5

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In the city or St. Louis, in one of the upscale hotels where the members of the Maitre Carrefour Cult would gather. The god of the cult is the loa, Maitre Carrefour master and guardian of the crossroads, which the members honor through criminal activity. The cult is headed by Serafine and her brother Nicodeme "Nico" Savoy from the bayou, she's the brains and he's the brawn. (1)

"Nice operation you have here," Sunset said as she looks over the voodoo object the two have collected, fetish, idols, blood, candles and more of the stuff she has seen shops sell.

Standing in the room unable to move are the siblings, both of them had thought that Ms. Shimmer hears about their cult and wanted to join. They have heard how she's into all kinds of the occult and collects magic object. What they didn't expect was that she's the real deal, she did something to them and they suddenly are unable to move. 

"I learn all kinds of magic on my world tour, picked up from here and there. I've got voodoo, I've got hoodoo, I've got things I ain't even tried. I'm not stuck on any one tradition, I work with anything and anyone that can get me what I want," Sunset said.

The lights in the room were turn off and turn on again with both brother and sister are now sitting on chairs and Sunset stood in front of them. Both suddenly found themselves able to move again, having been released from whatever was holding them. Both of them wondering if she really does have magic. 

"Now the reason why I came, I'm looking to add more to my collection. Seeing how you two would have some connections to the occult and I need people to spread the word around that I'm looking for the strange and the occult," Sunset said.

Both of them look at each other and nod their heads, Nico leans forward and says, "Yeah we do, we know a few. We'll tell them."

Sunset nods her head and walks out of the hotel room.

"What was that?" Serafine asked letting out a breath she's been holding.

Nico shrugs his shoulders, "She's here to collect some weird shit, and she'll pay a pretty bundle for it."

Serafine shakes her head and smiles, "Heard she has some deep pockets."

"Yeah, she's good for it," Nico said.

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Outside -

Walking out of hotel, Sunset waited for her ride to pick her up, a cab came having spotted her and offered her a ride. She shakes her head as the car with Katt dress as chauffeur and Sienna Khan in the back both of whom been waiting for their boss in a parking space, drove up to pick her up. Sienna open the door for Sunset and she got in and the car drove away. 

"Katt head to city hall, I have business to deal with there," Sunset said.

"Right boss," Katt said.

"I thought all the issues were taken care of," Sienna said.

"The mayor is throwing a party and inviting all the big wigs and players in the city. He wants me to do my magic act at the event and wants to make all the arrangements for what I need to put on a show," Sunset said.

"You are well known for your magic acts," Sienna said.

"Everyone is going to be performing on stage with me. With this show, people will just wave off any sights of magic with any of us as just being the stage magic we know and like to show off," Sunset said.

"Too bad the Dazzlings aren't here, they be great for the show," Katt said. 

"They're taking care of business in Europe with the others. They do have to handle lots of things over there," Sunset said.

"They do pretend to be their own granddaughters so that people don't realize that they're not aging," Sienna said.

"I wouldn't be surprise that they're not the only ones who are long live," Sunset said. 

"Wait, I thought that they're immortal?" Katt said. 

"They're sirens a subspecies of dragon, very long lived but aren't wholly immune to time. They're like my mom as in being immortal but it doesn't stop them from being killed. Being immortal doesn't mean unkillable, being immortal just means you won't die from old age. Not to mention if being immortal did mean unkillable, all you have to do is cut off their head and they just be an immortal head," Sunset said. (2)

"Ewwww," Katt grimed at the thought of just being a head. 

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On the street -

The car pass by a police car with a tall black cat by the name of John Blacksad, a hardboiled and successful private detective. He was working in New York but was called to comeback to St. Louis his old hometown before he left for New York. He spotted the mysterious Sunset Shimmer who has made a name for herself in high society and as a entertainer with her magic acts that amazed all who seen them. Rumor has it that she's from a blue blood aristocrat family, with ties to one of the royal families. And the reason why he's here in the city. (3)

"I think that was Shimmer," Blacksad said to the man sitting next to him in the back of the car while another cop is driving. 

"Must be heading to see the mayor," Ulysses Feral the police commissioner of the city. 

"You really think that Shimmer has a smuggling ring?" Blacksad ask.

"I'm sure of it, but my hands are tied. She has too many friends in high places both here and in other countries. Ever heard of the wine, Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru?" Feral ask.

"Fancy wine?" Blacksad guessed. 

"Yes and cost $40,000 for one bottle. There's rumor that one of the speakeasies has some bottles of that wine. Shimmer has moved into the city around the same time and was in Europe where the wine is made, which is France," Feral said.

"What?" Blacksad ask hearing at the price of the wine, which is more than what he makes in a year. "A bottle of wine cost as much as a house or a car?" 

"Which is why I called you to look into her and her pride. You did a good job with the Thomas Case before you left for New York. My hands are tied and can't do anything without proof of criminal actively. The only alcohol that was found in what she's ship in, are what's being used in the specimen jars," Feral said. 

"If it was only that, you would have been calling in the feds," Blacksad said eyeing Feral. 

"Drop it," Feral responded.

"Some parties of interest want to learn more about Ms. Shimmer. Very little is known about her but with her helping the Russian royal family escape to Australia, many parties of interest want to learn more about her. I'm not the only one spying on her to learn more about her," Blacksad said. 

"My hands are tied," Feral stated. 

"She is also the head of a pride of lovely ladies," Blacksad said. "I wonder how many are interested in being king of that pride."

"Hummf," Feral grunted. "Being the king of that pride is all but impossible. Going by the old laws the would be king will have to either get all the females of a pride to either submit or fall for him."

"I'm sure my investigation will turn up something," Blacksad said. 

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The Manor -

The phonograph is playing music as Catra, Blackfire, Starfire, Leone, and Cleo look over the latest shipment of occult items in cargo crates. They're looking them over as they see if any of the stuff is of any use and not just fakes. There are so many amulets and talismans, from times where fear and superstition pushes people to obtain or make lucky charms. Unscrupulous artisans make money by selling rings and necklaces made of any material at high prices. These improbable trinkets, surrounded by superstition, are supposed to protect people from evil. 

"Pretty but another bundle of overpriced necklaces and rings," Blackfire said and glances at Starfire who is wearing some of the fakes and looking into a mirror. 

"Same for the rosary and other holy items," Catra said with her pile. "But then again holy items can only be made by someone who is actually holy and not just think they are hollier than everyone else."

"I hadn't really thought about it before till, Sunset pointed it out. The whole Christian rule against practice of idol worship. Which, I said we didn't do that. Sunset just pointed to the large sculpture of Jesus upon the cross, and asked me how could that not be idol worship when the faith wasn't created till long after he was dead and that he is a Jew, not a Christian. And that he wouldn't look European, he would be middle eastern man. And that the Bible was written long after he died and while she can understand of it being a guideline to how to live, few people actually live up to it and just follow till it goes against them, and thinking that no matter what as long as they confess, they go to Heaven, no matter what they do. Telling me that I just believe in the faith, not the man," Cleo said. 

"Well she is the daughter of a goddess like queen who is powerful enough to move the sun and the moon of her world. She would know all about how the stories that people make up about her mom are made up," Leone said looking over the khukuri knives that were also in the cargo crates. (4)

"Once the portal opens and everything is settle, I can use the time spell to see for myself," Cleo said. (5)

"Just remember we still have lots to do before you can do that," Blackfire said. 

"Hey looks," Starfire said holding a large jewelry box, filled with coins. 

"Old German coins, the mark really underwent rapid devaluation during the war to help the German Empire provide for the war effort," Blackfire said. "Worthless now, but might be for coin collectors in the future." 

"We haven't gotten anything of worth, since that burlap sack that never runs out of turnips," Catra said. 

"At least we will never starve with that," Leone said. 

"Yeah... we won't starve with a bag that never runs out of turnips," Catra grumbles. 

"What? If you don't want turnips then you cook," Leone said who likes to cook for the pride. 

"Sure," Catra said. "I can make... what is there?" 

"Ham night?" Starfire ask.

"Well, I guess if we have enough ham," Catra said. 

"Look in the freezer," Starfire said. 

"Or you can go to Max Butcher. We do own it after all, we can just subtract the cost of the ham from the rent," Blackfire said.

"Shouldn't that be Max's Butcher?" Cleo ask. 

"Who cares?" Blackfire said. "I just want meat." 

"How about fish?" Leone ask. 

"We had grilled fish last night," Starfire pointed out. 

"I see what's in the freezer first," Catra said. 

"Hey this is real," Cleo said holding up a belt. "It's just out of magic."

"I can't believe that magic items need to be refueled," Leone said. 

"Sunset did say that in her world magic items don't need to be recharged," Starfire said. (6)

"It's because the laylines that provide magic to this world have been dormant since magic is all but a lost art," Blackfire said. 

"What does it do?" Catra ask looking at the belt. 

"Checking," Cleo said casting a skill check spell on the belt. "It's a belt of strength." 

"Mine!" Leone said grabbing the belt and putting it on. Then looked confused as nothing happens. "Hey, I don't feel any stronger."

"That's because you have to charge it up first," Cleo said. "Come on we need to look over everything. If there's one real one, there might be more."

"Right," the others said as they went back to work looking over the items in the crates.

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Author's Notes -

1 - Carrefour, Maitre – Master of the Crossroads Maitre Carrefour, master and guardian of the crossroads, may be the alter ego of Eshu Elegbara, his mirror image, shadow side, or nocturnal counterpart. Eshu Elegbara (Leg ba; Elegba) is a solar spirit. Maitre Carrefour emerges with the moon. Papa Legba is a trickster: Maitre Carrefour is a trickster taken to exponential extremes. Crossroads are places of decisions; the road chosen (or not) can impact one's entire life. Be careful: crossroads spirits are invoked to point you to the right road or direction. If Maitre Carrefour is feeling tricky, he may point you in the wrong direction or make you lose your way. Crossroads are favourite haunts of witches, spirits, and ghosts: those magical crossroads are under Maitre Carrefour's jurisdiction. Maitre Carrefour walks the crossroads at night, in the company of malevolent spirits. He is their master and gatekeeper. Maitre Carrefour controls comings and goings of ghosts and malevolent spirits. Carrefour unleashes the secret spirits of the night: he may be petitioned to keep them far from you. He is, however, usually a spirit of last resort. Don't invoke him until other avenues and attempts have failed. He is a great, powerful, and potentially dangerous spirit: never summon him for trifles. Don't get too comfortable or familiar with him. He is the master. It is not necessarily to your benefit to attract his attention without very good reason. If you feel you need him, it may be advisable to request the services of a reputable Vodou priest or priestess (houngan; mambo) to intercede for you. Maitre Carrefour is an aggressive, effective spirit. He works quickly, and so devotees love him. There are no Demons that he cannot command. However, he also punishes quickly: he's not a good-natured, patient spirit. Never promise him what you're not absolutely certain you can deliver immediately. Maitre Carrefour is not a spirit for beginners. He doesn't care whether you're just learning. Pleas for mercy may have little effect. He has a cold nature; hence he can behave cruelly although he does possess a sense of justice. He is not an evil spirit per se but a hardened, tough one. He didn't get to be master of evil spirits by being nice. He is a brilliant, quick-thinking, tricky spirit: don't even think of outwitting him. Maitre Carrefour is petitioned to keep malignant spirits, ghosts, and people far from you. He can break hexes, curses, and spells. If sorcerers have set ghosts or spirits after you, Maitre Carrefour can redirect them and prevent them from drawing near. Maitre Carrefour owns the night: there's little he can't do.

2 - This doesn't happen alot to someone who can't die, cutting off their head and unless the head is put back on, they just be a never dying head. Like the bad guy in Regular Show The Movie, he has something that just brings him back to life when he's killed and he ends up having his head cut off and him flying off into a void where he dies and comes back to life as a head.

3 - Blacksad comic.

4 - Sunset being from another world would see all the plot holes in the story in the Bible. And seeing how she grew up both in cannon and in this story under a god like being who moves the heavens at will, she would have dealt with ponies who never met Celestia and think they know all about her from the stories told about her. And believe in stuff that has no truth at all to it.

5 - Seeing how in cannon there is a spell that can take you into the past, I don't get why it's not used more. Besides how confusing it would get.

6 - Magic items on Earth because of the lack of magic being everywhere, have lost their power from not being used. So they just need a recharge for them to work again. Like a car battery that hasn't been used in a very long time.

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