Regret

"So you mind telling us why there are screams for help coming from the basement Nightshade."  Both Bliss and Berry where sitting in the living room and watching me closely as I came through the front door.  They then got up and walked towards me and cornered me in the kitchen neither looking very happy.

"Well I ... I brought a friend over..."  They looked at me then with a very unamused expression.

"Nightshade we can hear screams and crying coming from that door and we both know that you wouldn't do that to a friend." Said Berry and pushing me back against the corner fully with her hoof.

"Well you don't know my customs and or what my kind does in their free time."

"Well I do know that most wouldn't lock somepony in their basement.  Especially if there are others that live in the house that aren't suppose to know.  But lastly I really don't want to know what you do in your free time because we have had to through out three pillows do to somepony cutting them open and well ... you know the rest."  I stared at her blankly with fully red checks while Bliss simply stared at me with a blank expression but her face was red as well.

"Um lets not talk about this anymore ... ever again actually..."

"Fine but only if you tell us who you have downstairs..."  I then hung my head and also moved into a more defencive position before I spoke.

"Um another changeling ... he's a bounty hunter ... and he thinks that I killed his sister so he is very mad and in pure rage..."  The instant I was done speaking she slapped my face and made my head hit the wall leaving a dent.

"OWW !!!!... what was that for?!?!?!?!"

"That Nightshade was for being an idiot! and this is for not telling us in the first place."

"What do you mean by in th-"  I was stopped as her hoof met my face again and brought my head back to the wall.

"Stop hitting me that shit hurts, stop it!"

"Make me."

"Just take the damn key and don't hit me please?"  She looked at me with a crocked smile taking the key's from my hoof.

"Um Nightshade if you said that he was really mad then is it even a good idea to go down there?"  Berry and I both turned and looked at Bliss who in return cowered under our stairs.

"No it isn't for I have him chained to the wall and there is no way he is going to get out with what I put on him."

"Nightshade did you use chains or a lot of rope?"

"Why do you ... um ask that..."

"Because you can't tie a not and you are really cheap so when you get locks I can pick them with a bobby-pin worse yet did you take off his armor?"

"Why would I take off his armor I'm a guy do you really think that I would rape him?  Besides I'm not into all of that bondage stuff, it just creeps me out how some'lings can get turned on by that."

"Nightshade you are a bucking idiot do you know that.  Your going to open the door and go down there so we don't get hurt got it!"

"Fine fine just don't hit me again Berry that really hurts..."

"You don't hurry up and I will hit you in a place that you really don't want me to hit you.  GOT IT!"  I cowered on my back still and looked up in fear for if you piss off any female then you wont walk straight for a while.  Plus she had her hoof on my chest and was pressing me down further.

"Um Berry don't hurt him we still need him remember..."

"Yes Bliss I know, but it is getting really hard not to seeing how stupid he is."  She then took her hoof off of me and even helped me up.  "Go and open the door and check on the your prisoner please.  Oh and if we hear that he did get lose tell him to punch you for me please?"

"No need to."  We all turned to see that shard had in fact gotten free from my many ropes and three padlocks.  Bliss ran and hide somewhere upstairs and Berry was close behind her.  "What a nice home you have Nightshade and I find it quiet funny that you found enough money to buy it.  But then again what can I expect from a backstabbing pony lover."

"I am not in love with ponys!  I hate them because they never leave me alone and there all 'share your feelings Nightshade, you should go to the spa Nightshade, put the toilet seat down Nightshade.'  It is really annoying and hard to deal with.  But most of all I didn't kill your sister I saved her yes I did slit her throat but I took her with me when I left as you may have heard.  I put a thin layer of goo on her neck to stop the bleeding and had helped her recover.  She is still alive an-"

"LIE'ER!"  He jumped towards me again with his sword as I had left it downstairs with the rest of his stuff, (I might not be the best at trapping others but its a work in progress).  I tried dodging his attack but failed as he still hit my leg but luckily was stopped by my bone and didn't go through.  I screamed out in pain but managed to hit him in the face and with enough force to push him off of me giving me a chance to fight back.  I then in both stupidity and fear I threw everything I could find at him to keep his focus on me and so he not go stairs and use hostages to his advantage.

"Two can play this game Nightshade and I'm afraid I'm a lot better than you are."  He said pulling out what looked like throwing knives and then started throwing them at me with amazing accuracy.  Unfortunately with my leg I couldn't really move out of the way and three out of the four hit me.  The first two hit me in my left shoulder but the third hit me at the bottom of my chest and went down to almost slit my belly open.  The sharp pain was to much to bear as I ended up falling to the ground and found myself in a small pool of my own blood.  He then walked up to me and put his blade to my other hind leg and cut it just as deep as the other.  I cried out in pain once again as he cut my flesh sending sharp and hot pains through the rest of my leg.  He then brought his blade to my front leg.

"You said that you didn't kill my sister if that is so do you have any proof?

"You know I do and I don't.  I have nothing that I could give you now to prove that she lives because on all accounts she is dead.  However I do know where you can find her but it might take a while."

"TELL ME!"  He said as he cut my front leg and must have hit an artery for it started to splutter out blood in a frequent patter.

"Buck!  You better start talking and fast because your going to bleed until I get what I want!"  I took my only good leg left and tried to stop the bleeding and hopefully live a little longer because of it.

"I can only tell you where you can find her but she will be using a disguise so you might not be able to find her right away and she might not even be there when you go."

"Just tell me where I can find her.  Please if she is alive just please tell me where I can find her."  He looked at me tears even starting in the corners of his eye's.  He dropped his sword and then fell to the floor as well almost cutting himself as he went.  "Please tell me I-I please I just want to find her."

"I wanted her to be close by for I knew that this was going to happen yet.  I was hopping that it wouldn't hurt as much but nothing ever go's as planed for me.  You can find her at the local bar here a few blocks down to the left.  She only drinks on Thursday but she always has something in front of her muzzle."

"How dare you insult her!"  I then shrunk back at his comment and thought it best not to argue with him.

"I'm going to the bar to find my sister and you better not stop me."

"Why would I stop you from seeing your sister plus how could I seeing how my hind legs are in extreme pain and my front one almost numb.  Although I will worn you that there is another changeling that visits the bar quiet frequently so I hope you still remember her scent so you not grope the poor guy."  In response to my reply however he punched me in the face and I hit the ground hard.

"Shut up!  Why don't you get your little pony friends to help you, but seeing how you live with them it might be better to call them your buck buddies wouldn't it Nightshade?"

"L-leave them a-alone Shard."  He then left but changed into a pony before going out the door.  Though I was very light headed by now and looked down for it was getting hard to hold my head up right.  However when I rested my head I was surprised for it to be in a liquid.  I slowly lifted my head to see that it was my blood, and well shit.

"Bliss, Berry!  Help..."  My words then trailed off as my vision was now starting to blur and soon would go black but if I did I wouldn't wake up.  I found a rage on the floor and quickly used it as tourniquet to try and help with my font legs bleeding out.  I then turned to check my hind legs and found that they where faring a lot better than my front.  I then rested my head on my forehoof's and simply tried to stay awake.

"Dear Celestia Nightshade!"  I didn't look up for I was to weak but let out a soft moan and moved my ears to better her her or most likely them.

"Nightshade ... we have to call a doctor Bli-"

"No Doctor!  Not safe..."  I interrupted her and pretty much used the rest of my energy for speaking loudly is not as easy as you think.  I then felt a pair of hoof's on my back and another on my head stroking it.

"If we can't get you to a doctor is there like a healer that we could call for you that ... ya know deals with more of um your kind..."

"Yes ... But she is hard to ... get a hold of ... in the left drawer of my dresser there is a note pad there ... bring it to me ... but please hurry..."  I spoke in breaths as it was now hard to breath with the knives in my shoulder but must have gotten close enough to my lungs.  I then heard her running back to me.

"Is this the right one Nightshade?"  I looked up to see that it was Berry holding the notepad and Bliss was the one with her hoof on my head.  I then nodded and weakly took it from her with the little magic I could muster at the time.  She then gave me a pen to write with and I used right hoof to write the little I needed to.

'The Queen's heart is bleeding and her soldiers are dead.  But this one wants to keep it's head.'  I the used the rest of my magic to send it off to the location but took what was left of my energy for every thing then went black.

..............................................................................................................................................................

"Um miss I-I think that he is coming to."

"Good let me see ... yes he is but it will be a little bit before he is fully awake."

"But he is going to be ok right?"

"Bliss stop asking so many questions leave her be and let her do her work."

"Oh it is quiet alright for I do not have much contact with your kind and find it quiet interesting that you are his buckmates."

"What!?  Why does everypony think that of us there is nothing between us and most of all you are the second changeling today to say that to us."

"Well I'm truly sorry to offend you miss but you must know that our culture is not like yours for we are far more open on thoughts and opinions but mostly if it is bad.  Though your kind is known for your arrogant."

"We are not arrogant!"

"No but are easily offended."  I then felt a sharp pain and was greeted by light that took away the darkness and gave faces to the voices.  I looked around in both fear and surprise for I did not really know what was happening.  I then looked down to see that my wounds where healed and looked as though nothing had happened  even where the knives were was now fine.  I looked up at the three on the opposite side of the room Berry and Bliss siting on the couch while and old friend sat in fount of me.

"Glade to see you made it to the party."  I said with a small chuckle but stopped instantly for I was still very much in pain.  A hoof was then placed on my back and rubbed it gently.

"You are going to be in serious pain for a while longer.  However I can give you this to help with the pain if you want?"  He had said the last part in a very humerus tone and I couldn't help but smile.

"I would very much like that."

"Well then take it.  You know now that you are awake I am not going to baby as you may like so you better lift your head Nightshade don't want another accident like last time do we?"

"No."  I said as I took the pill that she held in her hoof but she pulled back so I couldn't grab it. Though in the end it was just to throw it in my face and some how land on my snout.

"Really?  Was that necessary?"

"Yes it was for I hit my mark and you still have it on your snout."  We both laughed yet I stopped instantly again for the pain was hard to bear.

"Um I take it that you two know each other very well?"  The healer then turned to look at Bliss and held an annoyed look on her face.

"Yes we do.  You got a problem with that Blissy?"

"Um what n-no I was jus-"

"Was what just curious as to our history so you could just call me up when ever you want and use me as your little doctor because I am a friend of Nightshade?"

"N-no..."

"Good because you are one gullible pony I swear that I have never made it this far without laughing."  The healer then fell to the ground laughing, not even Berry could keep from laughing as Bliss simply sat in her corner and started to cower under some blankets.

"Oh dear here I didn't mean you any harm I just like to have some fun when I am working because it can help lighter the mood.  Then again I'm not usually dealing with pony's like yourself so I am sorry if I made you feel bad it was not of ill intent.  But yes to answer your question we do know each other fairly well and used to see each other quiet often but it got to difficult to have a long distance relation ship though I am sure that you pony's know this as well yes?  But anyway long story short we had a thing a while back but with our work we just couldn't find the time to see each other and we really only do one thing when we met so it really didn't do to much.  It wasn't to hard for me because I had many things to keep my mind off of things but Nightshade didn't.  So we are just good friends now and try to visit at least once or twice every month or so."

"O-oh um well thank you then I um ... appreciate you clearing things up a little for me."

"And it is always nice to know a little more about the murdering assassin that lives in our house and pays most of the bills.  Not to mention the drinking."  They all laughed except for me, for I am very touchy when it comes to past relationships.  However they noticed this and stopped their laughter giving me very concerned looks.

"Well Nightshade I think that I will be going now for I have other things I must attend to.  Although I will stop by tomorrow for I need to see how your wounds healed as well as give you appropriate medication.  But it was really nice to see you again Nightshade and I hope that next time it will be on better terms.  See you soon."  Shen then kissed me on the cheek before teleporting away back to where ever she was before leaving me a hot mess with a pure red face.  I then stood and despite all of my body rebelling at my movement and I was in a hurry to the only logical place I could do at a time like this.

"Nightshade where ar-"  I put my hoof to her mouth to stop her from speaking.

"Shhh..."

"Nightshade what are you d-"  I then moved my hoof to Berry's mouth and stopped her from specking as well.  I then changed into my disguise and started for the door again.

"Alcohol..."

"Wha-"

"Shhhh..."  I then dropped my hoof and turned back to the door and slipped outside as quickly as I possible could.  I then started a full gallop to the bar at the end of the street.  When I got there however I really had a hard time stopping and actually ran into the building.  Though it did a great job at stopping me it also hurt like hell.  Some of the ponies even came out to see what it was that almost destroy there favorite bar and simple went back in after seeing that it was me.  However a familiar stallion picked me up and then left to go back into the bar and finish his drink.  I boasted a quick'thank you' to him but he didn't reply so I don't really know if he heard me or just didn't care.  However I did know who he was so I could repay him the favor later but would not speck it to him until later.  I then continued my way into the bar up to the counter and motioned for the bartender.

"Hmm Black Star looks like you hit the wall again.  Next time you do that your going to be replacing it for me, but for now what do you want?"

"Something strong ... and I mean strong and a lot of it.  I've had a long as bucking day that I really want to for get a part of."  He gave me a sly smile and then walked away from me and soon came back with a large bottle of Everfree Vodka and a small glass to go with it.  I then put down twenty bits for him and started to chug the bottle and attracted a lot of attention to myself.

"What the hay he - hay are you looking at!  I came here to drink, mind your own damn shit and stay out of mine!"  I sealed it with an evil grin and a death stair that could crack stone.  They in turn tried to look as if they where doing something else and only three of them didn't turn their gaze away from me for they where the only other changeling's in the area and apparently we are all drunks.  I then poured the sweet drink into my glass and started to sip on it gingerly for I had just shotgunned almost half of the bottle and my throat well it kinda hurt.  I then noticed however that to pony's had decided to sit next to me but and I quickly realized they weren't pony's.

"So Nightshade I see you are still alive."

"It's Black Star and yes I am.  Hurts like hel - hay though ... damn I hat pony culture."  I said the last part under my breath and turned to face him.

"You should work on your tongue more you let things slip more that I remember."

"A lot changes in two years ya know.  I'm still killing and actually got a really good job as a contract assassin.  I got enough money together to buy a nice house and stopped to help out my friends that helped me back when I first got out of the hive and before I quot unquote killed your sister.  They where the two mare's that you saw there would have been a green stallion but he died in the hospital do to his head injuries.  But Mrs. White however just went missing and we never found her.  They where the only ones left from our little tribe of homeless one's and they where very nice and quiet understanding even when I shared my true nature to them for I had run out of energy.  They changed my opinion on their kind but also drove me to drink so its a win, win in a way.  So how may I ask is your reunion with your dead sister?"

"Umm right about that I may or may not owe you an apology..."

"Don't need one I'm still alive and feeling a lot better."

"Black Star my I ask you why you ordered such a large drink?"  I then turned my attention to Blood Crest which I still had mixed feelings on but some how was still best friends even though I literally cut her throat and did try to kill her.

"Well I got enough so that I can take some home in a little doggy bag and I think that Berry and Bliss might want some so well if there is anything left they get it."

"Well that's ... nice ... I think?"

"No I'm just going to bring the rest home but I am going to stop at the liquor store for them.  Beery and Bliss have ... interesting taste."

Oh well ok.  So my brother really didn't tel me how badly he beat you up care to tell me?  Oh and don't leave anything out!"

"He cut three of my legs making it impossible to move as well as putting three knives in my chest.  Good enough?"

"Meh it could be better but yeah it's ok."

"He cut an artery and I was two minuets from bleeding out."

"Never mind..."  Shard then tapped his hoof in front of me.

"So Nightshade your an assassin now?  How does that work for you?"

"It's been better I will tell you that my last contract was a cheat from my employer.  He is one of my regulars but he tried to get me to kill some'ling who didn't deserve it for they were innocent in the situation.  I plane on killing him for breaking one of my only rules and he knows it to.  In fact I might need some help with it.  I could give you guy's a small cut or however much you would like on a reasonable basis and or how hard it ended up being.  It will be like old times."

"You mean me getting shot and you killing my sister?  We'll think about it we will get back to you on this tomorrow but for now.  I think that you should heal up."