Love is a hurricane

Aurora saluted. "Yes sir!" 'Uh why did i just do that guess I feel like I'm back in the academy taking orders from a commander.' "But before we go back to the Everfree we may need to go by my house before nightfall."

"I have a few items at my house that might be of use. I even have a few healing tonics for Unicorns and Pegasi, so you two can get healed in minutes. Blitz, make sure you check behind the mirror in the living room. There's a room for armor and weapons. Take what you two need." Night mentioned.

The two left and headed for Night's place, which Blitz knew how to get to. After 10 or so minutes after Blitz drank the tonic he could feel his hoof moving "Wow,this some good stuff." He opened the mirror to fine the equipment. "Im gonna take the light weight armor and a short sword,if you have it." Blitz said "But i hope i im not ganna use it."

Aurora looks at the tonic then starts to drink it. "It has a funny taste but oh well." Aurora removes all his bandages to see his head doesn't have a single scratch and this horn is no longer broken. "Awesome, I'll take a Lunar Guards armor to hide in the shadows oh and a spear."

Night, through a mind crystal he loaned them, spoke out. "Remember, take what you need. There's more tonics in the back, but I don't have any for earth ponies unfortunately. Just don't mess with the black gauntlets. Also, you might want to take a ranged weapon for insurance."

Cant really work ranged weapons,now silver,she could hit you between the eyes from anywhere,maybe you should have asked her." Blitz said mentally trough the crystal.

Night choked back sob. "I...I can't. I've already put her through enough. It would only seem like I'm getting something for nothing. Besides, if my fears are true, then it's best she isn't a part of this. I almost made one family lose a filly, I won't risk a filly to be without a sister. And you know how I feel about her being put in danger."

"I'll be long ranged i have good spear throwing skills." Aurora grabbed a spear and spotted a target across the room with all his might he tosses the spear landing a headshot on it. "See don't worry Night we won't let you down."

"Thank you, both of you. And be careful, those tonics will heal wounds, but they won't regrow limps. So if you take a tonic after losing a wing or horn, you WON'T get it reattached." Night let that sink in. "Also, the armor and weapons are enchanted. Tell me what you have and I'll tell you what they can do."

Aurora looked at all his gear. "I have a long spear for a weapon and a light armor from the Lunar Guard sergeants rack and no shoes cause I want to know what shoes can help me move faster."

Blitz was next. "I have a green armor thats light, I presume its for better maneuverability?" Blitz said "And a dual swords one light blue, the other dark blue, both with red stripes in the center."

Night explained. "I only have one spear type, it allows you to call on lightning from anywhere, even indoors, and the armor gives you the proportional strength of an Earth pony of the size of whoever wears it. The green armor channels the winds to make you almost one with it and blends in with your surroundings if you stay still for a few seconds. The light blue sword has a chance to freeze your enemies while the dark blue sword makes anything that it hits twice as heavy, even if it doesn't cut. So if you hit something ten times, it's weight will double ten times. The red stripes allow you to sense body heat that's around you, as to give you better tracking, just as long as you're holding it that is."

"Awesome." Aurora put the spear to his side so he wouldn't cause any accidents with it. "I believe I'm ready for this mission."

"Daayyyyang." Blitz yelled mentally unfortunaltely for the other two the link was still active. Suddenly Filthy came marching when they were passing the hospital,and he was mad. "What i tell you?" Blitz said with an 'I told you so' grin.

Meanwhile Filthy Rich marched his way into the hospital. "Where is he? Where is..." He saw Shadow in the bed. "Is that him? I want to talk with him! You!" He pointed at Shadow. "Are you a Mr. Night Shadow?"

Night cut off the connection and turned to Filthy, smirking. "Why hello there, Filthy. It's been a few years."

"Few years, what do you talking about?" Filthy tilted his head. "I don't recall seeing you before? But do you know who does?" He walked up to Night, staring him right in the eye. "My daughter!"

Night kept his smirk. "Oh, we never met face to face, but we've done business before. And I remember her and saving her life. How is she anyway?"

"Scared like a kicked puppy." Rich narrowed his eyes. "Let me guess what business we did. You bought a jar of Zap Apple Jam and I sold it to you 20% off? Now if you're done looking at me with that stupid stare I'd like to know why my daughter won't even come out the door and how the buck you endangered her life. She's a filly for crying out loud. That and she's my daughter. If I don't start getting answers I won't stop till kingdom to make your life a living hell mister. Now tell me right this instant! What in the name of Tartarus were you thinking?"

Night's smirk left for an unnatural glare and his voice changed. "First off, don't you EVER talk to me that way. Second, she came with me of her own will to see what a Lunar Guard could do. Third, the business we did was four years ago, involving a certain band of griffon bandits, or did you forget that YOU hired me to wipe them out?" If Filthy was smart, he would know that when Night gets like this, the chances of him killing somepony were quite high.

Filthy narrowed his eyes. "If you're the Lunar Guard I hired than you would have been smart enough to know when you stop a filly from doing something as stupid as that." He stomped his hoof in frustration. "Look at you, up in a bed. What if you died? What if my daughter...I...I won't say it."

"And if you ever think you can just flash me some self-satisfied smirk because I'm the kind of parent who will bow down and kiss your hooves, think again, buddy." He pushed his snout against Shadow's. "You think you're some kind of hero? Think you can keep playing the part of supermare? Well...a hero doesn't take little fillies into the forest at night to show off their bravado. I won't call you a coward, but I will call you a fool. You stay away from my daughter, okay. Consider you're act to save her making us even. But I owe you nothing. And I don't care what she says. You are to stay away from her or so help me, I will personally strangle you with my bear hooves." Filthy took a deep breath. "You do not want to anger a father protecting his daughter. If you're half the stallion you say you are, you'll stay away from her."

Night got out of the bed, the pain ignored, and grabbed Filthy by the throat and slammed him against the wall. "Now you listen to me you insignificant worm. I'm a little unhinged at the moment, so you will be silent. I have more than enough dirt on you to drive you into the ground bitless. I'm no hero, I'm no better than the scum that I kill. But there's a difference between me and them. Where they show fear to a more powerful figure, I gather every ounce of information on said figure to use against them. I'm glad that you care for your foal, but I can't help, but think that maybe you're more worried about your image than about her. Instead of seeing me, you should be with her right now, comforting her after what's she went through. Trying to scare me into your demands will only succeed in making me want to kill you. But I won't because Diamond needs a father, a better one than you, but we'll make due. Remember, if it wasn't for me those years ago, we wouldn't even be having this little talk. Cross me again and I'll let some personal secrets about you out. Maybe even tell a few to the Princesses, I'm sure Princess Luna would love to hear some of them."

Filthy Rich scowled, spitting into Night's face. "How dare you. How dare you think that I'm more concerned about my image than my own damn daughter. Go to Tartarus with whatever dirt you found on me. I'm Filthy Rich for a reason. And I'm not demanding you to give me anything. I'm demanding a damn apology."

He slammed a hoof in Night's cheek. "Did that hurt? Didn't think so."

"Dad..."

"Diamond..." Filthy's eyes lit up. "Diamond...what are you doing here?"

"I...I know I sort of kicked you out of my room but...what the heck are you doing to my Daddy, Night?" Diamond's gaze turned to one of anger. "You let go of him right this instance."

"Diamond, go back to the house. Please. Daddy's fine."

"No you aren't! He's holding you against the wall like some...some thief! Stop it! Right now."

Night dropped him and scowled at him. "She is the only reason I haven't done more to you. I know the real you. You may have changed from when we last met, but your sins will never be forgotten. As for Diamond, the only one that can keep me from her, is Diamond herself. She deserves FAR more than what she has. She's a wonderful filly that I would give my life for. Remember that she saved your life, not the other way around." He lowered his head so their eyes met. "I will leave her alone, until she says otherwise, but if she is hurt in any way while under your care. I. WILL. KILL. YOU."

"YOU SHUT UP!" Diamond smacked her hoof against Night. "You shut up about my Dad! Just shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut. UUUP!"

"Diamond please don't." Filthy picked her up. "Remember, take some deep breaths--"

"No I won't." She walked up to Night. "You make me sick, Night. You...you are just some dumb idiot who doesn't know anything about ponies. All you do is judge judge and judge."

She didn't know what came over her, but she somehow felt obligated to defend her father. "He's not the best Daddy. He isn't very good at plays. He makes bad jokes."

"Hey."

"He likes weird romance stories. But he loves me. He tucks me into bed. He helps me with my homework. And even though he barely gets time off his job, he tries to make time for me. So you shut up about my Dad! Maybe you should stop looking for bullies and look at yourself some time. At least my Daddy had the guts to stand up to idiots like you."

Night looked at her in silence and sorrow. He then turned slightly and looked at the table used in the surgery. He saw what he wanted. "You're right." He walked over to the table and picked up a scaple. "I'm only a plague to other ponies. The moment I make friends, I ruin everything. But that's about to end." He raised to tiny blade to his throat. He turned back and looked Diamond straight in the eye. "I'm so sorry." His tears flowed.

"Starswirls's beard!" Filthy ran up, tackling Night to the floor.

"Daddy!" Diamond cried out

"Doctors! Get security in here!" Turning to Night, he managed to grab the scalpel and toss it across the room. "What do you think you're doing? Trying to land yourself in some asylum?"

Night didn't struggle, there was no point. "I'll only cause more pain. Diamond is right. I dispise those who opress the weak, but I'm the same. What just happened proved that. And I can't seem to stop hurting ponies emotionally. You yourself stated that I could have gotten Diamond killed today. I swore to protect those who live in Equestria. The best way to do that is by ending it ." He finished by biting his tongue, blood gushing out.

"Oh Celestia cry me a rainbow." Filthy wiped the sweat off his brow. "Listen, Night. I'm sorry. Sometimes I lose my temper. But for honest-to-goddess sake, you're taking this to the extreme. And will you stop trying to kill yourself in front of my daughter? The last thing I need is her savior cutting himself like some juvenile delinquent. You want to be a hero, stop trying to take the coward's way out and stop crying about yourself. A real hero accepts his faults and works to improve upon them."

Night didn't say anything, as his tongue was bleeding in his mouth. But he thought on what Filthy said. He remembers how he was cold and cruel to those who didn't obey him, even more so when he hired them for an extermenation. But this stallion was the complete other side of the coin. Night couldn't face him or Diamond. And if Silver found out....he prayed that wouldn't happen. When he opened his mouth to speak, intead of words, blood poured out.

"Oh shoot. Doctor! Get him in asap!" Filthy turned to him. "Get him something to knock him out. I don't need him hurting himself again!"

After healing his tongue, Night smacked his mouth to get the taste of his own blood out. The doctors couldn't knock him out no matter what they tried. The drugs barely made him sleepy and magic hardly affected him. He turned to Fil- Mr. Rich and began. "Mr Rich, I know it won't make up for what I said and done, but I'm going to do you a favor. I'm going to destroy all evidence and files that could be used against you. When I'm done, you'll have a perfectly clean record and if somepony does find something, I'll personally handle it. I am humbled to say that you now have a Lunar Commander on your side." He gave a strong salute, then relaxed before continuing. "And I'm terribly sorry for putting Diamond in danger. I'll respect your wishes and stay away from her." He gave a low bow like one he would give the princesses.

"You don't have to destroy squat." Filthy shook his head. "But stay away from Diamond. Until you can prove to me you're a better stallion and one who is more realistic about his surroundings...it'd do you well not to judge other ponies on superficial evidence. If somepony looks like a burglar, they probably aren't. If somepony acts corrupt, they're doing it wrong. Ponies aren't black and white, Night. They're all manner shades of grey."

Shades of gray. Silvers words rang out through his head. 'So this is what she meant.' He looked Mr. Rich in the eye. "I understand, but regardless, I will still clean your record. Diamond needs a father and I now see that it should be you. If you ever need help with anything, don't hesitate to ask." He turned to Diamond, a sad smile on his face. "I guess until I earn back your trust and your fathers apporval, we'll have to put our day out on hold for now."

Diamond nodded. "I think that's best. Daddy?"

Filthy smiled, ruffling his daughter's mane. "Let's go home, Diamond. I'll tell you that joke about the Diamond Dog and the banker..."

"DAAAADD..."

"No buts, you're grounded young lady." And with that they vanished behind the door.

Night watched them leave with a heavy heart. He messed up, AGAIN!! He may have been forgiven again, but soon that will change. He could only hope that he could before that happened. He snuck out of the hospital and headed home, his wounds healed enough. He walked through the town, admiring the night sky. Stopping, he began talking to himself. "The night is beautiful, as always, but I think Silver is more beautiful." He smiled to himself as his wounds fully healed in the night air. One good thing about being a Lunar Wolf, all members are blessed by Luna herself and gain 'Night Heal' as well as other abilities, but these are subject to race. Night only got the healing.

"Ummm...Commander?" A short, plump colt in a suit tapped the general lightly on the shoulder. "I have a note here from the Ponyville Bank of a special notice for you. To be read at the bank at appointed time, which is in just a few minutes."

Night took the note with a smile and a nod and thanked the colt. He headed for the bank and made it at the right time and held up the note. "Alright, let's see what we got here."

Dear Commander,

We seem to have come to a mutual understanding. As you know, our banks are prided for their discretion. And we'd be interested in creating an account with you. Just ask the manager to talk to a Mr. T.G. Honesthooves. He'll lead you down the corridor. Knock twice once you reach the door.

Night's face hardened. 'Well, isn't this intresting. I seem to have caught somepony's eye.' He went into the bank and asked the manager where to find the pony in question. He was directed to a door to which he knocked twice, as the note stated and was let in.

Another stout stallion was at the door, but flinched a little at the appearance. "Oh dear...that explains a lot." He hoofed Night another note.

Outside the Everfree Forest. Down the road.

"I hope you're worth the trouble my boss is going through to get you here." The stallion sat back in his chair. "Well...go on then."

Night was begining to feel like he was in one of role-playing games he'd seen his wolves play from time to time. Shrugging, he headed to the next spot. He had arrived and was alone, but sensed somepony watching.

"Mr. Shadow is it?" A voice whispered from the trees. "My friends have been keeping an eye on you. And must I say, a pony like yourself ought to have more security in his bank."

Night didn't budge, his face a mask of stone. "What's in my account is only a fraction of what I have. Now quit wasting both of our time and tell me what you called me for. I have Timberwolves to hunt and you're in my way."

A chuckle. "And where do you store the rest?"

Night only replied, not even twitching. "The princesses have hold of it until I ask for a quick withdraw. Now what do you what? Your note said we had similar intrests, so what would they be?"

The voice answered. "The pursuit of progress. Of change. An investment in this change would do quite nicely, yes?"

"Explain."

"We will keep your money safe. No high interest rates. We have quite a reputation, and our banks can be any bank in the world. Very...convienent for somepony like yourself."

"Maybe I didn't make myself clear. WHAT. DO. YOU. WANT? Nopony goes through THIS much trouble just to get somepony to set an account with them. So either come clean or I walk. I can tell we would good allies, but I only ally myself with those who don't go cloak and dagger to speak to me."

Two icy blue eyes appear out of the trees, the thing stared into his soul. Into his own body, looking over every curve and feature. "Your silence. I don't like squealers in my business. If we are to be allies, I need you to give me your word of confidentiality. And in return, I will put whatever dirty secrets you have to bed."

Night's eyes narrowed. No, he couldn't have....he had to make sure. "You're going to have to refresh my memory. Just what do you want me to stay out of that you would dig up dirt on little ol' me?"

"My business is looked down upon for giving second chances. Nobles, rivals, and perhaps even a few royals here and there. I just want your assurance that if and only if my business comes to light, you will do your best to defend it. We may work under shadows, but we're all honest folks trying to earn a living. I want a guarantee that you support my mission of uniting our banks under one system."

Night couldn't help, but smile happily. "You could have just asked, you make it sound like the princesses hate you. I'm going to guess that it was you who helped change Mr. Rich?"

"Mr. Rich? Hardly. He invests in my company, but does he know...well...not so much. But I wanted to make sure of course."

Night chuckled. "You didn't have to bring up the dirt on me. Had you been upfront with me from the start, I would have said yes." He heard Blitz in his mind. "Excuse me for a moment, mind link coming in." "What's up Blitz? You got something?" After hearing what they found and who they caught, he told them to bring the stallion to his house and to the basement. "Sorry about that, couple of friends of mine had found a stallion tampering with a few maple trees, so we're going to question him. But yes, you have my support. If even the princesses go against you, I'll still help."

"Good." The voice chuckled. "Head back to the bank. I'll let them know you're on board. Oh and Shadow...I reward loyalty. But disobedience...that can be punished."

Night gave a glare, but not one of disrespect. "If I did anything to harm your work, I would eat my own legs and let myself bleed out."

"Be careful what you promise...it might come back to bite you in the rear."

"If it came to that, I would no doubt deserve it." He walked away and headed for the bank, but as he left, he heard the voice say one last thing.

"Is there something troubling you Commander? This conversation doesn't have to be entirely about business, you know."

Night stopped in his tracks and sighed. "It's just....I wonder if I'm even really needed. I may have saved a filly, but it was my actions that put her in danger in the first place. Then I meet her concerned father and how do I react? I throw him against the wall and threaten his life, making the same filly I saved witness the worst side of me. Then to set things right, I try to kill myself, only for the father to stop me and tell me what an idiot I've been. The bottom line, what good am I for other than killing?" A tear had escaped and landed in the dirt.

For a moment it was quiet. "Well...why did you take the filly out? Why did you threaten her father? And finally how would killing yourself set things right?"

Night shakily breathed in. "In order? Me and the filly had a bet and I took her out for it which resulted in us getting attacked by Timberwolves. I threatened her father because I remember him being the worst scum in Equestria and I didn't think he cared for his filly when in fact he did and I nearly killed him in front of her. And all I bring is misery, one of the first friends I made was hurt because of a poor choice of words, then I let out a monster in me and nearly rape another friend. And now this. So again, what good am I for other than killing?"

The voice sighed. "I'm a hypocrite when it comes to morality. I understand it well enough, but I don't much care for its uses. I feel it blinds the mind from what's important. But...from what I'm hearing...you're suffering not because you can only kill. You're suffering because you can only judge. There are pros and cons to this. Judging the situation and determine the best course of action, such as staying away from a forbidden forest at night, might have been a wiser course of action for your fillyfriend. Immediately jumping to the conclusion that her father was vile scum is equally hypocritical. If he's a business pony, which I believe he is, you have no right to assault him even if he is scum. You kill others for a living. Soldiers. Things that have families no? But you do it for the necessity of your own country. This businesspony...how was he vile? And most likely, the answer will be because business requires him to be. There's no such thing as an honest merchant. If they were honest, they'd be selling things at their exact price and run out of business. No real point in profit now, is there? Poor choice of words also come from poor judgement calls. You cannot assume what you don't know. You cannot expect things to remain static. You have to adapt. Yet, I understand the intentions. You want to be a whole...good natured soul. To be the defender of the innocent, like some superhero in the comics. But we can all agree that innocence, like superheroes, don't exist. They never will. Everything has a bit of evil in them, but you learn to work with it. You can't expect to bring in your own failures and try to drive others to...pity you. You're a grown stallion who weeps like a foal and fights like a fool. But I digress. You're a capable fighter, just not the best. You will never be the best. And once you realize that and learn to humble yourself in front of others...you'll be able to make the right judgement calls."

Night sighed and smiled. "How is that the others said something like that, but it takes a blunt answer to get it through my thick skull?" He looked back, not really looking at anything. "I'll try not to judge so much. I'm not trying to be a hero, nor do I want to be. I just want others to be safe. Thank you, I hope we can meet face-to-face one day." He walked off, heading home with a much lighter heart, and a much MUCH clearer head.

The banker waited patiently, twiddling his hooves. "I hope he answers. Then I can get back to work."

Night went back to the bank before heading home so he could give his answer. He knocked the door twice like before a was let in, him smiling.

"I see everything went well?" The banker asked.

"You have my full support, just let me know if you ever need my help." Night smirked.

The banker gave a broad smile. His boss really did know how to convince a customer. Pulling out a large white packet, he gestured for Night to look it over. "Excellent, if you'd just sign here and here we can begin? You're officially a member of the Ponyville Bank!"

Night signed the papers after looking through them. If there's one thing he knows what to do, is look through a contract BEFORE signing. Seeing as how there was nothing that could be used against him unless he desevered it, he signed and hoofed it back. "Sorry if I seemed unsure there. I had a fellow of mine become a victom of a contract that made him lose nearly everything. It's now become a habit that I check through any and all contracts I sign, just in case. But your boss is real helpful, I now have the answers that had been slapping me in the face all this time."

The banker smiled. "Yeah, most ponies think bankers are just cold...heartless cretins. But we're ponies too you know. I mean, yeah our boss can be a bit tough. And certainly doesn't like to be seen. But they know how to run a business. And that's good enough in my book." He smiled at Night. "You are to also understand that any betrayal of this account or information of it is a strict liability on you. These kinds of accounts aren't the ones you brag about to your friends. They're under the tab and radar. You can request the money anywhere within Grpyhos and Equestria, and as long as you pay the interest, we're good." The banker looked over the forms. "Oh yes, yes...this will do just fine."

Night grinned at the banker. "As I said to your boss, if it should come to that, I would no doubt deserve it."

"Excellent, how did you find...her personally?" The banker twiddled his hooves nervously. This guy was way too happy to sign a contract.

Night answered the banker with the smile. "First off, I didn't know that she was a mare, the voice was garbled. Second, let's just say that if she weren't against it, I'd extend an invitation to join the Lunar Guard. A mind like hers is a rare thing, you're lucky to have a boss like her."

'He actually...nevermind I had the same idea to as manager.' "Well...she's certainly strong-willed and goal-oriented. Hehe. Although for some reason, she prefers being referred to as mister. Says most ponies like to trust a colt's business. And yes...a mind like hers...you don't meet often. As for the Lunar Guard, I'm sure she'll be fine just supporting it as is." Did this guy not see the oddness about her eyes. No sense of pupils, almost like a shark's eye when it bites down its prey. A rare mind? If you considered her sadistic streak maybe. And participation in the Guard? The manager almost laughed out loud at the notion.

Night smiled. "In my own opinion, I trust a mare to do business over a stallion, but that's just me. Well, have a good night." He turned and left for home, expecting guests.