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// Trouble in Paradise (Pt2|Ch10) 
// Story: My Little Argonian: Family is Sacred 
// by Warren Peace 
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Chapter Ten: Trouble in Paradise



Dawn was shading the evening skies above the city of Manehattan, long shadows spilling out of alleyways and chasing the city’s denizens to their homes. Up and down the cobblestone streets magical light posts poked holes in the dark blanket, offering scant shelter from the impending night.
“Think Moonbeam’s had enough time to get a feel for the place?” Rain broke the silence of our alleyway, almost invisible beside me.
I scowled at the glowing entrance of Hoity Toity’s club across the street, “Yes,” I said, “Though I hope we don’t need him in there. Hoity Toity’s already paid us half of what he owes and he knows we mean business, if he doesn’t pay up…” My eyes met Rain’s own golden pair in the darkness.
“We kill him,” her teeth flashed white in the darkness, a row of ivory blades catching the moonlight.
“We assassinate him,” I corrected her, seeing a scowl in her eyes, “Not then and there, we don’t want to make a scene and I’d rather not have to fight my way past any of his lackies.”
“So when, then?”
“In due time,” I turned back to the glowing face of the club, “And only if he refuses to pay for services rendered.”
“Fair enough,” was Rain’s response.
“Whatever the case may be, it’s time.” I ushered her from the darkness as we made our way over to the club.



0 . o . 0



The bouncer let us pass without contest this time, a good start. As we’d agreed, Moonbeam was sitting at the bar with his seat turned around and a drink in his magic. The fact he was present indicated he’d spotted nothing was awry and should he spot anything amiss he would leave this spot. His eyes met mine only briefly before he took a sip and resumed watching the strangely-dressed musicians on stage.
There were an excessive amount of dancers out on the main floor in front of the stage, multi-hued lights flaring over their multi-colored coats. Encircling this area was a series of tables and booths, half of which were occupied.
One particular table held my attention when I got a surprised look from a pegasus with slitted eyes and bat wings. He quickly looked away, going back to chatting with a fellow bat-pegasus and a normal-looking one.
And just when you thought you were the most exotic creature in the room... my mind commented.
Before I had time to think any further there was a soft tap on my backside and I whirled about, hands to my knives. The move was unwarranted.
A mare, the same one that had taken us to Hoity Toity the first time we’d been here, stood startled behind me. Her voice was lost in the music, but her gesture to one of the booths along the far wall was word enough. I gave her a quick nod and gestured for Rain to follow.



0 . o . 0



“Ha, ha!” Hoity Toity exclaimed, “You’ve done it! You actually did it!” Then, as if remembering where he was he double-checked the forcefield between our booth and the club’s main floor. With a quick tug at his suit he resumed a more businesslike demeanor, “Well done, a fault with the bridge and no more Spruced Up. Here you are...” he reached beneath the table with his maw and produced another bag of bits, sliding them across.
“Thank you,” I said, passing the bag off to Rain, “as to the bonus, converting our dragon’s hoard into sep...into bits, how can we expect to proceed?”
“Well, I’ll need to send someone out to see exactly what you have in the way of stock,” Hoity said, thinking for a moment, “Once we have a good estimate of what it is, I should be able to get my ponies to start transferring it out.”
“See, the problem with that is that we can’t have ponies knowing the exact whereabouts of our stuff,” Rain spoke up, “Privileged information and all that.”
“I...see,” Hoity said, looking between the two of us for a moment, “...and how do you propose..?”
“We’ll give you a location to send your pony,” Rain answered, leaning forwards with hooves pressed together lightly, “we blindfold them, take them to our stock, get their evaluation, blindfold again and send them on their merry way back to you,” Rain relaxed back into her seat, “From there, we’ll send you chunks of stock to a neutral area and you come with bits.”
“That seems needlessly difficult…”
“We can’t have anyone knowing where we sleep,” I spoke up, actually liking Rain’s plan, Maybe she can be trusted to speak her mind at meetings and not go over my head…
“I suppose…” Hoity considered, looking down as he thought, “I...well, I did agree to this and you fulfilled your end of the bargain with flying colors,” he looked back up, “Very well. I won’t be able to get anyone for the next few days, how will I..?”
“We’ll know when you’re ready,” I answered, standing from the table, “We’ll be in touch, Hoity Toity.”
“I...uh, certainly,” Hoity gave me a weak smile.
The warbling, throbbing music returned as the forcefield dissipated, the two of us leaving and making our way back towards the entrance. I felt a ghost of a smile cross my face, another assassination completed, another soul sent to the void with no one the wiser. Perhaps fulfilling Sithis’ wishes wouldn’t be so difficult after all!
Rain tugged at my leg, drawing my attention to a pair of startled eyes.
“What?” My voice was lost in the music. Rain jerked her head towards the bar.
Moonbeam was gone.
“Blend into the crowd!” I yelled, kneeling down so Rain would hear me, “Act natural! If you see an opening get out of here!”
Rain nodded, giving her mane a quick flick and trotting briskly into the sea of contorting ponies on the dance floor. Standing, I gave the room a casual once-over, seeing nothing out of the ordinary.
That quivering thief better not have decided to run off to take a piss somewhere, I mentally growled, eyes scanning the crowd for any signs of a disturbance. No one was looking shifty, most eyes focused on the stage. If this was a false alarm…
The two bat-winged ponies and their pegasus friend were gone.
That look was more than just curiosity or startledness, my mind spoke up, they were waiting for you.
Bounty hunters? Counter assassins? What in oblivion is going on here? My eyes fell on Hoity Toity’s booth. He was sitting casually, ordering a drink from a passing server, Did he sell us out?
After already paying up? Doesn’t make sense.
Then what!? I growled.
My mind remained, for once, silent.
I wouldn’t be able to blend into the crowd, and if someone was watching me then sneaking would be near impossible. Walking towards the exit was one possibility, but they would be expecting that...so try the unexpected.
Rather than make for the exit I made for the bar, claiming a stool that was clearly visible and well lit. The other ponies gave me looks ranging from frazzled to stupefied, but kept to their drinks. A startled barkeep made her way over to me.
“Uhh…” I said, peering at the unknown words on the wall behind her, “Yearling,” I finally ordered, remembering Rain’s choice of drink.
The barkeep nodded, moving away as I turned my back to the bar and surveyed the room with a lazy look...still no sign of trouble, Moonbeam, or the three winged ponies from the table...
“Whoa!” I jumped at the feminine voice from my side, turning quickly as the pegasus from the table took the stool next to me, “Not every day you see a dragon waltzing about in Equestria, what’s the special occasion!?”
Up close and in focus, I got a better look at the pony; silvery dappled coat, midnight mane with two-tone silver streak. Her demeanor seemed relaxed, but her eyes were flinty as they watched me carefully, like a wolf watches a bear.
“Your drink, um...sir,” the barkeep got both our attentions, depositing my drink next to me and turning to the pegasus, “Ma’am?”
“I’ll take one of what he’s got,” she gave me a lazy gesture, directing her attention back to me, “So what brings you around here, mister dragon?”
“I’m not…” I began with a growl before calming my tone, “It’s nothing that concerns you. What are you doing here?”
“Besides having a good time?” she smiled, waving a hoof out towards the crowd.
I watched the gesture, then the crowd. The move seemed casual enough, probably not a signal to some hidden foe. The barkeep brought the mare her drink, leaving us be.
“Besides that, yes,” I turned my eyes back to her.
“You’ve hardly touched your drink,” she countered, tossing her eyes at the dark liquid.
“Enough stalling, what do you want?” I grumbled, letting one of my hands fall to a pommel. 
The gesture wasn’t lost on her, eyes darting from my weapons back to my face.
“Fair enough. You and I have a mutual friend, one that would like to meet you in person, ask a few questions perhaps,” she dropped the friendly attitude, suddenly all business.
“Which friend would that be?” I asked, Can’t say I have all that many around here…
When did you ever? My mind snarked.
Be quiet! I grumbled back.
“One who wishes to remain anonymous,” she cast a glance to the crowd, “a sentiment I’m sure you of all…” she paused, looking me up and down before settling on a word, “creatures can understand. The walls have ears and all that.”
“Shall we get a booth, then?” I asked, gesturing to the numerous alcoves set in the walls, “They’ve got a fancy forcefield spell for conversations like these.” And they’re probably a convenient place to kill her and hide the body, if needed.
“I’m not the one with questions, I’m just the messenger,” she gave the booths a quick glance, perhaps guessing my alternative motive for taking the conversation out of the light, “I’m also the one instructed to bring you in...to meet with our mutual friend.”
Bit of guard lingo in there, my mind pointed out the slip of the tongue.
I noticed, I replied, “I’ve got a lot on my plate already, your message has been delivered and I’ll think over it,” I said, standing from my seat, the pegasus stood with me, “If you give me your name, I’ll have someone contact you when I’m ready.”
“It’s Silver Shrike, and if it’s all the same to you I was asked to deliver you as soon as equinely possible,” Silver countered, standing still between me and the door.
“Move,” I countered, grown tired of all the wordplay.
“No,” she rebutted, giving her wings a quick shake and lowering herself into a fighting stance.
That was the signal.
I wheeled about to face a sharp flutter of leather wings and a set of clattering horseshoes behind me. There were the two bat-pegasi from the table, one crimson and the other purple; coming in for the tackle from land and air.
Leaping to the side, I drew my knives and struck out with one to split the purple flier’s side open. Instead, my blade deflected off a sphere of energy that flared up around him. Bewildered, I had no chance to move as the crimson one let out a lateral buck, hind hooves connecting with my chest and sending me sprawling away onto the dance floor.
Ponies scattered with shouts, a number of them drunken as I shambled to my feet, taking a low stance with knives ready. The musicians on the stage faltered in their music, changing tempo as my three enemies spread out and began to approach.
“Equestrian Lunar Guard!” Silver Shrike called out, striking her chest with a hoof. The bat-pegasi followed suit, “Everypony remain calm, we’ll be out of your manes shortly!”
Each of their hides turned a dark shade of gray, dark purple armor appearing over their hides. Silver’s wings took on a leathery bat-like appearance, fangs sprouting from her maw.
“Fornication,” I muttered, dropping my knives into their sheathes and drawing my bow and an arrow.
I back-pedaled quickly as I drew back the arrow, noting the glow on my ring. I lined up on the previously-crimson bat-pegasus, releasing as I felt a tingle in the back of my head. It certainly felt good to have the hood’s enchantment back.
The crimson guard’s eyes went wide, but the arrow bounced off his forcefield, clattering away across the floor.
Rain wasn’t kidding about that enchanted armor, I thought, hand frozen on the next arrow in my quiver.
“I think I can handle this one, colts!” Silver called out, waving off their advance with a hoof. One of her wings wrapped around a small cylinder attached to the withers of her armor, and with a sharp click it expanded into a metallic quarterstaff. Before I could wonder as to how a four-legged creature would handle a weapon like that, I had my answer.
Silver gave the weapon a quick twirl with her wings, swinging the weapon quickly over her lowered head like an elongated baton. She descended onto the dance floor, ponies giving us a wide berth, our own little stage for the coming duet. The two bat-pegasi, grinning to themselves, spread out behind her to form a second barrier between me and the exit.
Stupid show-off pony, I mentally leered, switching back to my knives, You should’ve come at me with your numbers, I wouldn’t stand a chance.
Don’t get too cocky now… my mind warned as Silver gave her weapon another quick twirl with her wings, body low and ready.
The musicians on the stage switched to another strange, adrenaline-pumping song. The ponies around me all watching with mixtures of terror and excitement, some of the latter giving cheers for what was about to unfold.
“One last chance to surrender,” Silver offered, grinning over the music, “Say yes now and save yourself the beating!”
I answered with silence, knives held at the ready.
“Very well, then!” And then she moved.
Her weapon became a blur as she lunged at me, wings twirling the staff around towards my head. But I was ready, crossing my left knife back over my forearm and stepping into the strike to take away its power. Thrusting out my forearm, covered by the knife, I met the blow before it could reach me, bringing my other knife around to…pain laced up my arm, muscles seizing up as shock magic arced its way up across the limb when her weapon connected with mine.
I grit my teeth against the pain, leaping back as her weapon came around at me from the other side. It zipped past my nose; a wry grin plastered across Silver’s face.
Too cocky… my mind spoke.
Not now! I snarled back, hopping back from another swing of Silver’s enchanted staff. Trying to parry the weapon was out of the question so I uncrossed my knife, both blades ready to open flesh.
Silver came at me with another lunge and a swing at my head; I ducked and threw myself at her, getting within her weapon’s reach. Before she could retreat, both my blades went at her, but deflected off her forcefield.
Rain said these things could be overloaded... I thought. All spells cost Magicka to cast, enchantment or no, that forcefield had to have a limit. I just needed to find that limit, and then cross it.
Planting myself in a low stance, I drove my shoulder at Silver’s face and was rewarded with a surprised look as she was knocked back as her forcefield flared up against me, stumbling to regain a fighting stance. A wild swing at my side prevented me from a continued pursuit, forcing me back out of her range.
But I didn’t let up, charging back at her with a snarl on my lips once the swing had passed. She braced herself for another check, but this time I came at her with my knives, striking at her forcefield yet again, side-stepping a diagonal swipe at my midsection and getting on her flank. Two more strikes caused her forcefield to flare up around her again before I was forced to leap back and avoid her weapon.
Beads of sweat were starting to form on my brow and under my armor, my heart hammering in my chest. Silver, on the other hand, had yet to break out in a sweat.
Keeping out of her range to try and get some of my breath back, I surveyed the room again. The two bat-pegasi were still between me and the exit, with no sign of Rain or Moonbeam amongst the many heads of the crowd. My eyes stopped on Hoity Toity, frozen just outside of his booth with a scared look on his face.
A blur in my peripherals brought me back to the fight, leaping back and hitting a table behind me. I winced as I stumbled, catching myself in time to see Silver coming at me again with a wild grin.
Changing things up, I dropped one knife, grabbed a lonely drink on the table, and hurled it at her face. She flinched, swinging and missing as the glass shattered off her forcefield, dark liquid running down the front and obscuring her face.
“Luna curse you!” she snarled, shaking her body and through it the forcefield in an effort to unobscure her vision. Seizing the moment, I sheathed my knives and grabbed the table. Silver’s staff struck the side of my impromptu shield as I rammed it into her with a shout.
The forefield remained up and running as she was bowled over, going head over hooves into the crowd of onlookers.
I didn’t let up, dropping the table and charging in with my knives again, the nearby onlookers fleeing back to give us room. If I could keep her pinned down and work down her shield with my knives I could finally get them into her hide and end this. Silver had other ideas, rolling over and throwing out her wings in a move I’d seen Rain do many times before with her throwing blades. 
I managed a quick duck and roll, but Silver had aimed low and pain seared up my leg as her weapon struck it and clattered away.
“Fornication!” I spat through clenched teeth, hobbling back as my nerves burned.
Silver forgot her staff for the moment, a livid look in her eyes as she launched herself at me. I braced to meet her, but my leg gave out as she struck me hard with her forcefield, giving me a taste of my own medicine.
Before I could get to my feet she was on top of me, raining down strikes that I was hard pressed to defend against. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her staff give a quick flash, then my vision was tossed aside as a particularly powerful strike hit me upside the head.
Stars exploded in my vision, blurring the world around me as Silver finally relented, her form retreating back to where her weapon lay.
Get up! Get up! My mind yelled at me.
The stars swirled as I got to a knee and I was forced to remain there in an effort to recover. Something wet was leaking down the side of my head and a ringing was vying for attention over the sound of the music.
After a second, the stars coalesced into a smug-looking Silver with her staff held in her wings.
“Luna never said I needed to bring you back in one piece,” Silver grinned, stepping forward and raising the staff for what appeared to be a final strike, “Now…” then her body went rigid, crackling shock magic sparking off of the staff.
Had I done something to cause that? How in the world…
“Aram!” Moonbeam, with his armor donned, charged out of the crowd with his horn aglow. He dropped it to a wide-eyed Silver, a beam of magic striking her. After a brief moment her forcefield shattered, her coat and features returning to normal. She crumpled next to her staff, the weapon smoking with an occasional wild spark, “Armor’s down, Rain!”
Rain, with a snarl and a pair of cocked wings, landed on top of SIlver’s crumpled form, dropping her mouth-held dagger to Silver’s throat. She fixed the two bat-pegasi with a glare, daring them to make a move.
Shaking my head and recovering, I got to my feet. My hand came away bloody when I touched the side of my head.
“All right, now!” Moonbeam called out, “We’re going to walk on out of here!”
“Not happening!” the crimson bat-pegasus snarled.
“Then we open her throat!” I snarled back, moving over to Rain. She moved off of Silver’s stunned form, letting me yank her to her hooves by her armor. I dropped one of my knives to her throat, “Now back, you two!” I snarled at the stallions, feeling Silver flinch as my knife nicked her throat, drawing a bead of blood, “Get out of the way or I’ll open her neck!”
“Don’t listen to this scaly scumbag!” Silver growled back, starting to get her senses back, “Get him! Trample his ass to…”
“Shut-up!” I cut her off, striking her across the snout with my pommel, continuing to force her towards the door. The two bat-pegasi glowered and glared, but they relented, tossing glances to my hostage.
“You do that and you’re dead meat!” the purple one snapped back, giving the ground a good stomp.
“C’mon,” I grunted, pulling Silver with me and with Rain and Moonbeam in tow, “You try to flap those wings or do anything stupid…” I let the threat hang in the air. By now the music had ceased, the other ponies around the bar moving back or looking on with scared looks.
“It’ll be a whole lot harder,” Moonbeam spoke up proudly, “I disenchanted her armor, stuff is mostly silver alloys, it weighs a ton without the enchantments.”
“Whoever the hell you two are, you’re making a grave mistake helping this bucking reptile!” Silver growled as I pulled her out through the door.
“Shut-up,” Rain spat.
The streets outside were still barren and dark, a lone auto-carriage waiting for us. 
Thanks to Moonbeam, no doubt.
The two bat-pegasi followed along with a handful of the bar-goers, but they kept their distance by the entrance. Turning to face them, I shoved Silver to the ground and waited as I heard Moonbeam and Rain hop aboard.
“Aram, get aboard!” Moonbeam called out.
“If you really think you can get away with foalnapping an Equestrian Lunar Guard…” Silver started, glaring back over her withers at me.
“You’re more useful here,” I cut her off, taking my knife from her throat. Her confusion was short lived as I drove the blade into her side, eliciting a cry of pain as I twisted it in her guts and pulled free. The bat-pegasi charged in with murderous shouts as I shoved Silver to the ground, “Pursue us or save her, your choice!” I called out and hopped onto the carriage as it took off at a fast pace.
Hanging from the side I watched as the two bat-pegasi rushed to Silver, their eyes glittering in the dark as they glared my way. But after a moment they grabbed her and headed quickly in the opposite direction, her cries fading into the night.
That settled, I slipped inside the wagon spotting Moonbeam, Rain, and a terrified Hoity Toity. I spared him a quick frown as I took my seat, Rain tossing a glare out the window.
“Did you kill her?” she asked as she returned.
“What?!” Hoity yelped, looking between us.
“She’ll live, if they get her to a healer in time,” I ignored him, checking my gear, Another arrow lost in that club, damn...
“What, why’d you let her go!?” Rain snapped her tail, unsatisfied with my answer, “We had her right where we wanted her and you let her go!?”
“Yes, I let her go,” I countered, fixing Rain’s snarl with a glare of my own, “Wounded, so the others were forced to choose between saving her and chasing us. They chose her, as I expected.”
“S-so we’re in the clear, then? They’re not following us?” Hoity stammered, looking between us as he remained ignored. I’d get to him in a minute, but Rain had the priority here.
“That makes sense to me...” Moonbeam put in, giving a slight wince as Rain shot her glare at him before returning it to me.
“We had them, it was three against two with her out of the fight!” Rain growled, wings ruffling at her sides, steel flashing between the feathers, “We could’ve taken them, beaten them down and killed them!”
“H-hey, I don’t want anypony dead near my..!” Hoity tried to get a word in.
“We’re not bandits or murderers, Rain!” I snapped back at Rain, “Nor are we fighters or warriors, fight if you must, but only until you can return to the shadows. We kill only for Sithis, not because we can or we want to,” I considered a moment, Rain’s glare fixed on me as the wagon bumped down the road, “Sometimes just wounding an enemy is better than killing them. Guards and soldiers are fond of their own, wound one and his fellows will come to his aid. A single strike to a limb can remove two or three enemies from the field where a strike to the heart would only remove one.
“You don’t have to like it,” I continued, watching her agitated form: ears pinned, feathers ruffled, teeth bared, “But you do need to calm your nerves, the fighting is over.”
“Fine,” Rain grumbled, muttering, “I am calm...” as she tore her gaze from me, smoothing her feathers with a hoof.
With that settled, I turned to Hoity Toity, “Is this your carriage?”
“I...y-yes,” Hoity nodded, collecting himself, “I...well, I figured if you’d been captured, they might’ve found out that I was the one who…”
“How far can you take us?” I interrupted.
“I guess that depends on where you need to go,” Hoity replied after a moment’s thought, “I could take you to the train station or outside city limits if you wanted, or perhaps the ports?”
“City limits would be best,” Moonbeam chimed in, adding as I gave him a querying look: “They could be watching the regular forms of transport: airships, trains, and autocarriages. It’ll take longer, but we’d be best off taking a route off the beaten path, just to be safe. Lay low and whatnot.”
The thief has a point, my mind remarked.
Fair enough, I agreed, turning back to Hoity, “Take us outside the city, we’ll make our way home from there.”
“All right, then,” Hoity seemed to breathe easier with the matter settled, Rain as well as her heart rate undoubtedly slowed.
I myself grimaced as pain began working its way back into my body, reminding me of the fight I’d just been through. Wincing, I took some time to apply healing salves created from Everfree plants as the carriage rolled its way off into the dark of night.
All the while, only one thing weaseled its way into my mind: why had she sent her guards after me and what sort of questions did Luna want to ask me?