Journal Entry 047

Didn't know what it was. Whether it was that absolute rage I had developed for Mr. McTalk the other day, still bubbling within my soul, or some other factor, but I was angry, today. Of course, this was a special occasion- We were at the most prim-and-proper restaurant in the city. Though I kept my rage sealed under, I didn't drop my angered expression. Cadence and Armor sat together on one side of the table, and Twilight and I sat on the other.

Despite the fact that she could see I was angry, Cadence still wanted to start a conversation.
"So, Sifty, how was it down there? Surely, it couldn't have been an easy feat to rescue Shining Armor."

"And it wasn't." I replied, curtly. Thinking for a sec, I kind of felt like an asshole. "Er... Sorry. I'm just... feeling a little 'off' today. It was dark and scary down there. From what Armor tells me, he didn't have to fight them, but I got snagged by this thing called a 'Scarecrow.' I tell ya- Never. Again."

"Oh, my... Doesn't sound very fun at all! Well, I'm glad you risked your life to save Armor's..."

"Just doin' my job, Cadence..."

"Well, we're pretty glad to have you here," Armor began, "I bet you can smell trouble a mile away."

"...Only because 'trouble' smells like rotting pus." I retorted, my anger coming over me again. Twilight shot me a bit of a concerned look, but Shining Armor didn't seem to notice the agitation in my voice.

"Raaah... If you three will excuse me? I'm gonna go get some air." I announced. Leaving the restaurant, I simply sat at an outside table and somewhat meditated, my hands massaging my temples. With a deep sigh, I decided that a short little walk would be in order.

Was the lack of sleep the problem? Or was it something I encountered down in those caves? I sincerely hope I don't have some kind of acute traumatic stress disorder or some shit. With my current career path, going loco in the coco wasn't exactly preferable. No, no... it was something else.

A feminine scream echoed down the ally alongside the restaurant. Without a second of hesitation, I was scrambling backwards, nearly tripping over my own feet, and charging into the darkened in-between. Looking forward, I could see two thugs, and in front of them, a mare. A somewhat tall, skinnier Unicorn, with a white coat and a flowing, pink, slightly curled mane.

"Look, we ain't askin' much." Said one of the thugs. "Just give us what yer' packin', and we'll let ya' go." The stallion had a thick, city accent. Probably a tourist from Fillydelphia or something.

The mare shrieked as the other Stallion stepped forward. "But make things difficult, and we might have to get a little violent, eh?"

The trio was too distracted to notice my dark-clothed form sneaking up from behind. I walked on the balls of my feet and displaced my weight, meaning that the only thing that could have possibly given away my position would have been my breathing- And they were too riled up to hear something so light. Breaking out of my stealthy advance before the Stallions could do something, I grabbed hold of one's ankles from behind and yanked him backwards, throwing his forelegs off balance and him to the ground, on his stomach. His yelp of surprise alerted his partner- but it didn't matter much.

Before the one I was dealing with could react, I slammed the bottom of my boot down on top of his head with an axe stomp, knocking his chin into the concrete, and putting him out like a candlelight. As I finished with that, the other city slicker was cocking back a hoof, prepared to throw it at me from his hind-legged stance. As his wide, round punch came in, I quickly stepped forward and checked him at the shoulder- then I proceeded to slam my elbow across his snout. Twice. Rocked and slightly bleeding from my double-elbow slash, I took this as an opportunity to grab the rest of his foreleg, turn and throw my weight into him, then hurl him over my shoulder, slamming him down on the hard cement. Not content with this beating, I kicked my steel toe into his ribs just to make sure.

"Filth..." I whispered, under my breath. Dusting off my hands, I began to leave, before I heard that mare calling.

"W-Wait! Aren't you going to let me thank you?"

Slowly, I turned around to face her. Inadvertently, due to the darkness shading my face, I think I made the scene more dramatic than originally intended. 'Coulda sworn that one of my eyes was probably twinkling back light through the darkness.

"Doing my job. Thanks ain't necessary. You want a hint, miss? Avoid dark allies. Stick to the light."

And with that, I left her.

--

It was later on that I came back into the restaurant, and the trio was ready to leave. They were planning on simply walking back to the castle, in order to enjoy the cold air. Since the three knew each other from long back, I simply tagged along like another wheel. My purpose at the time was to make sure nothing bad happened. Bodyguard duty, essentially.

The day was warm, but the night was wonderfully brisk and breezy, especially up here in Canterlot. I would be going back to Ponyville with Twilight within the hour. The other girls did me the favor of taking all of my things home the previous day, bless their pony hearts. As Cadence and Armor returned to the castle, Twilight and I shot automatically for the Train Station.

Wasn't that long of a ride, being with her. We didn't really do much but talk. She brought a book, and began to read it, while I used a sharpie to field-shine my boots. Since I took great pride in my fieldwork, I took a lot of time with doing it. By the time I was done, we were home.

"Walk me home, Sifty?" Twilight inquired, shyly, while looking up at me with a smile.

"You know it, Sweetheart."

I nuzzled the tip of her ear with my thumb, and we slowly walked home. I'm not entirely sure what it was, but It felt like a presence of some sort was stalking us. Call it a warrior's intuition. As such, I kept my guard locked up, but didn't make it obvious.

I just wanted to get Twily home.

As she waved goodbye, a warm look in her deep, purple eyes, she closed her library door. I began to walk back to my house- but stopped.

Where was that odd screaming noise coming from?

I found out, of course. Out of the tree nearby, one of those horrid, blood-slinging monstrosities leaped out, it's half-split hooves sinking into my shoulders, and it's partially-stretched face trying to bite down on my head.

"WOAH! HEY! I DON'T ROLL THAT WAY, ASSHAT!" came my swearing tongue, and I barely managed to keep the damn thing from biting through my neck. After a little bit of it's annoying shrieking and my struggling, I finally managed to slip my knee out and pull a weight shift, enabling me to throw this screaming bitch off. No hesitating! Rolling backwards and to my feet, the creature was struggling to get off of it's back.

"No-No! You done gone and made Sifty all ANGRY-STYLE!" I growled, while kicking the creature in the ribs and grabbing hold of it's tail. Dragging it up and to me, I aimed my heavy boot, cocked my knee, and blasted down with a Stomp, crushing the blasted thing's soft, rotten head into nothing.

"GA-DOOM!"

As it's form went limp, I simply chucked it's corpse to the side, dusted myself off, and continued walking home.

I needed to take a goddamn piss.