//------------------------------//
// Chapter 19 
// Story: Other Duties As Required 
// by Hiver 
//------------------------------//

I don't know what he was talking about, the Silver Shield was perfectly fine.

Sipping my pretty decent mead, I looked across the bar. A couple of groups of dayponies were at other tables, mostly playing cards. A bunch of bats at other tables. A mare was playing a stringed instrument in the corner.

It was mid morning, but my earlier nap helped a lot with keeping me awake. Besides, I had a lot of thinking to do.

The tourism thing could work.

Say it turned into a cooperative endeavor between us and the Crystal Empire. Cadance hooves the bill for the train, those bits earned from it goes to her people. While that would cut into our profits, it would also mean we didn't need to buy a bucking luxury train which would mean not having to loan to buy a bucking luxury train.

I'm sure we can hammer out a good arrangement there, maybe I'll ask Sparks when she gets back. Out of all of us, she's on the best terms with Cadance.

But what would they do when they got here? Safari I guess, look at the exotic wildlife and try not to get eaten?

Hmmm.

Maybe I should send an invitation to Pinkie Pie, involve her in the project. She is the hospitality expert after all. Maybe Rarity too, she should have some insight into what ponies that think themselves fancy want. Not that I would word it like that to her.

Also, Fluttershy, she's just good with creatures in general.

But before any of that, as soon as I get back I need to discuss matters with Tight Bit, see his projections. Whatever we do, it will likely involve at the very least constructing a hotel and a better way to get ponies from the train station to the village than a barge. None of which will be exactly cheap.

Flying carriages maybe?

I'm sure many ponies would enjo-

My thoughts were interrupted by a bottle flying across the room and braining me across the ear, sending me out of my seat and onto the floor as the bar erupted into a brawl. Ponies yelling, furniture flipping.

I blinked, shaking my head quickly as I pushed myself up to sit.

Bucking ow!

I felt my ear with my hoof. No blood. A glance at my cutiemark revealed that my transformation was intact as we-

I barely had time for form that thought before a pegasus stumbled into me, driving us both onto the floor again. He rolled to his hooves, untangling himself before punching a bat straight in the snout.

Okay... time to get the buck out of here before the onduty guards show and break it up.

Getting to my hooves, I headed for the exit, trying to avoi-duck!

I ducked to the side, barely avoiding the hoof of a large earth pony and I struck back before he could recover, my hoof catching him across the jaw and he went down, crushing a table on the way.

Yep, now I get why I was advised to stay away from this place. At least I didn’t use anything more than bat strength in that.

Mostly.

A bat bumped into me, glanced in my direction before she flashed me a grin, "Nice hoof!"

"Than-duck!"

We ducked, a chair flying past above us to smash against the wall.

"ALRIGHT!" the barkeep announced, smashing a club down on the bar, the large pegasus looking pissed, "Everypony get the buck out of my-"

A flying chair caught her in the chest and she fell behind the bar.

If anything, that made things worse. The locals, bats or day ponies did not like that one bit and the yelling intensified.

But that was as far as things got as the door smashed open and guards ponies stormed inside, shields held before them, clubs in their mouths.

"Alright!" Lieutenant Moon Spear yelled as she walked inside, "Everybody calm the buck down right now or we'll start cracking heads!"

She was actually not a bat. She was a unicorn, wearing the Nocturnis guard armor, her coat a pure white and with bright yellow mane.

The bat before me scowled but she took half a step back from the closest pegasus.

Nopony seemed really interested in going up against armed and armoured guards. Ponies were just kinda milling about, nursing their injuries.

"You alright there, Shield?" Moon Spear asked the barkeep.

"I'm fine," the large pegasus grumbled, brushing a hoof down her chest and then picking her club back up, putting it on the bar with a heavy thunk.

"See who started this mess?"

Shield snorted and motioned with her hoof, "I don't know, didn't see this time."

Moon Spear scowled at the bar in general, "Alright, this is how it's going to go! One at a time, you will each go to the bar. No talking! You will pay your tab and twenty bits extra for the damages! Then you will be taken outside and asked for a statement!"

Nopony said anything.

She pointed at somepony seemingly at random, "You. Start."

The unicorn didn't look happy, one hoof at a cut above his eye he limped over to the bar. He paid and then a guard herded him outside.

There was a minute wait before she pointed at the next pony, a bat this time, "You."

Twenty minutes later, she pointed at me.

I walked over to the bar and counted out thirty bits on the bar, "Sorry about this," I said.

Shield just snorted and motioned towards the exit with her muzzle. I nodded and headed over to the waiting guard and she guided me outside and to the side before pulling a notebook from her armor, putting a pen in her muzzle, "Name," she asked.

"Night Wind."

"What happened?"

I shrugged my wings, "Don't know. Was sitting by the far wall enjoying my mead. Next thing I know I was on the floor and ponies were fighting. I made for the exit, but didn't get there before somepony took a swing at my head. He missed and I punched back. That's just before your group arrived."

"See how it started?"

I shook my head, "No, sorry. First thing I knew was yelling and then a bottle bounced off my head."

"See who took a swing at you?"

"Uhm," I said, "...Don't know him. Earth pony, dark coat I think."

She nodded, "Feel alright? Any injuries? Do you need to see a medic?"

"No, I'm fine," I said and rubbed the side of my head, "Think I just got glanced."

She nodded again before putting her pen and notepad away, "Haven't seen you around, new arrival?"

I nodded, "A few days ago," I admitted, "staying at the loft."

The bat smiled at me, "Welcome to Nocturnis. A tip, stay out of the Silver Shield. Place can get a bit rowdy."

"So I noticed," I admitted, "So what now?"

"It's late, go home and get some sleep. If we have more questions, we'll find you."

"Yes, ma'am."