, and tell Auntie Tia I send my regards. Toodles!" The canopy seals, and with a deafening roar, a miniature rocket blasts off, puncturing the ceiling and flying toward parts unknown.

Sighing heavily, Luna comes in for a landing and wraps her forelegs around Orion. "Such a rambunctious young colt... mayhaps it is time Tia and I did something about him, once and for all..." She looks to the two musicians, "Both of you, return to thy stations."

Octavia and Vinyl, seemingly stunned to hear Luna giving them orders now, look at each other. They shrug, and start walking out toward the casino. "Hey Tavi, let's swing by the buffet. I haven't had a bite all day and it'll be a while before the club is dried out."

Octavia nods. "Certainly, Vinyl. I'll even be generous and pick up the tab." Both ponies exit.

Nodding, Orion takes Luna's hoof, "Back to base then! The Chief will want to see us."

"Yes, let us away for our next riveting adventure!" Luna walks alongside Orion. "And please, do remember to take the brake off before we go this time…"

"Fine!" They eventually find their way back to the box and go inside, and then it disappears, this time without a sound.