//------------------------------//
// Chapter 20 
// Story: Other Duties As Required 
// by Hiver 
//------------------------------//

"Boss, have a minute?" I asked as I stopped by the counter and the end of the day.

Iron Brand looked at me, "Yes, Night?"

I hesitated before I sighed, "I'm afraid... sorry, but I'm going to have to quit."

He looked surprised, "What, what's wrong?"

I shook my head, "Nothing's wrong, I just realized last morning that I need to go back home. I miss the ponies back there."

Iron frowned and shook his head, "I'm not sure that's a good idea, Night. Sunnies will never accept us."

"So buck them," I said and flicked my tail, stretching my wings, "As I understand it, The Prince is dating one of their princesses and married to the other. Besides, I'm done letting ignorant ponies tell me what I can and can't do. I'm going back home, hiding in the jungle won't help."

Iron sighed before he nodded, "Well, I'm sad to see you go. Though I finally found an assistant better than the rest of the dolts I'm usually sent, but if you have to head off, you have to head off."

"Sorry boss."

He smiled a bit, "Don't worry about it. I survived before. I hope things will go well for you."

"...So do I," I said and smiled a bit, "Thanks boss."

Iron Brand sighed and then moved to take some bits out of the register, sliding them over to me, "Here, it's what I owe you and a small bonus."

"Boss, I can't-"

"Oh, don't worry about it. You made me more than enough to make up for it," he said with a smile, "Take it and take care, Night."

I smiled, "Thanks boss," I said and slid the bits into my bag while resolving to make sure they found their way back to him somehow.

"Come say hello when you return," he said with a nod, "As things are looking, your position will still be open by then."

I just gave him a wave and left into the early morning.

Then I took a deep breath and threw myself into the air with a beat of my wings before diving down beneath the upper village and heading towards the east, seemingly going for a flight. A kilometer or so from the village, I banked in behind the thick trunk of a tree before landing on a wide branch. Nopony around this far out this late. Some harvesters would likely head out soon, but the great majority of those that worked during the day were ground bound so me getting spotted would be greatly unlikely.

I still quickly glanced around before using my magic to remove the stupid piercing Midnight put through my ear. As soon as it was out, I felt my body shiver and shift as I grew a bit and returned my real form-

The second shudder had nothing to do with the spell. Damn that's unpleasant.

Then I glanced up. Yep, horn is back. Man, it had been so odd not having it there before. Then I turned around, "Ready, Thorax?" I asked as I spotted the changeling standing behind me.

He nodded firmly once before green fire rippled across him, leaving Night Wind to smile at me, "All ready. I'll make some appearances from time to time around town until the next train arrives," he said as I handed the bag over and he slipped it on.

"Good, thank you. That'll help separate Night Wind from Blank Page."

"Got it, sir," Thorax said before smiling at me, "You'd have been a pretty good infiltrator, sir."

I smiled back with a nod, "Thank you."

Coming from a Changeling, that was a pretty big compliment. Thorax gave a wave and then flew off.

I let out a breath and then reached up to rub my ear. Damn it, it better heal like Midnight said it would. Luckily, it was a very small hole, but still. Flicking my ear one last time, I then wrapped myself into an invisibility spell and took to the air, flying back towards the so called palace.

I didn't bother with anything fancy, I just flew straight into the bedroom. When I landed, I dropped the illusion only to find Amber already there waiting for me.

She was sitting on the bed, a small box sitting on it next to her, "Welcome back, sir!" she said with a grin.

I smiled back and stretched a bit, "Thank you, Amber. It's good to be back."

Amber reached and picked the box up before opening for me, revealing the contents of feathers and a single red lock of braided mane.

Amber is the best.

Moving in, I hugged her quickly before I picked it all up in my magic and moved to the mirror where I did a thin braid on the left side of my mane, weaving the red lock of Sunsets mane into it and making sure that the feathers were nicely attached.

I gave my head a shake.

Nothing fell out. Oh yeah, this was what I had been missing the most actually. In fact, I had actually started to see some of the same thing in the ponies in town. Those that didn't have feathers had done braided locks of mane.

I didn't mind ponies copying us, I actually find it a nice tradition.

Then I turned back to Amber, "How do I look?"

Amber studied me before she nodded, "Very good."

"Excellent, thank you," I said before heading out of the bedroom to the living room. For once, no Flower waiting to ambush me with paperworks or a schedule.

I felt a disturbance in the force... like a weeks worth of paperwork lining up to ambush me.

Opening the door, I poked my head out and then headed for the throneroom.

I found Midnight on my throne, Flower at her desk to the side and a pair of Nocturnis guards by the door. I smiled as I slipped in through the door, "How's the pillow?" I asked Midnight.

She pushed herself up to sit, "Honestly, not very comfortable," she admitted, "It somehow manages to be both too hard and too soft."

"Welcome back, your majesty!" Flower said cheerfully before she frowned, "Even if I had appreciated some more warning."

I smiled at her, "Glad to be back, Flower. Sorry, it was an emergency, I had to deal with some dreamy stuff. Nothing dangerous or even risky, but had to be dealt with. Did I miss anything?"

Flower shook her head, "Nothing big. Princess Midnight has dealt with what came up, but there were some meetings I had to push."

"Awesome," I said and looked to Midnight, "Thank you as well. How was it?"

"I have filled in before, but that was always with Twi," she admitted, "But if you don't mind, I prefer just being the Princess of Friendship and doing my research."

I smiled, "Oh, just wait until you find some Kelpies. Any progress on those by the way?"

Midnight sighed and jumped off the throne, "Nothing concrete, just rumors and myths so far. I may, and this is a big may, have a lead on the Kirin. I'm going to check it out with Tempest when the train returns."

"Oh?"

Midnight nodded, "It's weak. If I had anything else, it wouldn't even be worth the trip, but... maybe it may get me another clue."

I nodded, "Hope you find something."