“I don’t like this,” Sunset muttered as the group filed off the elevator. “I’d rather know who we’re dealing with.”

Spotlight smiled up from her wheelchair and adjusted her glasses. “All I ask is your patience, Miss Shimmer. The pony in question possesses considerable influence. I would rather be sure before letting his name slip.”

Sunset still didn’t like it. Apparently it showed, as Spotlight chuckled slightly.

“If it’s any consolation,” Spotlight’s voice lowered so that only Sunset could hear. “I’d also rather not say the name around poor Trixie. At present, she brings to mind the impression of a rather skittish cat. She will need courage to help end this.”

Sunset glanced back at Trixie, flanked by Cheerilee and Minuette. The former saboteur continued to stare at her hooves, which made the singed area around her horn stand out even more in the bright light of the upper corridors of Hoofbeats.

Well, considering what this stallion did to her, I can wait a few minutes to find out who this jerk is.

Sunset finally nodded and Spotlight patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t fret. This is almost over.”

Rara had taken point, storming through the hallways of Hoofbeats like a warrior queen. Coco walked on her right, with Moon Dancer on Rara’s left. Beside Sunset, Gateway pushed Spotlight’s wheelchair, while Chief Stablemaker and Officer Hops took up the rear of the impromptu procession behind Trixie, Cheerilee and Minuette.

While most of Hoofbeats had been settled back onto the main dance floor through the efforts of Stablemaker’s officers—including two dozen reinforcements—and Gateway’s security forces, there were still plenty wandering around the atrium and the lobby. They’d been shocked into silence upon seeing the group marching through. To Sunset’s quiet delight, most of the attention seemed focused on Rara. Nopony spared a glance at Sunset or her friends. It was only fitting, since this wasn’t their moment.

This moment belonged to her new friends. Sunset had already decided Trixie deserved to be counted among that number. After all, she’d earned it. Plus, Sunset saw a lot of herself in the mare. What might have been. Another path her life might have gone if it hadn’t been for her friends.

The group rounded the corner that led to the large frosted glass double doors of the Hoofbeats VIP Lounge. Only the most elite of the elite could afford entrance to this place. The most powerful ponies in Equestria waited inside for Coloratura’s show.

At Spotlight’s earlier request, Stablemaker had dispatched a pair of officers to the Lounge to ensure that nopony left before the party arrived. The leading ponies of Manehattan were all still there, drinking fine cider and chatting excitedly. The officer happened to mention several complaints, namely from a member of the Orange family, Filly Harp, Rock Dee Fell and all three of the Cartwhinny brothers. All part of the same group who had been there this morning.

Among those ponies was a snake. Sunset was going to enjoy seeing that snake thrown into a cage.

You realize that this pony—whoever he is—is just like you, right? You’ve done far worse in your ‘previous life.’

Sunset twitched and shook off her angry little pony.

Two members of Gateway’s security staff were guarding one of the access doors that led to a stairwell, while the pair of officers were a little further down near a small office.

To Sunset’s surprise, Free Beats, the Hoofbeats manager, rushed out of the office before the group had made it halfway down the corridor. She darted up to them on buzzing wings.

“Miss Coloratura!” she squeaked. “Please accept my abject apologies for any role that the staff had in this complete disaster. I’ve done everything I can to stop ponies from storming out, but my staff has simply been overwhelmed with the chaos! Without the help of your security chief and the police, we would have been completely lost, so I must commen—”

“Did you know?” Coloratura asked in a voice laced with ice.

Free Beats froze. She dropped an inch or two to the ground, cowering under the weight of the group’s stares.

“K-know what?”

“That he was here.”

Sunset found herself rather impressed with the sheer weight of that single word.

Free Beats’s mouth opened. Then shut. Then opened again. A vague squeak came out of her.

Well, she definitely knows who Rara’s talking about.

“Yes?” Free Beats finally said, sounding terrified out of her wits. “H-He’s Sapphire Shore’s manager and she’s set to be next weekend’s headliner! He came early to make sure that everything was just right for her arrival! Why? Is… is he a friend of yours?”

Coco let out a rather unladylike snort, the most hostile noise Sunset had ever heard from the mare.

Stablemaker’s ears perked and his jaw tightened. Apparently, he had figured out the identity of the suspect from Free Beats’s description.

“How long has he been here, Free?” Spotlight asked. “Please, answer honestly. We need the truth.”

“I-I don’t understand w-what this is all about!” Free Beats wailed. “Look, I know I’m not the greatest manager around and sometimes I screw things up but I don’t want to go and get somepony as important as him in trouble! I’m sure any problems you’ve had are just misunderstandings.”

“Free,” Rara replied, her voice cool. “I need you to answer Spotlight’s question. When did he arrive?”

“A-a week ago? Maybe a few days before your crew did? Said he wanted to do a full inspection of the facility to make sure everything was up to code!”

Rara turned to glance at Sunset. Sunset nodded.

Yeah, Sunset thought reluctantly. That’s exactly what I’d do if I was planning on sabotaging an operation. Get in early to put all the pieces in place.

“I’m sure,” Rara replied. “Has he made any strange requests?”

“I-I’m probably not supposed to talk about those…”

“Am I the only one getting annoyed that nopony’s using names?” Moon Dancer whispered to Sunset.

“Apparently this is about as political as it gets in Manehattan,” Sunset said quietly. “They need to tread carefully.”

Moon Dancer rolled her eyes and shrugged. “Fine.”

Chief Stablemaker suddenly pushed himself to the front of the group. He loomed over the terrified mare, his grizzled features made even more menacing by the overhead lighting accents.

“Know who I am, Miss Beats?”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Good.” Stablemaker backed off a bit. “Now, I need to you answer that question. It’s part of an ongoing investigation. And, at the moment, my suspect list is fairly long.”

Okay, Stablemaker. I know you’re ticked off about all this, but that’s taking it a bit far.

“He’s made a-a great many demands about perks for Sapphire Shores. M-much more than the last time. And a great many new ones for himself! But… but that’s show business!”

“What else?” Stablemaker growled.

Free Beats looked ready to melt through the floor. She was actually shaking in fright.

“That’s enough!” Cheerilee snapped. It was her turn to shove herself to the front of the group. She planted herself squarely between Free Beats and the Manehattan Chief of Police. “Where do you get off intimidating mares like that, Chief?”

Stablemaker’s ire instantly transferred to Cheerilee. “Ma’am, you have about five seconds to move aside before I charge you with interfering with a police investigation.”

“This isn’t an investigation. This is interrogation that sounds like it was from some cheap Shadow Spade knockoff!” Cheerilee shot back. “Why don’t I show you a different technique?”

With that, Cheerilee turned her back to Stablemaker and reached out a hoof to the trembling Free Beats. Free Beats hesitated, but finally allowed Cheerilee to pull her back to her hooves.

“Ignore them, Miss Beats,” Cheerilee said with a gentle smile. “Tonight’s been difficult for all of us and some of us aren’t handling the stress very well.”

Cheerilee shot a dark look at Chief Stablemaker. Stablemaker shot a dark look at Sunset in turn.

Celestia’s going to put me on house arrest for six months after this. I just know it, Sunset mentally groaned

For a moment, she swore she heard the sound of somepony munching popcorn in the back of her head.

“We think this pony’s been behind some of the problems Miss Coloratura has had during her tour. Here and in other places. We’re just trying to find out if you can help us.”

It took another moment or two under Cheerilee’s sunny smile for Free Beats to come around.

“He…” Free Beats poked at the carpet with a hoof. “He made it clear that Miss Shores hated Miss Coloratura. Wanted every hint of her existence from the club erased by Monday. That… didn’t make a lot of sense. I thought they were friends.”

“We were until a few months ago,” Rara muttered. “I’m starting to figure out why she’s been giving me the cold shoulder, though.”

“He… he also insisted on checking every inch of the club personally and without an escort so ‘he could see it without us trying to hide anything.’ I can’t remember the last time anypony wanted to do that.”

Sunset suddenly had a hunch. “Does that include the storage rooms for the trusses?”

Free Beats blinked at her before nodding quickly. “Yes!”

“He’s the one who put the wrong label on the trusses,” Sunset muttered. “Got to be.”

“That’s speculation,” Stablemaker growled.

“It also fits.”

“We’ll see.”

“Chief Stablemaker, I think it’s time we have a little chat with this individual,” Rara declared. “What do you think?”

“Hops, stay with Free Beats and get a full statement. I want everything in writing.”

“Am… am I under arrest?” Free Beats quavered.

Finally, Stablemaker’s rage settled just a bit. “I suspect it won’t be necessary. If the suspect is who I think it is, I doubt you were a willing accomplice.”

“He… he did promise to yank Sapphire from our lineup if we didn’t comply with all his demands,” Free Beats said. “Oh my, oh my… he’s going to do that…”

“I doubt he’ll have that kind of clout for much longer,” Rara said.

Finally, the singer turned to Trixie, who had been shrinking against the wall during the entire confrontation. “Are you ready?”

Trixie swallowed and nodded. She looked about as far from ready as a pony could get.

“Then let’s get to the bottom of this.”

Rara led the charge with Coco at her side. Gateway and Spotlight followed immediately after, with Trixie and Sunset next. Moon Dancer, Cheerilee and Minuette all walked behind a grumbling Stablemaker.

As they approached, the two ushers opened the doors with a little bow.

Inside, all conversation in the lounge stopped at the sight of the procession.

“Miss Coloratura?” The impeccably dressed Rock Dee Fell blinked a few times. “What are you doing here? I was under the impression you were preparing to start off your show…” he coughed, “properly.”

There was a general murmur of assent from the three dozen or so high-class ponies in the room. Sunset repressed a shiver. During her previous ‘conversation’ in this room, the ponies hadn’t been dressed to the nines. Now they were, showing off every bit of wealth and power through dresses, suits and jewelry.

Just like home…

Sunset took a breath. This isn’t about me.

Spotlight, Gateway and Coco were scanning the crowd as Rara put on her best smile.

“And the show will go on,” Rara said. “There is no need to worry about that.”

“Well, be that as it may,” said Filly Harp, wearing a gown worth at least a couple thousand bits. “I’m afraid you have much to worry about, young lady.”

Rara cocked an eyebrow. Sunset wished she knew who she was looking for, but to the best of her knowledge she’d never seen—

I did see a figure right before the dragon appeared. A figure in this very lounge with poofy hair! The only figure who had been watching and hadn’t seemed afraid!

“While I doubt anypony could have expected an illusionary dragon to attack your event, I’m afraid news of this incident has already gotten out,” Filly Harp continued in that ear-wrenching voice of hers. “If your security staff is this incompetent, I can only imagine that the other rumors surrounding the management of your tour are also true. I’m sorry to say but most of us have agreed to put our money into something more stable.”

“You may want to wait to make that decision.” Rara replied in a casual tone. “I have somepony with me that may change your mind.”

“What is this?” said the annoyed yet familiar voice of a stallion as he threaded through the crowd. “Oh, I see. The doomed diva has finally decided to grace us with her presence. What a lovely surpr—"

The stallion’s eyes fell on Spotlight, still in her wheelchair. He paused, seeming taken aback, but recovered almost instantly. While Spotlight beamed at the stallion, he simply laughed.

“That must have been quite the cold, my dear Spotlight.” The stallion smiled and rolled his eyes. “Quite the cold indeed, especially if you ended up in a wheelchair. It’s odd. You seemed in satisfactory health on stage a few minutes ago. What possible ailment could you have contracted to leave you in such a terrible state?”

That’s the same voice that heckled me this morning! Sunset’s eyes went wide. And I think the same one from last night in the hallway!

“Hello, Svengallop,” Spotlight replied sweetly. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Svengallop lifted his muzzle into the air and ran a hoof through his expertly coiffed mane. Even Blueblood would be hard-pressed to top the haughty expression on his face. Aside from the oddly poofy peach mane—and a tail that looked like it was styled by a rabbit—he looked every inch the model of the Manehattan business elite. Sharp red tie, collared shirt, a gold vest and starched blue jacket. In fact, there were half a dozen ponies in the room dressed nearly identically. But the one thing that set him apart was the pair of rounded spectacles atop his muzzle. They sparkled in the glittering lights of the lounge.

Everything about this stallion screamed snake to Sunset. This had to be him. Just the mere sight of him made her want to grind her teeth.

“Yes, it has, dear Spotlight,” Svengallop scoffed. “Now, I believe I asked you a question.”

“Oh this?” Spotlight shrugged, adjusting her own glasses with a hoof. “A lighting truss fell on me last night.”

A collective gasp rushed through the room as Svengallop’s expression flickered with uncertainty before it solidified into smug satisfaction.

“Considering the veritable river of rumors coming from Miss Coloratura’s shows, I can’t say I’m surprised. Why, I can't think of a single production in the last thirty years with such a flagrant disregard for simple safety precautions. If you'd heard half the reports I have, it'd turn your mane white!" He coughed politely. "Well, white-er, my dear. No offense.”

“Oh, none taken!” Spotlight replied brightly.

Svengallop rolled his eyes again and glanced at the chief of police. “I assume our esteemed Chief Stablemaker is here to make a statement regarding your arrest for criminal negligence?”

“Not exactly,” Stablemaker rumbled.

“I see.” Svengallop shook his head sadly. “Then I’m quite sorry that somepony as important as the Chief of Police became involved in this boondoggle. After speaking to my colleagues here about tonight’s fiasco, I fear the refunds alone may bankrupt poor Free Beats. That’s not even taking into account the liability claims or the workpony compensation… it boggles the mind. It truly does.”

He took a sip from his drink, and sighed. He sounded almost wistful.

Sunset glanced at Rara and Spotlight. Spotlight’s expression remained completely cheerful, though her eyes bored into Svengallop as if they were two diamond-tipped drills. Rara, on the other hoof, was looking more furious by the second. Gateway took a step forward before Coco put a hoof in his shoulder.

“And to think, my friends, this could have all been avoided! Sadly, dear Spotlight just couldn’t keep up with such a passionate young pop star.” He bowed his head to Rara in something approaching respect and took another sip of his drink. “Miss Coloratura really shouldn’t be blamed for Spotlight’s inability to see her own failings. If only Spotlight had the sense to bow out after a long and successful career… instead of riding it into the ground. I do wish you hadn’t snatched her out from under me, Spotlight. Now, you have sets falling apart, reports of misconduct and even suspected embezzlement. Such a pity.”

A well-dressed orange stallion stepped up beside Svengallop. “I must say, Miss Coloratura, I have to agree with Svengallop. One disaster after another during your latest tour… and then a truss falls on your own manager?”

“Dear Mosely Orange makes an excellent point!” Filly Harp screeched. “But even worse, they lied about it. Sunset Shimmer there said just today that Spotlight only had a cold!”

“Ah yes. The Princess’s ‘prized’ student and her little friends. You all know Sunset Shimmer. She terrorized the student population of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns for years, ran the venerated Dean Silver Slate out on his flank, humiliated his granddaughters, and, from what I hear..." he paused, swirling the dregs of his drink around the olive.

Sunset raised an eyebrow and tried not to grit her teeth.

"No," he said. "I shouldn’t. You all know her reputation. I don’t think any more needs to be said."

More murmurs of assent. This time, Moon Dancer was the one who took a step forward, but Minuette stopped her with a shake of her head.

“Are you done now?” Rara said in a voice barely above a whisper.

“Me? I haven’t done anything.” Svengallop raised a perfectly trimmed eyebrow, and smirked. “And let’s be honest. I hardly need to. The proof is right here. Spotlight sits in a wheelchair. She freely admits why. Miss Shimmer even lied to everypony in this room and the media! We know you lied to keep your precious secret, trying to extort all of us fine and upstanding ponies.”

He tossed back the last of his drink, and slammed the glass down on a nearby table. “Who knows what else you’ve lied about? Why don’t you tell us, hm? Isn’t it time to come clean? Don’t we deserve the truth?”

“Truth?” Rara’s voice sounded like the rumblings of an ancient volcano. “You stand there and dare to demand the truth?”

“Oh please.” Svengallop sighed. “This charade is over, Coloratura. Spotlight’s career is finished, but you don’t need to go down with her. You’re young and talented. It’s easy to get turned around in this business. In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb here and offer you a second chance. I could probably squeeze in a second client, though with me managing Sapphire Shores, it would be a challenge. However, I think you may be worth the effort.

“All you need to do?” Svengallop smiled beatifically. “Just come clean. Give us the truth.”

Rara closed her eyes and took a very long, deep breath. Sunset just watched her.

“If truth is going to be our theme,” Rara said in an eerily calm voice. “Then let’s start from there. The real reason I didn’t speak to any of you earlier was that yes, we hid what happened to Spotlight last night. Sunset Shimmer here was kind enough to speak with both you and the press.”

“Speaking of which,” Gateway held a hoof to his ear. “We’re about to have about two dozen pressponies descend on us, Miss Coloratura.”

Sunset could hear the clamoring of voices from down the hall.

“Wonderful. Please invite them in.”

“Excuse me,” Filly Harp retorted. “This is supposed to be a lounge for very important ponies, not just any sort of camera-wielding riffraff!”

“Tonight is a special night,” Rara replied. “Invite them in.”

This obviously ruffled a few feathers—literally, in the case of a few pegasi—but Rara didn’t seem to care. Instead, she stepped up to the small platform that had been used by a jazz band earlier and motioned for the others to join her. Stablemaker remained near the door, as did Gateway after putting Spotlight up on the stage between Rara and Coco. Trixie just hid behind Cheerilee, who stood on Coco’s left. Moon Dancer and Minuette took a corner on the back of the stage, while Sunset stood on Rara’s right.

The newsponies arrived shouting questions with flashbulbs popping. It was sheer bedlam for several seconds until suddenly Rara belted out a single clear note.

Sunset’s ears flattened instantly, as did the ears of everypony else in the room. It was even enough to shock the media into silence, at least for a second or two.

“If you’ll all settle down,” Rara said pleasantly. “I believe you’ll be interested in hearing what I have to say. After all, as my colleague Svengallop was saying, tonight is all about the truth.”

Svengallop stood at the head of the Manehattan elite, each of them looking more annoyed by the second. A couple flashbulbs went off, but Rara just smiled.

“As I was saying, Sunset Shimmer here was kind enough to speak to all of you earlier,” Rara continued. “I admit… not telling the truth was difficult for me. Extremely difficult. But my new friends convinced me it was for a greater good. For two reasons: first, to raise enough funds for the schoolponies of Manehattan, which is supposed to be the reason we’re all here.”

“As if that money was ever going to go to the schoolponies.” Svengallop rolled his eyes dramatically.

“The funds were for the schoolponies,” Rara said, “and while I know this deception may have ruined my image and your trust in me, there was another reason why it was necessary: to discover who was responsible for the sabotage plaguing my show.”

“And let me guess,” Svengallop said with a casual smile and a glint in his eye. “That sad little blue unicorn you’re hiding back there is the true culprit, right? I hope you at least gave her a meal after pulling her off the street.”

Sunset almost gaped at him. She heard earnest applause from the depths of her mind.

Every eye fell on Trixie. Trixie let out a squeak of terror and ducked behind Moon Dancer. Moon Dancer’s glower was enough to get most of the eyes off of Trixie and back to Rara. But when Sunset looked back, she saw a crack in Rara’s pleasant exterior. She looked almost ready to jump down from the stage and start pummeling Svengallop with her bare hooves.

“Yes. I’m afraid I did read your ‘little script.’” Svengallop sighed. “This is the part where they offer up some poor little thing and claim she’s the one behind all this so-called ‘sabotage.’ How much did they offer you to take the fall for their blunders, filly?”

Trixie whimpered and Sunset had to fight to keep a snarl off her face.

“Not a single bit,” Rara replied, her voice teetering on the edge of calm. “Miss Lulamoon is here of her own free will. While my Lead Designer, Coco Pommel and I have offered her a position on staff—which she accepted—it was done without any promises from her.”

“I’m sorry,” Rock Dee Fell said after adjusting his black cravat. “You’re telling us that pony was responsible for the troubles plaguing your show? And you’ve hired her? Have you taken leave of your senses, Miss Coloratura?”

“No,” Rara replied. “We did it because, as Svengallop so succinctly put it, everypony deserves a second chance.”

“I’m afraid that’s not how business works in Manehattan,” Evergreen Cartwhinny interjected, speaking up for the first time. His two brothers nodded. “In Manehattan, image is everything. In fact, Svengallop’s gesture to assist you is beyond generous and quite risky for him. For you to do this… Even if we were to assume you are telling the truth—something I find highly unlikely—taking a known criminal into your employ… I daresay, I doubt you will find a single pony wanting anything to do with you after this.”

Sunset’s eyes bored into smirking Svengallop.

Keep smiling, she thought. I’m going to enjoy seeing that expression wiped off your face, you jerk.

“That’s your choice,” Rara said to Evergreen. “But while Miss Lulamoon may have been the one performing the acts, she was not the one responsible. Trixie? If you would?”

“This is a joke!” Svengallop rolled his eyes behind his glittering glasses yet again. “As if we’re supposed to believe some waif you dragged in from the street. This little nopony has nothing to offer us but some pre-rehearsed sob story. Do you think we’re going to believe her after you just told us she joined your tour? Do you have any idea who you’re dealing with, Coloratura? My colleagues and I have made our fortunes by being the best. You think we can’t see through this?”

The ponies in the room—and even a few members of the media—seemed to agree with Svengallop.

Rara didn’t even blink.

“Trixie, I’m sure they would be interested in hearing what you have to say.”

Once again, all eyes fell upon Trixie, but she didn’t move. She cowered, frozen in terror. Rara shared a glance with Sunset. The two of them stepped back and reached out for her. Coco and Spotlight smiled at her, as did the rest of Sunset’s friends.

“You can do this,” Sunset whispered.

“All you need to do is tell the truth,” Rara added.

“They won’t believe me,” Trixie whispered and buried her head in her hooves. “He… he’s right. I don’t matter. Nothing I say will matter. They won’t believe a word I say!”

“I believe you,” Rara said and for just a moment, her cutie mark lit up with a flash of light.

Trixie shook her head, still trembling.

“I believe you,” Coco echoed. Her eyes glittered in complete assurance.

Trixie whimpered.

“I believe you,” Cheerilee whispered, her voice full of compassion.

Trixie managed to peek out, but she still shook her head.

“I believe you,” Minuette chirped with a smile that could never be a lie.

Trixie’s eyes still shook, but the rest of her had stopped trembling.

“I believe you,” Moon Dancer said with a smirk brimming with confidence.

Trixie put her hooves down and just stared at them all.

“I believe you.” Spotlight’s voice once again reminded Sunset of her grandmother.

Finally, Trixie’s eyes latched onto Sunset. Sunset just smiled at her.

“I believe you.”

Trixie straightened up and took a deep breath. Her first few steps were wobbly, but by the time she’d reached the edge of the stage, she stood with only a hint of fear.

Rara stood on one side with Coco and Spotlight directly beside her. Sunset stood on the other, with Cheerilee and Moon Dancer.

Svengallop looked as if he was considering getting a hooficure after the show.

“M-my name is Trixie Lulamoon,” Trixie said. Her eyes wandered the crowd, looking at everypony except for Svengallop. “And… and… I was hired… to sabotage Miss… Miss Coloratura’s shows. T-to make her look incompetent. To make her manager look… foolish.”

“And would you tell these ponies who hired you to do this?” Rara asked.

Sunset put a hoof on Trixie’s shoulder. In that brief moment, she almost felt something. It almost felt like magic.

Trixie’s eyes locked onto her target.

“Svengallop.”

A collective gasp rose from everypony in the room. Reporters started shouting questions. Businessponies started chattering. Flashbulbs exploded. Trixie cringed away from it all, but she didn’t back down. She still held Svengallop’s gaze.

Eventually, the commotion gave way to Svengallop’s slow clapping.

“Well done,” the stallion said, sounding positively delighted. “All these smoke and mirrors for a shot at me? I have to admit, Spotlight, I didn’t see you trying to pin this all on me. I should have in hindsight. You’ve always been the jealous sort.”

“Hardly,” Spotlight replied airily. “I’ll leave the jealousy and spite to ponies far better at it than I.”

“Excuse me!” Rock Dee Fell cried. “Young lady, are you saying that this stallion right here, the manager for none other than Sapphire Shores herself and one of the most powerful ponies in show business hired you to ruin Coloratura’s shows?”

Trixie nodded weakly.

“Why?” Filly Harp cried. “Why in Equestria would we believe you?”

“I… I didn’t realize it at first. I… I used to be a performer and I fell on some hard times. Svengallop approached me after a show… offered me a job. P-promised that I’d get to open for Miss Coloratura!” Trixie’s voice cracked with hope. “All I had to do… was get rid of Spotlight.”

Spotlight waved at everypony, looking utterly unperturbed.

“It started out with small things. S-some broken lights. Missing instruments. Wardrobe malfunctions.” Trixie flushed and her lip trembled. “But… he started to demand more when it didn’t work. I tried to quit five months ago… and he told me he’d hoof me over to the police if I tried. I… I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t go back to being on my own again. I knew I would fail.”

Trixie’s eyes fell to her hooves.

“So… I kept doing it until last night…”

“You were the one who dropped the truss?” Rock Dee Fell cried. “On Spotlight?”

“It was an accident!” Trixie cried, tears streaming from her eyes. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen! You have to believe me!”

“Oh, of course we believe you!” Svengallop crowed, putting his hooves in the air like some poofy-haired cheerleader. “I’m just going to ignore this flimsy attempt at... slander…”

Svengallop paused and seemed to consider Trixie in a new light.

Oh, this can’t be good.

“Actually…” Svengallop rubbed his hoof along his jaw. His glasses flashed as he nodded. “I’m sorry, everypony, but I have seen this filly before. I can’t believe it…”

“Svengallop?” Mosely Orange looked at the other stallion in confusion. “Whatever are you talking about?”

“This sad excuse for a unicorn used to bill herself as the ‘Great and Powerful Trixie.’” Svengallop let out a bark of a laugh. “Hardly. A barely adequate illusionist on her best days. When one of my talent scouts called out ill, I found myself forced to endure her arrogant prattling on a rickety stage in south Fillydelphia. It was disgraceful, even by stage magic ‘standards.’ She managed to get booed off her own stage before I could take three sips of my tea!”

All the color had drained from Trixie's face. Her mane fell over her eyes, and she was trembling again.

“I’m shocked they even let her type into Manehattan at all.” Svengallop fixed Trixie with a glare.

A strangled whimper emerged from the mare as she shivered.

“Tell us, you little charlatan. How does it feel to be surrounded by the truly great? The truly powerful?”

Trixie flinched with every word. A fresh bout of tears fell from Trixie’s eyes.

Sunset’s temper screamed in fury. It took every ounce of self-control to rein it in.

He’s going to get away with this… Sunset realized. He’s got them wrapped around his hoof.

“If that’s the case, Svengallop,” Rara answered, her voice dangerously cold. “Would you mind telling your fine colleagues, the media and the chief of police who your informant is about the conditions for my tour?”

“Endanger my sources?” Svengallop laughed. “These ponies risked their livelihood to reveal the truth. I refuse to jeopardize them, even in such esteemed company.”

Rara sat back and spread her hooves. “After everything that’s happened tonight, if we’re lying, we’re already finished. It’s not like they could fear reprisal with so many witnesses.”

“She has a point, Sven,” Rock Dee Fell said. “Right now, learning about your source would do nothing but strengthen your case.”

“While I understand where you’re coming from, I promised my sources complete anonymity.” He gestured to the amber-coated bartender for another cocktail. “I’m not about to break my agreement over some half-baked scheme cooked up by Spotlight as a last desperate attempt to escape justice.”

“Is that maybe because that source happens to be her?” Sunset snapped, pointing at Trixie.

Svengallop’s expression darkened just a fraction.

“It’s… it’s true,” Trixie sputtered. “I was the anonymous informant to the press. I told them about Spotlight’s accident.”

“Why are you still even here?” Svengallop said as he stepped over, fetched his cocktail and dropped a hooffull of bits on the bar. “Nopony believes your sad little story.”

Trixie wilted like a cornflower without sunlight.

Svengallop met Spotlight's cheerful gaze. "Well, nopony who matters, anyway."

“We do,” Rara snapped. “All of us up here. Everypony.”

Sunset’s eyes drifted to Chief Stablemaker, who was still standing quietly at the door to the Lounge, watching everything like a hawk. He raised an eyebrow at her.

Even he doesn’t look convinced anymore. Good job, Shimmer. You backed the wrong horse. Svengallop’s almost as good as you are.

“You have to have some sort of proof!” cried an Equestria Daily reporter.

“I… I don’t have any physical proof,” Trixie admitted. “He… he was very thorough.”

“So even their lack of evidence is evidence of my involvement?” Svengallop laughed so hard he almost spilled his drink. “Do you even hear yourselves?”

“That’s not quite true,” Gateway said quietly. His rumble cut through the room as he lifted a small ring from the pocket of his security jacket.

Mosely Orange gasped. “That can’t be what I—”

“It is,” Gateway said. “It’s an amp. I’m guessing I don’t need to tell you what this does?”

A shudder went through almost every unicorn in the room.

“This was found on Miss Lulamoon when she was apprehended by Miss Shimmer, Miss Pommel and Miss Cheerilee,” Gateway said. “If she had this… why bother trying to steal from a nightclub during its busiest time in the middle of a massive event?”

“Who knows what a pony desperate for a taste of real magic might do?” Svengallop shrugged.

Gateway raised an eyebrow at the stallion. “I can think of at least ten different ways to make five times the same amount of bits with an amp. Simply selling it would net a substantial sum. In fact, there are any number of legal or safe magical enhancers that could be purchased for far less than the cost of an amp.”

Gateway lifted his sunglasses, revealing his icy blue eyes that were surprisingly gentle as he looked at Trixie.

“Svengallop gave it to me for tonight,” Trixie whimpered. “He told me that if I didn’t ruin the entire show, he’d hand over the file he had on me to the police tomorrow morning.”

“Oh, shut up, you little foal. Do you know who I am? You don't matter. You don't deserve to be within twenty miles of me,” Svengallop growled. “Be silent before I have Stablemaker haul you off for slander.”

Something about those words seemed to shake up the crowd a little. A few ponies in the back murmured.

That’s when Sunset finally got it. She took a look at Trixie’s tears and Svengallop’s smug look of complete confidence. She’d seen that look before. She’d seen it a lot.

“He’s almost as good as you are…”

“Why are you being so cruel to her, Svengallop?” Sunset asked as she stepped off the stage and approached the stallion. “The last time I heard a pony sound so demeaning it was me, talking to a young freshman at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. I remember that feeling. The feeling of absolute power and complete control. It’s a heady sensation, isn’t it?”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening,” Svengallop said as he blinked at Sunset. “What was that?”

“You’re abusing her in front of the most powerful ponies in Manehattan.” Sunset stopped only a foot away from the stallion. “That must give you such a rush, especially to see somepony you’ve manipulated for so long crash and burn.”

“I told you, I’ve never actually spoken with this… individual. And if I’m talking down to her, it’s because she needs to be reminded what she really is.”

Sunset glared at him. “And what’s that?”

“A silly little filly who doesn’t even deserve to serve drinks in our company,” Svengallop answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“‘Our’ company.’” Sunset worked the phrase around her mouth like a lemon drop. “Interesting choice of words. You seem pretty eager to classify us as either the kind of pony everypony should know… or the kind of pony nopony should know.”

"This from the famous Sunset Shimmer?" Svengallop glared at her over his glasses. “I’ll have you know you can’t hold a candle to your mother, let alone your father. You aren’t ready for this kind of dance, Shimmer. Not yet. And don’t forget: I know who you really are.”

“That makes two of us,” Sunset shot back, ignoring the jab about her parents. “I know who you really are, too. The difference is, I’m owning up to it.”

Sunset turned away from him and looked at the assembled ponies.

“Everypony knows that in this city, reputation is everything. Every one of you have amassed your wealth by knowing how to work the system. Tell me, how much of that system is image?”

A few ponies nodded in agreement.

“And what’s the best way to ruin somepony’s image?” Sunset demanded. “Destroy their credibility.”

“Not this again. Haven’t you—” Svengallop drew himself up.

Sunset didn’t stop. “Svengallop is trying to blacken Trixie’s name so you ignore what she has to say. Well, maybe you should stop and look at the ponies who are telling you to listen to her!”

Sunset spun on a hoof and pointed at Gateway. “Security Chief Gateway is the former Lead Detective for the Canterlot First Precinct! He served there for ten years. He has the experience of an entire Royal Guard investigation squad put together!”

Sunset pointed at Cheerilee. “Miss Cheerilee is a former teacher for Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, a special advisor to the Board of Education of Equestria and now is solely responsible for the education of the youth of the entire town of Ponyville!”

She moved on to Minuette. “Miss Minuette is known as the best clockmaker in all of Equestria! I can see several of you wearing her designs right now."

Minuette bounced a little.

Sunset nodded at Moon Dancer. “Miss Moon Dancer is one of the most brilliant ponies to ever come out of GU and the best librarian in all of the Canterlot. Not to mention she’s a personal friend of Princess Celestia.”

She stabbed a hoof at Spotlight, Coco and Rara. “Miss Spotlight has been in this business for forty years, managing stars even bigger than Coloratura—no offense. And let’s not forget Miss Coloratura and Miss Coco Pommel. Both of whom put everything on the line to create a charity event for the schoolponies of Manehattan!”

Sunset whirled and stared the crowd down. “You want reputation? You want image? It’s standing right in front of you! There’s only one pony in this room who’s telling you to ignore that experience. Instead of just blindly believing everything he tells you… what do your instincts say?”

Dead silence.

Sunset swallowed and headed back up to the stage. She didn’t glance behind her, but instead smiled at Trixie, who was just staring at her with an open mouth.

Well, this is either going to be really good or really bad.

Finally, Sunset turned around. The Manehattan elite were no longer staring at Trixie.

They were staring at Svengallop.

“Well said.” Svengallop grinned. “Too bad we already know you’re the most manipulative pony in this room.”

“I used to be,” Sunset replied. “I’m better now.”

The tense silence continued to stretch until it felt like the very air would shatter. Finally, Svengallop took a step backward from his ‘colleagues.’

Gotcha!

“You know,” Rock Dee Fell said as he studied the stallion. “I would actually like to see some reports of the working conditions. Now that I think of it, I’ve never seen anything concrete.”

"I would be happy to,” Svengallop replied. “Of course, any personal information about my sources would have to be removed first. And by then, you must realize that Spotlight would have already covered up anything we could use against her."

“Really?” Evergreen Cartwhinny said. “Considering how incompetent you claim she is, I’m surprised to hear you think she’d be that thorough at covering her own tracks.”

Trixie sat down with a thump, as if her legs could no longer support her. They probably couldn’t.

Svengallop met her eyes once before returning his attention to Evergreen Cartwhinny. “Spotlight is just as good as spinning lies as anypony. And all of us know how fluid ‘the truth’ is in this town.”

“Really, Svengallop?” Rara asked sweetly. “And here I thought tonight was about the truth.”

Svengallop fired her a dirty look.

That was the crack that broke the dam. In moments, the media descended upon him, shouting questions, demanding to hear direct reports about his ‘informants’ and asking what sort of connection he had with Spotlight or Coloratura. It took less than a minute for his former colleagues to abandon him to the media, but Chief Stablemaker didn’t let that go on for much longer. A single blast from his whistle silenced the room. Everypony took a few steps back from Svengallop, who just looked furious.

“Have anything to say for yourself, Svengallop?” Stablemaker said with a raised eyebrow.

“Me? No. Not one word about how easily you all have been played by a few fillies with eyes on your wallets. Or how stupid you’ve been to let yourselves get so turned around, you think I’m somehow the villain.” Svengallop shrugged. “But my lawyer will have plenty to say on the matter.”

“I’m sure he will,” Stablemaker growled. “Let’s go.”

Sunset was vaguely disappointed Stablemaker didn’t cuff the stallion, but as Stablemaker escorted him out among a sea of press, she realized that it really didn’t matter in the end.

With a sigh of relief, Sunset joined Trixie on the floor and excited murmurs broke out among the remaining businessponies.

“Thank you,” Trixie whispered. “I… I thought I was a goner.”

“All I did was make them realize they were being played,” Sunset said. “Without you, none of this would have worked.”

“She’s right,” Rara said beside Trixie. “If you hadn’t stood up and told the truth… we could have never gotten him.”

Officer Hops came back into the room. She cocked an eyebrow at Sunset before nodding to Trixie.

“Miss Lulamoon? Chief Stablemaker asked me to bring you down to the station to get an official statement.”

Gateway approached. “Officer, would you mind if she gave an initial statement here? I’ll escort her personally to the station after tonight’s event?”

Hops sighed and gave Sunset a sidelong glance.

“Depends. Is she going to get involved?”

“No,” Gateway said emphatically. “Her involvement in this is done.”

Sunset nodded equally as emphatically.

“The Chief said one of you’d ask for something like that. Fine. But we do need at least a preliminary statement.”

“Gateway, dear?” Spotlight asked. “Perhaps you and I could accompany Miss Lulamoon and help her?”

Trixie’s eyes went wide. “You’d do that for me?”

“After finally getting that turkey?” Spotlight laughed as she slapped her hoof against the armrest of her wheelchair. “Oh, my dear, I’m halfway tempted to march up to the Mayor of Manehattan and demand a ticker tape parade in your honor. Svengallop has had this coming for years.”

Hops rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine. Let’s go, you three.”

Spotlight put a hoof on Rara’s. “Don’t worry, dear. I’ll make sure she’s there for the song.”

Rara beamed at her for a second before enveloping her manager in a hug. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Spotlight.”

Spotlight’s eyes drifted toward the still-open doors. “I do. That’s why I’m still here.”

After they had left, Rara settled down beside Sunset on the stage and gave her a tired little smile. Then, Evergreen Cartwhinny, Filly Harp, Rock Dee Fell, and Mosely Orange hesitantly approached them. Sunset couldn’t help but notice that everypony in the room had gone suspiciously quiet.

Rock Dee Fell coughed awkwardly and adjusted his cravat.

“Miss Coloratura,” he said. “I… that is to say… we… We believe we owe you an apology. When one works in this city for so long, it’s easy to believe that everypony only looks out for themselves. We rarely see such traits as those you displayed here tonight. They were… unfamiliar to us and we allowed Svengallop to twist our perceptions.”

“You’re not the only ones he twisted,” Sunset muttered darkly, thinking of Trixie’s expression every time Svengallop had said something to her.

“Indeed.” He fiddled with his cravat again. “I personally had seen such things before in other ponies because of other business practices. I daresay that this was a good reminder for all of us on just how dangerous that line of thought can be.”

“You owe Miss Lulamoon an apology more than me,” Rara pointed out, though she didn’t do it unkindly.

“And we intend to settle accounts with the young Miss Lulamoon,” he replied. “After all, it’s only good business.”

“Does that mean you won’t be backing out of tonight’s event?” Coco asked. Sunset was amazed at just how demure and cute she could sound at the same time.

No! Bad Sunset! Stop that!

She chuckled, wishing she knew which voice had said that.

“Absolutely not!” Filly Harp said. “If anything, we intend to increase our donations to your cause. Maybe then, we can save a little face ourselves.”

Sunset still had her ears down when Filly Harp sauntered away.

“She does have one of those voices,” Rara murmured as Moon Dancer, Minuette, Cheerilee and Coco Pommel sat down around them.

“Don’t you still have a show to put on?” Minuette said.

“Is that even possible?” Sunset asked. “This took a lot longer than expected.”

Rara shrugged. “The show must go on.”

Coco nudged her and smiled.

“Anyway,” Rara continued with a little smirk. “There’s one very special song I had been thinking of doing tonight. Originally, it was going to be a thank you for you, Sunset.”

Sunset blushed. “Me? What… what is it?”

Rara’s smile only deepened. “Well, I hope you don’t mind… but I think I’ll dedicate it to somepony else.”

Her eyes drifted to the door.

Sunset beamed at her. “That sounds great.”

Minuette began vibrating. Again. “So, what’s the song?”

Rara’s smile grew and her eyes twinkled.

Author's Notes:

Fun fact: When I was writing this, Svengallop actually almost escaped me. When Sunset makes the comment about Svengallop about to get away with it, that's actually me panicking going "Oh crap, what the heck do I do? I wrote him too smooth!"

Thankfully, Sunny's smarter than I am. Take that you smug poofy-haired jerk!

Two chapters remain! Warning: you may cry during the next one. I always do.

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If you come across any errors, please let me know by PM!