Chapter 3
Metal Riffs was hearing, he wasn't really sure what he was hearing. His ears said that a Commissioner, a man sworn to protect Equestria, had just asked him to stand as a witness against a noble family. The Nobles were always considered to have immunity in every sense of the law. Apparently he was wrong.
"I know it's a lot ta ask, but I need ya. The Lions have been gettin' too strong but we don't have a bloody shred of evidence!" Insisted the officer. "They seem to know how ta hide evidence leadin' ta them."
"I thought nobles were immune to everything!" Answered Metal.
"They are. Bastards have been smart enough not ta leave a trace, but the Princess is fed up. She knows they're bad apples but cannie get the bloody evidence. Tha's why ah need ya. With two witnesses we can start a formal investigation and maybe we can take 'em down fer good."
"Maybe? You lack the confidence to guarantee that you will succeed?"
Iron's right hand met his face with a loud smack. "Have ya got any idea how this shit works lad?"
"Not..."
"Of course ye bloody can't! Yer from Pamperlot!" Raged on Fist. "Ya all think its like yer novels where the hero cries wolf an' everyone believes 'im. But it's just bloody back room politics! Ye can't expect justice ta be swift when the nobles have their grip tighter than a noose around a criminal's neck."
"But can't you speed it up a little? You Commissioner should have some sort of connections!"
"We do, 'xcept they're useless against nobles 'cause they got bloody special protection. Ah need sumthin' more than superstition at take'em down. An' that means I need youer help. "
"I need to talk to Tavi about this. I would be more than happy, but I can't make decisions for her."
"Ah can understand that, maybe we should talk 'bout somthin' other than sadness." Said the commissioner with a smack of his lips. "Is it yer first time to the Big Apple?"
The bartender came with a pitcher and refilled both of their glasses.
"It's actually my second time. I helped Sapphire Shores in one of her early tours and landed there. But aside from the stadium I only went to Tapper's Bar with Black Heart. I really didn't have much time to do anything else." Answered the roadie with a sigh.
"What's yer job?"
"I'm a roadie, loud and proud." he said in an elated voice.
The commissioner just looked at him with confused eyes.
"That means I usually work with a musician. I make sure all their instruments are fine tuned and in prefect condition. I'm sometimes in charge of the scenery, that's in case the music is on tour."
"An' where did ya learn all this?" Asked the redhead intrigued.
"I've lived most of my life on the road with my dad, cuz my mom died at childbirth. It was somewhat hard, but my dad taught me everything. Every time we would go on tour he would teach me how to fix any instrument, from cellos to guitars and even synthesizers. I remember we worked first with Flank Sonata, after he stopped touring my dad joined Megapony." Metal sighed for a moment.
"Ya lived with Megapony?" Asked Iron with curiosity.
"Yeah, those were seven awesome years. After they retired my dad was hired by no other duo than Stupid Rocks." The roadie said with pride.
"Really? Ye actually worked with S.R? Did ya help in their Pony After All tour?"
"Hell yeah I did! I actually suggested they use that big booth." Metal went for his black leather wallet. "I even keep a picture of them." Pulled out a photo depicting two men in weird masks side to side with a child in a black shirt and a mullet. The picture was signed: to our genius Roadie, thanks for the booth. Stupid Rocks.
"Well Celestia damn it. Whoda thunk it?" Iron looked amazed. "An' what possessed ya t'live in Pamperlot?"
"My dad died a couple of months ago, so I thought I would try to settle down. I got a contract in a bar in the high end part of town and had the chance to meet Octavia. She was the head cellist in the Grand Galloping Gala so I had some interest. That and the fact that my dad worked with Bass Strings, Composer of a Thousand Medleys. So when I found out she had this unique amulet she would wear for certain shows I knew I had to stick with her."
"So ya joined the lass fer yer old man's sake?"
"Maybe, I just thought I should start like my old man. Even if I did a tour with Sapphire, I still want to start off like him. The guy was just awesome, and I want to be better than him."
"Take it from someone with experience, yer day's path ain't yers. Ah suggest ye try sumthin' else."
"I know, I know. A lot of people have been saying that, but I think I can't think of anything else to do with my life."
"Ye could try becomin' a Commissioner. We're always needin' good men an' women. If ye cannie get in, ye can become an Auxiliary. They're the ones that help us whenever we need a helpin' hand." Finished the redhead with a drink. Metal had been keeping track, and if he knew correctly this man had had eight pints of beer during the half an hour they had been talking. He hadn't even considered the amount this man had drunk before he arrived.
"So is being a Commissioner a full time job?"
"Most would think so, but it really is more of a title. Ye get an assignment an' ya do it. It's more akin ta freelance."
"So this Commissioner thing is like a title? Like being a duke and because of that you have to help with the taxes?"
"Ye can say that lad, but unlike those royal pains we work our arses off."
"So what's your real job? Or do you just sit around until the next issue comes up?"
"A do have a bloody job! A'm the head of the Spider Cops, finest group of police you'll ever see."
"Better than the Canterlot Royal Guard?"
"M'boy, those eejits cannie catch a criminal if he's faster than a snail. We're real police, catchin' bad guys even if it's the devil himself."
"So yeah, way better than the guard." Metal soon realized that he had spent at least eight hours away from Octavia, who was sleeping below a complete stranger. If she were to wake up and find out about Vinyl...
He decided to not talk about it. "Iron, if you want to meet Octavia I think now would be a good time. "
"An why's that?"
"Cuz I just left a cellist sleeping next to what I think is a D.J. she had never met. I'll need backup in case shit goes to hell"
Iron placed his gloved hand over the shoulder of his acquaintance. "Then a'll be glad ta help."