Nightshade nodded. "Oh, I know it wasn't him. The timing isn't right. It's just a really weird coincidence." *********************************************************************** Cricket sighed. "My songs don't have a permanent effect. I can convince not to go today, but tomorrow? She'll be at the station spilling her guts."
"Right, right. Timing. Plus, he's like... was gonna say alive, but you know." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dusty rolled his eyes. "Try paying her off. Or... I could meet her. Wipe the memories."
"Well, that too," Nightshade acknowledged. *********************************************** "You can do that?" Cricket asked. "Okay, that might be best. I'll go..." "No, you won't," Future Nightshade interrupted "I'll be here with Raven in twenty minutes. When I get here, give me this note." She tossed Cricket a sealed envelope and headed for the door. "Oh, and one more thing... don't tell me I was here."
"We better head back to the bar. Maybe Az knows some stuff." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Confusing," Asmo commented.
Twenty minutes later, Nightshade walked into the bar with Raven. "Hey Az! Guess what? We just blew up your house! With a nuke!"
Nightshade nodded. "Your old house in Hollow Shades. Turns out it was the house where Raven lived. We blew it up."
"No," Nightshade said quietly. "I'm not accusing you. But my gut tells me that what happened back then... it had something to do with you. Maybe you pissed off the wrong pony and he went looking for revenge years later. I don't know."
Azrael took a deep breath. "I've no idea who I could have angered. I maintain that it was random." "Commom?" Hooded Pony asked. Dusty shrugged. "Somewhat."
(To Hooded Pony) Not an animal. Cybernetically Enhanced Humanoid. (To Az) Any progress with those supplies, by any chance?
The hooded pony shook his head. "I... do not know that last word." "By the gods," Azrael growled, "One moment, please. Talk to this... probably cultist."
Nightshade shrugged. "I need to talk to Maya. Something just feels off to me. Also..." she glanced at the hooded pony, "...this guy's an assassin. I recognize the weapons. The Guard uses a modified version in their light scout armor."
"Astute observation." He held his hoof out. "Navaha Escondida. And you, beautiful, must be Nightshade."
(Just go back and read it. It's only a few pages.) Nightshade nodded. "I am, in fact, Nightshade. And how do you know me?"