I sling drink

...Is different.  Not at all my normal wake up. Something warm.

I pulled the blanket off of myself in one quick movement. Beneath it I lay on my back with a young batmare strewn sideways across my stomach. Great...

"Hey....is time to move," I pushed her slightly only managing to make her roll sideways and curl up, her back to me. It was a strange sight, to see how different and yet how similar their bodies were to any other of their kind. Featherless wings, a shorter plusher grey coat, and slightly bigger ears, and this is only what is seen. I reached out and touched her ear, rubbing the thin flesh between the fingers.

"Huh~?" Her ear twitched away from my grasp and her head slowly rose, "What?"

"Is time to move,"

She slowly looked around before finding me, "...m-morning..." She took some time to get her bearings, eventually realizing she was laying sideways atop me, "Oh..OH MY," She scrambled to her hooves, "I'm so sorry i-"

"Is fine....nothing happened to make you worried," I brushed her aside so I could stand.

"But..I...on you.."

"Is fine," I shifted off the bed and started finding my clothes, "Shower through door," I pointed out into the hall, " last door on left," I laid my clothes out and started into hall, "Towels in storage under sink, be quick, breakfast come soon,"

*Knock knock* "Vlad?"

"One moment!" I slowly got to the front door and unlocked it, "What?"

"Morning," Ginger said pushing into my home.

"...you come to steal my breakfast again?"

"No......sorta, what you cooking,"

"...like child...find seat," I walked her to the kitchen, her ears focused towards the hall.

"Are...are you alone?"

"No....one of the batpeople followed me home last night..."

"...oh...and you let her?"

"...Alternative was to break heart of starry-eyed young girl, could not do," We entered the kitchen and I laid out some hay and prepped some potatoes.

"Wow, how....unlike you," She said tiptoeing around her words.

"I am no monster, only indifferent," I said slicing some potatoes to make hash.

"Apparently not, big softy," I glared over at her.

"...is....welcome change, to see someone happy.....not since my Anna have I see one so happy," I started to cook.

"You keep saying that name...who is she,"

"....is dead,"

"Oh....family?"

"Yes..."

".....sister?"

"No,"

"...wife?"

"...."

"is that why you never wanted to talk about it? Why now,"

"....Being drunk....it tends to take apprehension and crush it to dust," I said plating the food.

"What happened last night?"

"...I drink in bar, mare show up, I remember being mad, very mad, then very....memories, something about her, she reminds me of her," I took a bite of the warming food, "A genuine hope for better things,"

Ginger just looked at me like I spoke a completely foreign language, "Are you feeling alright? Did she bite you or something?"

"Not that I am aware,"

"Then why are you acting like this? Stop please, it's not normal,"

"What is not normal,"

"You're not calling me stupid or a child, or, or, I don't know being mean!"

"....you do realize how stupid that sounds yes?"

"See! That's better," A soft clip clop could be heard in the hall.

In strode Nightshade, "Oh...I didn't know-"

"Take seat, I need shower next anyways," I stood, replacing my empty plate for a full one, "Nightshade, is Ginger, Ginger, Nightshade," The exchanged awkward greetings before I found my way to the bathroom.

The water warmed quickly, I stood in the shower for a short time, I could hear talking coming from kitchen. I decided to take my time and let them speak.

I got dressed quickly after my shower. Once that was done I wandered into the kitchen, "Is time- hello?" No one was there, "Is not good," I went back to my room and found a holster and my pistol. Could be paranoia but this didn't seem right. First place to check would be the bar obviously.

I hurried down the frosted street. It reminded me of foot chase back in Moscow. The burning in my lungs from the cold night air, the burning wind stripping the moisture from my lips. The bar came into sight, a small crowd waiting outside.

"Oh...look who it is," A white stallion stepped away from the bar, "Heard you fixed your window, didn't keep the bats out," He said cocking his head to the new window, Ginger and Nightshade looking out it.

"...If you wish to fight," I slid my hand into my coat, wrapping my hands around my gun, "I can promise you one of us will not be walking away,"

"Hey now...all we want is the bat, we need to put these freaks back in their place," he took another step towards me, "I mean you don't care about these things, or do you freaklover?" I pulled my gun from the holster and let it fall to my side.

"You stay...try to run and you will move no more," The others from the group slowly creeped away, "Ginger! Contact guard!" I yelled at the bar.

"Look at you...big man, hiding behind a gun. You're just like those freaks, cowards," He took another step forward.

"You take one more step you will never walk again, is last warning," I leveled my gun with his knee.

"Vlad, I called the guard!" Ginger yelled from the bar.

"Horosho,"

"You really are a freak, not just a freaklover, your a freak yourself," He took another step towards me, "Do it, I dare you!"

"Three,"

"Do it, do it, DO IT!"

"Two,"

"COME ON DO IT!"

"One," Bang, I could see the two mares watching from the window jump at the noise. The aggressive stallion slumped forward, his left foreleg crumpling into a blood spurting heap.

"AHHHHAHA- OH DEAR CELESTIA!" The stallion wailed.

"You push me...you fucking push me," I holstered my gun and went to check on him, "GINGER, GET RAGS AND STRONG GIN!" I pulled his leg to length and looked at the wound, a neat hole drilled strait through his leg. The bullet had passed strait through just missing the bone.

"YOU FREAK, YOU BUCKING FREAK!"

The two mares quickly came from inside with rags and makeshift disinfectant, "Ginger stuff a rag in his mouth," i said taking all but one, "Nightshade find any guard, be quick." She looked shell shocked, unable to move, "Nightshade...go," She slowly came back to reality and hurried off.

Ginger quickly stuffed a rag in the downed stallion, "Celestia preserve us...is he gonna die?!"

"No...is flesh wound," I poured the gin over the rags and quickly pulled them over the wound and wound them tight.

"What happens now?" She asked frantically shifting her hooves.

"We see him off, then open bar," I tied more rags onto his leg and poured the remaining gin over the wound.

"You still want to open the bar!?"

"I cannot afford being closed for long," I stood and threw my coat onto the bleeding stallion, "This changes nothing,"

"Vlad...you just shot somepony!"

"Your point, do I have blood on me?" I twirled around in front of her, "Well?"

"....no, Vlad you cant be serious right?"

"What is time?"

"...around six twenty,"

"Then we have time to clean, go and get bar ready," She slowly went back into the bar. The sound of beating hooves and wings cut the soft whimpering from the stallion. I quickly upholstered my gun, emptied the clip and gun and tossed the gun to the ground.

"Halt!" Several nightguards quickly surrounded me.

"Does it look like I plan to run?" The stallion kicked weakly, "You should worry more about him," I took a step back from the bloody mess.

Several guards quickly went to check on him, "OUT OF MY WAY," A thunderous but familiar voice cut the bustle, "GET OUT OF MY WAY!" from the growing throng of guards came one with a rather ornate helmet, "What happened here?"

"This one asked for me to throw another to wolves, I told him to stay away, he stepped towards me, I shot in leg,"

He furrowed his brow, "Nightshade, is this true?" The mare in question quickly stepped from behind the guard.

"Yes..."

"Hmmm, I hereby place you under house arrest," What, "As of this date you are not allowed to travel without a complement of three guards, your weapons will be confiscated, pending investigation you will be allowed to continue business," He lifted his helmet off, "And thanks...."

"Oh...is you again," I said to the vodka drinking stallion.

"Yes....Nightshade, does that sound alright to you?"

"Well, it might be a bit harsh...but all things considered," She said bashfully.

"ALL BUT THIRD COMPLEMENT ARE TO RETURN TO THEIR POSTS!" Within seconds all that was left was ten or so guards, "You, inside, we need to talk," I was quickly pushed into my bar, "Listen...you should be in the dungeon by now, but given the circumstances I'm going to be lenient, we will be operating under the assumption that the injured stallion is also the perpetrator of the attack last night and the night before, we may need some statements from you in time,"

"This is not legal is it,"

"Not entirely....Luna would most likely not approve, but seeing as you kept my sister from harm...It'll be fine," He hurried back out stopping next to Nightshade who had been waiting at the door.

"Thanks Libra," She gave him a deep hug, "I'll keep an eye on him,"

"You better," He hurried out the door. The scene now completely clear minus three guards standing at attention outside.

Nightshade quickly trotted to the bar, "Thank you," She said taking a seat.

"So...is your brother?"

"Yeah....sorry for not telling you,"

"...Is why you follow me?"

"What?! No!" She said looking betrayed.

"...GINGER!"

"What!?"

"Get out here!"

"Is it over?"

"Yes!"

"Fine..." She trotted lazily out of the office, "So...you going to the dungeon yet?"

"Shut up, set up bar," She rolled her eyes before checking tables and sorting bottles.

"....so you're just going on like nothing happened," Nightshade asked watching Ginger.

"I need money...your people need drinks, and to let you know....not that I have choice now, I guess I'm on your peoples side."

She gave a weak grin, "Well...you did defend a nightguard captain and his little sister,"

"Da, that stooka had his chance to leave...."

"I heard what he said....about giving me to him,"

"I lost friends before....not again,"

"I- we- friends?"

"...eh...sure, do not expect free drinks," She gave an amazingly wide grin before reaching up and giving me a peck on the cheek. She pulled back smiling like a fool, "...not sorry?" She shook her head never losing that dopey grin.

"No, it felt good,"

"Get out...." her grin immediately vanished, replaced with an extremely hurt look, "heh heh heh.....your face, is funny,"

Her face scrunched up madly, "You're such a jerk," Ginger yelled over to us, "So mean,"

"Ginger shut up!" I yelled to her, "Is funny!"

"...that was mean...." Nightshade said looking at the counter, "make it up to me?" She said looking like a hurt puppy.

"...bliad...." I found a glass and poured a white Russian, "Is even?"

"Maybe..." She sipped her drink, "Have me over again?"

I shook my head to the floor, "Fine...."

"OH KISS ALREADY!" Ginger shouted at us.

"Shut-"

"Ginger shut up!" Nightshade said, stealing my usual phrase.

"Screw you....just trying to help...."

"....is time to open bar I think," I left the counter and unlocked the door. A few ponies stumbled in. Was going to be quite after all that happened.

Things picked up after ten, throngs of nightguards quickly surged in and out, many trying to say that what I did was justified. The night became profitable.

"Is closing time," A gush of groans came from the still full bar, "....maybe I should change hours...."

"Yeah!"

"This is still early for us!"

"Barely sunrise....."

"...maybe next week, until then please enjoy your nights," The bar slowly emptied saving the two mares that stayed the entire night.

"Vlad I think I'm going to sleep in the office....is that ok?" Ginger asked looking absolutely exhausted.

"Is fine, be ready tomorrow,"

"You mean tonight...anyways see ya," She wandered hazily into the office.

"So what now," Nightshade asked as the office door was pulled shut, "I mean-"

"Head to my home, I pick up dinner,"

"But-"

"Key is hidden under statue in front porch,"

"....I...you...." She reached over the bar and pulled me into a deep nuzzling hug, "Thank you....so much!"

"Ach- ok ok, off!" I managed to pry myself away and start off to the door, "If Russia taught me one thing...is to be in good with family to higher ups,"

She gave a quick pout, "Mean..."

"Yes yes I know, now go, I be there quickly," She trotted off.

"Hail..." A nightguard trotted over to me, "Under orders we are to accompany you,"

"Oh...do not expect me to thank you," I started walking to a restaurant to pick up dinner.

"Morning, what can I...oh....what....whats going on," The stallion behind the counter asked rather nervously.

"Is nothing....need dinner to go, for two,"

I placed our order "Uh....sure, twenty bits,"

"Very good, spasibo,"

"Come again," I hurried off with two boxes of food in hand, guards forming a triangle behind me.

"Vlad?"

"Yes...is food," I had a strange urge to throw a jacket off, had it not been used to keep my enemy from dying.

She trotted out from my office, "Vlad what is this?" She pointed into my office.

I sauntered into the office, she was pointing at a locked case laying on the floor, "...are books,"

"Why's it locked?"

"....are fragile....are journals and stories from my family, some very old,"

"...Can I see them?"

"No....are written in old language,"

"...Can you read some to me?"

"....maybe, we eat first."

The food was ok, "So....how about now?" She asked standing from the chair.

"....go to bedroom, I find one," She gave a deep smile before prancing off down the hall. I quickly cleaned my dishes and hurried into my office finding an extremely weathered journal.

I wandered into my bedroom finding Nightshade curled in a bundle of blankets. I gave a deep sigh before stripping down and getting into bed. She laid on her stomach next to me laying her head on my chest, "....is old story....story of change," I opened to journal, "...to walk the empty streets of our once great city, to see it brought to heel by Kievian Rus, we refused, we fought for mighty Novgorod with our dying breath, we fight them in the swamps, in the streets, in the forest. We refused to let our land be raped by the oppression of the tzar," I looked past the journal, Nightshades eyes were wide open, staring right at me, ears perked to catch my every word, "....for years we fight to preserve what we held dear, to save our lands, to free ourselves and secure our independence as mighty republic. We fight for more than ourselves, more than our land, for an ideal, that we as sons of this land are entitled to our freedom, to our birthright as brave men and women of our beautiful city...."