Shadow, Love and Pride

XI

Chatting and Moonshine

Kido, Derpy, Rainbow and Pinkie found a flight carriage. Derpy and Rainbow strapped themselves, Kido and Pinkie mounted. “Doesn't this belong to somepony?” Kido asked the group.

“Meh.” Rainbow shrugged her shoulders and flew off. Derpy quickly had to pick up the pace.

“WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!” Pinkie yelled in excitement.

“I REGRET NOTHING!!!” Kido had never flown before. Needless to say he found the experience terrifying.

Rainbow and Derpy kept flying higher and higher. They reached the clouds. Pinkie just giggled. Kido wondered if the altitude was necessary. They stopped gaining altitude, they were above the clouds. As scared as he was Kido couldn't ignore the beauty around him, He even saw the moon from a far, he stretched his hand, he felt like he could just grab it and take it home.

“You know I have always wondered?” Pinkie asked.

“What?” Kido said.

“We have pretty advanced cameras now, don't you think it's about time they took some colored images of the moon?” Pinkie asked.

“By the Goddess, Pinkie.” Kido put his face in his palm.

“Pinkie... You are so random.” Rainbow said.

“I don't get it.” Derpy declared.

“And another thing Wolfy. You call out to a Goddess, are you part of a cult?” Pinkie asked.

“I've been wondering about that too.” Rainbow said.

“It's a long tale.” Kido answered.

“We got ten minutes. Give us a short version.” Rainbow assured.

“I escaped at the age of sixteen, so at the time I first prayed to the Goddess, I was twelve. In Tartarus, werewolves became the dominant race of all the inhabitants, and through the years we evolved, became smarter and eventually learned how to read. That one ability was the trigger. We learned magic, war tactics, everything we could get our hands on. In the archives of those we conquered, we found our history. Each text had a different story about the origin of my species, but there was always one common denominator in all, references to “Lupus Tyrannus” as the first werewolf. He valued strength, power and pride as traits. He conquered many lands by force. My kind started to think of him as a God, and prayed to him as such.”

“Okay... So where does the Goddess fit in to all this?” Rainbow interrupted.

“I was the weakest of my clan. But I had a greater mind than that of my clan members. For all our knowledge, my kind worshipped pride over all other traits. I kept reading and discovered that all the stories of Lupus Tyrannus also indicated he had a wife “Lupus Mater”. They separated because she wished to live in peace even after she was no longer... whatever my kind was before being turned into wolves. She valued courage, justice and love. It made me start to think, that maybe my people made the wrong choice on who to worship.”

“Wait... The weakest!? But your an awesome fighter.” Rainbow was surprised.

“Strength wise.  I wasn't able to beat any of my other clan members in arm wrestling, but I always got the best of them in a fight.”

“How?”

“There were books about combat and war strategy, even one on knife throwing. I practiced what they preached.”

“So despite what your clan believed, you chose a different idol.” Pinkie added.

“That I did.” Kido confirmed.

“More story time later, we're GOING TO LAAAAAAAND!!!” Rainbow Dash announced and began a rapid descent. Derpy and Pinkie laughed the whole way down.

“JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL!!!” Kido yelled in terror. The ground came ever closer, but at the last second the carriage made an abrupt stop and gently landed just a few feet from the air. Rainbow and Derpy unstrapped themselves.

“Now that was fun. We should go faster next time.” Pinkie said.

“We could, but Derpy will have to keep up.” Rainbow declared.

“I can do it.” Derpy said.

“That be awesome....” Pinkie was interrupted.

“NOOOOOOOO!!! BY THE POWER OF ALL THAT IS HOLY!!! NO!!!” Kido ran from the carriage  into the middle of the group and yelled hysterically. The girls just looked at him confused. But quickly started giggling. “Let's look for Mr. Grains, it's still four thirty.” The girls followed still giggling. Kido headed to the what seemed to be the family house.

“If this farm is anything like Sweet Apple Acres, there's still work to be done. We better check the barn.” Rainbow proposed.

“I agree. But I find it best to inform the owners we are in their property.” Kido answered. He proceeded to walk up to the door of the house and knocked.

“Yes who's a knockin'?” A stallion's voice with a light southern accent was heard coming from inside.

“Mr. Grains?”

“Who's askin'?”

“Mr. Grains I represent the new guard station at Ponyville. I'd like to ask about why Ponyville, specifically Sugarcube Corner, hasn't received their shipments of fresh flour.” At that moment a middle aged stallion opened the door. He looked Kido up and down, then the girls.

“Y'all don't look like any guards I've ever seen. Heck you ain't even a pony and what's with the mask... wait... you're that weird fella' that saved the town, you were in the newspaper.”

Indeed I was fair sir.”

“Then shucks, at least two of you have a badge, come on in I'll have the misses fix up lemonade.”

“You're most kind.” Kido entered the humble home followed by his friends.

“Y'all can sit, go on don't be shy.” Mr. Grains offered. They sat in a long dinning table. “Sugababy we have guest, we still have lemonade?”

“Yes and some of your special brew. Who is it?” A female voice came from the kitchen.

“It's that fella' that saved the town, he came to help the Cakes.”

“Well I'll be, someone is helpin' us workin' folk.” Mr. Grains sat at the end of the table next to Kido.

“Now how can I help you help us?” asked Mr. Cake.

“WHERE WERE YOU EXACTLY ONE MONTH AGO!?” Pinkie Pie yelled. Everypony looked at Pinkie confused.

“Pinkie there is a process and proper protocol to follow when speaking to those involved in a case. We shan't be lowered to the level of those we fight by using petty threats.” Everypony was even more confused as they looked at Derpy. “What?”

“You really spend a lot of time around Kido huh?” Rainbow said.

“He's the wolfboss.” Derpy said proudly. They all laughed.

“I apologize Mr. Grain, Miss Hooves here is a guard in training, and the others are volunteers, they have been a great help.” Kido said.

“No harm done. This house is only fun when the kids are here...”

“Nice to know.” Mrs. Grains said arriving from the kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Grains laughed together and then kissed, she brought a lemonade pitcher and glasses for everypony except her husband who was handed a tin jar and an empty glass. Kido couldn't help but look at it.

“Their all out workin', finishing up. And please call me Pickin' and this here's my darlin' Fresh.” Mr. Grains noticed Kido looking at his glass as he served himself a clear liquid. “Son, you feel like trying  mans drink?”

“Do roosters sing when the sun rises?” Kido asked snidely.

“That they do.” Mr. Grains served Kido from his jar. “This here is the purest distilled Moonshine in Equestria. My Great Great Granpappy's recipe using grains from this very farm. Cheers.”

“Cheers!” Everypony in the table said. And drank. Kido and Pickin' made a gasp as they swallowed.

“Ol' Granpappy sure knew what he was doin'.” Pickin' laughed as he patted Kido in the back. He served himself and Kido another round.

“Oh Goddess!!! Okay, One, two...” Kido said as he clanked glasses with Pickin' and they drank. Kido started coughing. They both laughed and served another round. The girls looked at Mrs. Grains, she shrugged her shoulders. Pinkie whispered to the other women and started giggling. They agreed on that they wanted to see Kido happily drunk and how it would be hilarious.

“I usually stop at one, you know because of the family and all. But this makes me remember the good times with my pappy, just relax to admire a day's work with a bottle of Celestia's gift to us workin' folk. This ones for you pappy.” They clanked glasses and drank.

“He was a great man I'm sure.” Pickin' served the fourth round.

“The greatest dad a farm boy could ask for. What about your folks?”

“My mother was a monster, cared more about her ego than anything, even her own flesh and blood... but my dad... Good ol' dad. To him I drink.” He raised his glass.

“Here! Here!” Yelled Pickin'. Once again they clanked the glasses and drank.

“Looks like somepony made a new bestfriend.” Rainbow whispered to the girls. They giggled.

“Anypony that drinks with him is his bestfriend.” said Mrs. Grains. They laughed and watch the boys.

“Alrighty then... now... NOW... I must interrogate you. Why isn't SugarSquare Corner getting the stuff... the stuff...?” Kido clearly can't handle his liquor.

“Flour?” Derpy said.

“Elementary, My dear Watson!”

“But I'm Derpy.” The others laughed as quietly as they could. “What?” she asked the girls.

Pickin' took a deep breath ad looked down. “The shipments get stolen on the road. There's three of them,  they wore all black and masks just like you. My eldest boy got a beating by those thugs the first time they showed up. The next week us four, me and my three boys, made the delivery together and they still got the best of us. My littlest boy got hurt real bad, he's only fourteen, got a broken leg and can't work. It's tearing up the family, my oldest wants to get back at them, my littlest feels useless, and I couldn't protect my boy. And every night I fear for my family, I got my sweet wife and two girls to protect.” He started to shed tears. His wife and the girls looked at him, a father that feared for his families safety. He lifted his glass, Kido lifted his own. They clanked and drank.

“Canterlot still gets shipments I hear.” Kido said as Pickin' filled the glasses, it seems the quantity of drink increments with each passing drink. Now they at their fifth.

“Those famby pamby prissy fillies wouldn't even protect their own mothers. The Canterlot shipments get delivered by air with FOUR guards protecting it. They wouldn't help even after I pleaded when my boy got hurt. BAH!!! I'm sorry but my family comes first. We stopped trying to deliver. I know I told the Cakes I would handle it, but they have their fillies now... I just couldn't bring myself to tell them I refused to deliver.”

“I understand. I will make the delivery tonight and catch those responsible in the act. Your family will no longer have anything to fear.”

“I'll drink to that!”

“Here! Here!” They clanked their glasses and drank once more. “Well Girls let's go.” he made to stand but nearly tripped. The girls gasped. “Where's the shipment cart Pickin'?”

“I'll take you right now and here...” Pickin' stood up and walked to a nearby cabinet and came back with a tin jar. “Not much, but it's for you.” Kido thanked the Grains and so did the Girls.

Mr. Grains lead them near gates of the farm. There was a carriage filled with bags. “This here's it. Prepared it just in case the guards suddenly decided to help us. A man can dream. Y'all take care now. And fella', come by sometime and we'll chat some more under better circumstances. What's your name by the way?”

“Kido sir, at your service.”  Kido said as he shook his new friends hoof with his hand.

“Kido? Boy howdy, you just keep getting stranger and stranger.” They laughed and Mr. Grains wobbled his way back home.

“Wolfy you made a new friend.” Pinkie said happily.

“Your funny wolfboss.” Derpy said.

“We spent a lot of time enjoying your performance. Let's get this show on the road.” Rainbow was anxious to see some action.  Kido stood silent and still for a few seconds, the girls looked and shrugged their shoulders at each other confused. Then he spoke.

“As I choose to walk the righteous path. And protect those that follow it. I made a promise to stand for those who giveth me the chance to prove. To prove I am from the shadows but belong to them I do not. To prove my heart belongs to the light. To prove above all to myself I am worthy of trust and love. Tonight my friends, WE RIDE!!!”