Cheerilee's Garden. [Grimdark]

Part 6

(Well that isn't art work it's an actual book you can buy off of amazon. It can be yours for a total of $0.20 No joke here's the link:http://www.amazon.com/Cheerilees-Flower-Garden-Little-Pony/dp/B002RMDU38)

Cheerilee settled into the Prompt's Corner for the third time that night. Her stomach rumbled and her throat was dry. In hindsight, she should probably have put some popcorn and water there, but it was far too late for that. With a sigh she turned her attention to the stage and just let her mind wander to the rhythm of the story for a while.

"NO! My decision is final, you will have to go," the King screamed at Sir Altruis, who returned his indignant glances with worried looks.

"But my King, the royal guard, they..."

"Are needed to defend the capital. With tensions rising in the east, we have no ponies to spare. You know this, Altruis. I trust in your capabilities. You will not fail me, like the others have, for if you do... I'll have to accept this cretin's challenge myself," the King sighed, the weight of the situation suddenly pressing heavily upon his shoulders.

Altruis, seeing his king's troubles etched on his face, fell silent and simply nodded. Without a further word the knight turned around and walked away, leaving the confines of the royal court to head down to Reginald's part of the stage. The two fillies played their part so well; it was easy to forget they were playing at all, even for Cheer. Apple Bloom had shown an almost single minded dedication to the script, and knowing it as thoroughly as she did obviously allowed her to concentrate on other aspects of acting, the words came on their own.

Sweetie Belle had been a bit less diligent, but she possessed a way with words and vocalisation that made her a natural actor, although Cheerilee ventured a guess that singing was probably more her style. It was somewhat ironic that they'd both find their end doing something they were at least moderately competent at, while they were otherwise pretty much a waste of space, but Cheerilee was careful not to equate a single useful skill to being a worthwhile individual.

The play had fallen into a familiar pattern by that point, Sir Altruis being the third attempt to finally put a stop to Reginald the Sly. Sweetie Belle, like the other three before her, started to make her way to the other side of the stage, although she clearly wasn't aiming to get to the mountain Scootaloo had disappeared into, or the house the other two fillies had found. Instead she resolutely headed for a forest at the far end of the stage; that is to say, to the few cardboard trees that together gave the impression of a forest.

She quickly reached her destination, and as the lights above that part of the stage were turned on it became clear that somepony was already waiting for Sir Altruis there. The audience wasn't very surprised when it became clear it was Reginald once again, but the bear trap around one of his back legs--which he couldn't seem to get out of--was certainly an unforeseen twist.

The knight approached carefully, but Reginald inevitably picked up on his hoofsteps before too long, and craned his neck to look around.

"Well, well... seems at least one of us is in luck today. The great knight arriving during the villain's finest hour... You must be thrilled," he said bitterly, wincing slightly.

Altruis said nothing for a few moments. "Are you hurt?" he finally asked.

The villainous pony laughed and shook his head, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh no! This thing is very comfortable, in fact."

"I'll get you out" the knight responded as he stepped forward, "but if you make one strange move..."

He never got to finish his sentence as suddenly something caught around his hindlegs and the world flipped upside down. Before the knight realised what was happening, he was hanging down from the ceiling by his hooves. To the audience, however, it appeared as if he was hanging from one of the cardboard trees.

"Hey! Let me down!"

Reginald cackled maniacally as he opened the clamp around his leg, revealing it to be an impressive fake, but nothing more than that.

He casually strolled over to the captured knight and mockingly gave him a little push, making Sweetie Belle swing around slightly. "Ah, dear Sir Altruis, is it not? Not one for skulking about, are we? You'd have to be quite good not to be spotted by me, anyway... And that legendary kindness, who knew it'd get you in the position you are in now?" he laughed again, giving the knight another push to keep him swinging.

"If you know what's good for you, Reginald, you'll come with me. The king is fed up, and whatever his next move may be, you'll probably not like it if you stick around here," Altruis replied, holding on to as much dignity as he could while upside down and swinging around.

"I've heard the same tale spun twice before, good stallion. I'm quite sick of it by now, so if you don't mind... This'll be goodbye. Say hello to the beasts of the underworld for me," the Sly sneered as he pulled one of the omnipresent hidden levers, one that had been concealed behind the tree. The floor opened and the rope was released all at once, sending the filly screaming down an now open hatch in the floor, as the lights faded and Reginald disappeared off scene...

Sweetie Belle saw floor approach rapidly, and panic coiled around her like a snake. Weren't there supposed to be a few mattresses he- With a thud she hit the ground, and as she lay there motionlessly she didn't have to think about anything for a while.

( Sorry everyone that this was such a short chapter I guess you will have to wait until next time. Vote or put this story in you library for the next update. Please comment on what you want to see next. Till next time, Steal Streak out!)