//------------------------------// // -(25)- At the same time...(part2) [Vinyl's POV] // Story: Midnight Melody // by Caffeine Junkie //------------------------------// In my life there are a few things I take pride in; my friends, my work and…my choices. So even though tricking the guard might come back and bite me in the flank someday, I'd probably would have done it all over again. However, maybe I was just being pessimistic, maybe the guard would take it with humor... "You...you've planned this..." the guard shouted and pointed frantically in my direction. ...or maybe he was exactly that kind of sore loser I should have expected in the first place. "Yeah sure..." I said and rolled my eyes."cause...it totally wasn't you who wanted to switch glasses." The whole bar broke out into bellowing laughter, leaving the guard speechless with shame. Yeah...this was probably the moment where even he had to realize that every last pony here had lost their respect for him. Not that he ever had it but... "This isn't over..." he hissed barely audibly. After the laughter had finally ceased the stallion put his helmet back on and addressed Salty again. This time however, he wasn't beating around the bush and simply skipped to the part where he has to recite all of Salty's supposed crimes and stuff. The typical guard routine thing... "Salty Grafter...in the name of her majesty, princess Celestia, I hereby put you under arrest on suspicion of smuggling, selling&trading with state secrets, cooperation with the changeling hive and several violations of the thirteenth amendment of the tribalism law. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defense, if you do not mention when questioned, something which you will later rely on in the solar court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand? Do you have anything to say in your defense?" "Do I have something to say? Sure I do. Who the hay fed you that nonsense, kiddo? Every other day three or four guards show up at my bar and search for smuggled goods and they always return empty hoofed...guess why?" Salty shouted at the guard. "Eh...well...I've only been stationed in Canterlot since last wee-" the guard started to defend himself. "You think someone who lives in the same rundown bar he operates..." Salty said and let his hoof wander around the room "makes big money selling government secrets? Sure thing. But hay...even if that was the case...you are forgetting one very important thing; in order to deal with state secrets I would have to get them first. So...take a look...do you see anyone of rank and power among us? Do you spot one of your higher ups? a minister? Princess Celestia perhaps? No? Neither do I...welp." he said with his face awfully close to the guard. "...no...I...but...but what about the changelings and the tribalism law...I..." "Sure I cooperate with changelings, who wouldn't? They pay so well. It isn't like they are a completely different species with a completely different currency, right? I mean...in what would they even pay me? Hugs? Bug goo? Liquid love? " Salty continued his rant and the guard slowly started to back down. "I...I'm..." the guard began to stutter. "Oh and about the tribalism thingy. Yeah...I totally refused to serve some ponies their drinks. However, that wasn't because they were unicorns but because they insulted me, my bar or my customers. Do you really think my bar would still be in business if simply refused to serve a third of my customers? No, wait...scrap that; I have a better question. Do you even use your eyes? Isn't the mare right next to you a unicorn?" he said and pointed at me. "Well...you see...I..." "Oh yeah I see! I see exactly how it is! You've been sent here by lord Flankface or lady Moneybags because this old pony" he said and pointed at his chest "refuses to kiss up to them". Well guess what...no matter how many guards the send after me...I'll never bow down to them. So...if you are just another one who wants to drag me to court for refusing to kiss plot...be my guest." "I eh...well...I'm just trying to do my job and..." "...even if everything I said was true...you still have to follow the procedure. Yeah, yeah...I know how it goes. Just give me a few minutes to arrange my replacement and I'll quietly follow you to the guard post." the old pony said after letting out a loud sigh. Salty walked to a small door to the right of the counter and gently knocked at it. When nothing happened Salty began to hit the door a lot harder. While the patrons already started to laugh at Salty's expense the guard obviously had no clue what was happening. "BLACKOUT! Move your bucking plot to the counter or I swear you'll spend the next weeks sleeping under a bridge." Salty bellowed. A very grumpy looking earth pony suddenly opened the door. At first I thought he would start to unleash hell upon Salty but as soon as he noticed the guard his anger was replaced with something else; disgust. He shot the guard a venomous glare before he took Salty's place at the counter and began to dry some glasses. When the guard and Salty finally left the bar Blackout no longer tried to hide his anger and started to rant and rave about the guards. Most patrons seemed to enjoy his rabble-rousing speech and some even presented their own twisted views of how things should be handled in Canterlot. Just when I thought that the creepy pony Neon wanted me to meet wouldn't show up...the room grew silent again. Emptying my glass I slowly turned around and did the same thing every other pony within the bar did...I took a good look at the newcomer. As soon as my eyes fell upon him I could feel that there was something terribly wrong with him. While he looked just like any other common pony my gut told me that there was more to him than that; he was dangerous. The grey stallion didn't seem to be bothered that the hole room was watching his very step, in fact I even had the impression that he didn't even notice anypony besides Neon. While I watched the weird pony coming closer, Neon unmistakably became more and more nervous. "Mr. Lights." the grey stallion said and nodded to Neon before he suddenly turned into my direction. "...and according to the description I've been given...you must be miss Scratch." "Eh...yeah...nice to meet you too." I replied. "So...what can I do for you?" "The master wants to have a talk with you and mr. Lights. Now...if both of you would just follow me..." "Well...I'm not sure if..." Neon tried to wiggle his way out of that one. "The master cares little for your wishes..." the grey pony said matter-of-factly. Neon gulped and slowly nodded. Wow...I really can't say that I saw that coming. However, intimidating Neon is one thing...but intimidating me? Well...good luck. What threat could he possibly pose to a pony who has nothing left to lose? "...and I don't give a horse-apple that sprouted wings about your master..." I answered. Neon's eyes widened in horror as he realized what I just said...but the white maned pony didn't even bat an eye. "Not entirely unexpected." the pony said and hoofed me a small note. "...but if you were to refuse the master's invitation I've been tasked to give you this..." With a confident smile I took the little piece of paper. However, when I realized what that pony had just given me...my face immediately turned into a mask of horror. It was a simple "we know", the address of Tavi's parents...and...a part of her sister's mane. BUCK! "Now that you understand, just follow me quietly. The master doesn't like to be kept waiting..." "Fine..." I replied in resignation. Neon eyed me warily. He knew that I'd never reconsider something I had already decided upon, unless there was a very important reason to do so. As a matter of fact Neon probably knew that the situation was far worse than originally expected. "Well...let's get this farce over with." I hissed behind gritted teeth. "Please...lead the way Mr...." "Bones" the pony replied dryly.