Nice night, it was. Really. 'Ah happen to like the darkest nights here in the tavern. Ponies come in, ponies with stories. Sometimes I'll talk to 'em, others I'll just sit back, get a drink, an' listen to the others boast. It's nice, nice and peaceful. Every once and awhile a fight'll start up when someone's had one too many glasses of apple brandy, but for the most part we all learn to tolerate each other and nothing goes wrong.
Still, everypony here was a usual like me. Weren't expecting anyone else, not at this time of night. Anyone comin' would've already been here. So when the door opened, everyone looked up, and the chatter died down. I was interested in the new arrival, but not surprised. Very little surprised me anymore, not after what I'd seen. Still, this wasn't somethin' you'd see often here in Nightside.
She was an uptown mare, I could tell. Gray coat, bright red mane. Kinda pony that sticks out in a crowd, but only for a moment. She looked at the worn smooth tables, the crackling fire, the cloud of smoke, the drinks that flowed freely- all of it got a disdainful look. She was some kinda reporter by the looks of it- silver glasses, camera round her neck, pen in her hat and paper in hoof. Not the type you usually see wanderin' round the back streets at night- specially one of her age.
She took advantage of the temporary quiet. "I- I'm looking for a mare by the name of Lightning Chaser?" Huh, I thought, Whadda ya know. I raised one hoof in mock salute.
"That'd be me, miss," I said, startling her. She still hesitated, so I waved her over. "C'mon, I don't bite. Most of the time." I grinned a little at my own joke, the lopsided smile I was known for. Hey, the kid needed to lighten up.
She trotted over as the chatter resumed. A few glances were cast our way, but most ponies had gone back to their own conversations, their own business. A pulled up a chair for her across the table, using my hooves 'cause, well, we can't all have everything, can we? If so offered to become a unicorn, I'd keep my wings any day.
She sat, her face a battle of nervousness and disdain. Nervousness won. It was obvious she weren't gonna say the first word, so I started. "Care for a drink?"
"I'm not supposed to..."
"It's not all alcoholic. It's chilly out there; we could getcha some cider or coffee..."
"Well... sure, why not. Coffee sounds good." Good. She was finally loosening' up.
I called the waiter over, said, "The usual for me, and coffee for Miss..."
"Spark," she said, volunteering the information, only a little reluctantly. "Silver Spark."
The waiter went away, and I leaned forward. "So, Miss Spark, what can I do for ya?"
She didn't answer right away. "I take it you work in Princess Luna's royal guard?" she asked, taking in the armor I wore and the charm that replaced my real features with the gray coat, bat wings, bright blue mane, and cat eyes.
"Yup. I've been in the service ten years now, figure I will be till ah'm an old mare and they have ta kick me out." I grinned again at memories past, but, hey, don't wanna bore ya and get too flowery. "What about ya, Miss Silver Spark? What brings ya here to Nightside from the rich life in uptown?"
The drinks arrived. She reached for her purse, but I stopped her, throwing a few bits on the table. She looked alarmed. "You didn't have to..."
"Nah, forget about it. I've got precious little to spend my bits on these days." She still looked reluctant. "Go on, drink it. The coffee's great here, and it keeps ya awake."
She levitated the cup in a ruby glimmer, taking a deep sip. 'Ah hadn't been lying- the brew here's amazing. I picked up my own tankard with my hooves, taking a deep swallow. Man, I thought, Can't get any better than this. Leave the fancy wines and liquor for the high-life ponies. I'll take a drink down here any night o' the week.
"So," I said, leaning forward on one hoof, "What brings ya here to Nightside? I didn't think ponies like ya knew the backstreets existed."
"Well," she said, opening up now that she had a specific thing she was supposed ta be sayin, "Honestly, I've never been to this part of town before. My manager sent me here. It seemed so important to here- she was so sure you had a story to tell. She didn't tell me what to ask, though. So..."
I raised an eyebrow. "So...? What is it ya wanna know, miss?"
"Um..."
I grinned, showing teeth I've been told had a slight point to 'em. "Not so sure talkin' now that ya finally here, huh?"
She shifted in her chair. "Well... No, I suppose not."
"I could tell ya 'bout this," I suggested, raising one eyebrow and gesturing to where the other was concealed.
A sharp intake of breath from my uptown friend. Her eyes widened- huh, didn't know they could get that big. Maybe now since she's stopped narrowin' them like some kinda cat. "Your..."
"Eyepatch?" I laughed a little. "Ya can say it, 'ah don't care. But I could tell a tale or two 'bout this thing. I know it might seem a bit boring, but I was there when all that ruckus were goin' on recently, if ya know what I mean." I winked- is that even possible with one eye?
"You don't mean... Discord?" She whispered the name, like most did nowadays. "You mean... You were with Princess Luna when... it happened? But no one knows where she was then!"
"Yup," I answered, taking another sip from my tankard. "Sure was. Got this thing as proof, too." I motioned again at the patch of black cloth on the left side of my face. "'Ah could tell ya all about it."
"Really?" The kid was practically squeein'.
"Yeah. Gee, Miss Spark, didn't think anypony would ever be so excited ta hear an old mare like me ramble on an' on. If ya sure..." I pretended to look away, smilin on the inside.
"Ye- I mean," she coughed, blushing. "If you'd be so kind, yes, I'm sure."
"Alright, Miss. Make yourself comfortable, 'cause it'll be a long story. But somethin' tells me I'll be done before sunrise."
TO BE CONTINUED
