I never smoked much after arriving in Equestria. During college though, and for a few years after, I certainly fell into the habit. But ever since crossing over, even the urge to find a replacement for tobacco never crossed my mind. I chalked it up to some degree of happy fun purifying something or other in the air.

Now though, the cigar I held in my hands was certainly beckoning to me. I gently twisted it over a few times, occasionally glancing at the silver zippo in my lap that had come with it. Both the lighter and the band on the cigar had the same logo: A pair of S's beside each other with an off-center octagon surrounding them. Just one of the many crime family crests to be found in the human portions of the new world.

"What's that?" Came another voice. Turning, I saw Twilight stepping out onto the balcony I was sitting on. She trotted up and hopped onto the couch with me.

"A gift from Big Ricky," I explained, twirling the cigar between the fingers of one hand. "The Sour Stone gang agreed to withdraw from Little Canterlot once I made it clear the tanks were still technically my property, so you can resume shipping oil through the area."

"Yeah, that's what I've heard. You managed the whole situation pretty fast," she said with a smile, nudging me in the shoulder. "And I heard you didn't even need to threaten them!" She paused and her ears shot back.

"Well, you know, besides hinting that if they kept robbing our trains, they were technically robbing you," she added with a chuckle before pausing again. "And you know, all the, uh, baggage that comes with threatening you." I uttered a curt laugh and nodded.

"Not the first time I've cavorted with organized crime, so I know a thing or two about how to phrase things with them," I explained with a hearty sigh. "Old guys were definitely more polite though." I turned the cigar over, studying its wrap and seal. Twilight looked at me for a moment before tilting her head back in realization.

"Oh wow, that's right!" She gasped, bringing her hoof to her chin. "That was ages ago!" I paused for a few seconds before turning the cigar over and grabbing the lighter.

"More recent than you'd think," I replied, lighting the cigar and taking a small drag from it. Twilight frowned and nudged me.

"Aren't those really bad for you?" She asked and I gave her a tired smile, exhaling the smoke and scanning the horizon before I responded.

"Not the worst thing a guy could do to himself," I replied. She recoiled with audible disgust.

"Sure smells like it, though," she muttered, pulling the cigar from my hands with her magic and crumbling it inside a small magic bubble. She scooted closed and leaned against me with a hum. "And I thought you were trying to stop doing bad by yourself altogether." I shrugged and slipped an arm around her, and she slid onto my lap in response.

"Yeah, that's true," I idly scratched her side and scanned the sky in thought. For a few moments, only the faint din of the city around us was heard until Twilight reached up and tapped my chin.

"Whatcha thinking about?" She asked. I smiled with a shrug.

"Like I said," I replied as memories of a near-forgotten period of my life gained clarity in my mind's eye. The images of what I'd seen and done rapidly chased the smile from my face. "More recent than you'd think."

I peered around the tree I'd managed to creep to and scanned the path that ran along the edge of the Everfree. Unlike the forest, all of Ponyville was visible under the moon's light, and so I was able to see the few ponies still out this late. None of them had any urgency to their movements, which convinced me none were looking for me.

I narrowed my eyes and slowly emerged from my hiding place before dashing to the nearest house and pressing against it. I checked around its corner for anyone and then rushed to the next house. I carefully advanced through town in this manner, until the square and my destination came into view, and then I hid in the narrow alley between two shops.

I couldn't see the entire house from where I was, but the front door was unguarded and the light was on. Additionally, the curtains were pulled back and I could see candlelight flickering inside. All seemed clear, but after learning I'd been spied upon by Celestia, I no longer had it in me to trust anything in this town.

So, after looking across the square for anyone, I drew my blasting talisman and set it to charge. Unlike the crude version I'd entered the Everfree with, this one was made of stone and was smaller, like a TV remote back home, making it easier to aim and shoot. Its gems began circulating magic from the one all its raw magic was stored in and it hummed quietly, growing warm in my hand.

Taking a breath and listening to the rhythmic noise was slightly relaxing, which steadied my nerves enough to rush for the house I was spying on. Once I was close enough, I leaned over to look through the window and saw Jury-rig curled up on her living room sofa. I watched her for a moment and scowled when I saw her poke her head up and look back toward her kitchen.

She tilted her head before shaking it and then curled up again. Leaning the other way, I saw that the curtains of her kitchen were closed. Taking a shaky breath I crept up to the front door and stood just to the side before knocking.

No response came for a moment, but just before I knocked again the door was pulled open. Jury stepped out onto her little porch and briefly scanned the outside before noticing me. We locked eyes and her ears shot back before her eyes darted toward her kitchen for just a moment.

"How many?" I mouthed. She blinked and looked away from me, scanning the outside and gently stamping her hoof once. Taking a shallow breath, I nodded, gently gripped the frame of her door, and leveled my talisman. We shared a look as she turned to pull back inside and then..

I struck.

Using my grip on the frame as leverage, I swung myself around and thrust my talisman forward. The instant I did, the lone armored guard let out a yelp of surprise which turned to a yowl of pain as I fired my talisman, blasting him in the chest plate. Despite his armor holding against the worst of the effect, he was still thrown off his hooves and smashed into the cabinets of Jury's kitchen.

"HOOOugh?" He groaned and collapsed, rolling on the ground with his legs folded against his chest. I panted and tightened my grip on the frame to avoid falling over. My ears were ringing and my heart was pounding.

"Eddy?" Jury squeaked. I glanced down to see her looking up at me with tears in her eyes. She hiccuped and wiped her eyes. "What happened? Where've you been?" I huffed and glared at the incapacitated guard before nodding at her.

"Grab your things. We have work to do."

Author's Note