Chapter 2.

The next morning, you’re woken by the sound of a hoof banging on your door. Dust drifts down from the rough hewn boards over your head, and you hear the occupant of the room above yours bang their hooves against the floor to try and get you to be quiet. Cursing under your breath, you open the shaking door to a stressed looking Guardspony accompanied by a juvenile dragon... at least you thought it was a dragon, it looked closer to an over-sized rodent with scales.

“Morning officer, what can I do for ye?”

“Green Paddock? I’m Sergeant Bridges, this is Corporal Needles. We’re with the guard.” The stallion pointed first at himself, then at the dragon behind him, who was attempting to stuff a pipe with tobacco.

“Aye. Whatcha need?”

“We understand that there was a disturbance last night, and are here to collect a statement.”

You open the door, waving a hoof around the room behind you,

“I think we should head to my bar. Bit more room, y’know?”

The sergeant nods, and turns to leave with his companion in tow. Grabbing your cap, you trot after them after locking the door. Outside, you follow them silently, trying to piece together your side of what happened last night.

“‘Ere, Brassy, you think I could have a drink when we get there?” Needles asks, lighting the pipe with a small burst of his own flame and sucking on it.

“That’s Sergeant when we’re on duty Needles, and you’re under-age.”

“But Bras- Sarge, I don’t get drunk like you ponies. It’s actually good for my flame glands.”

“Snappy’d go spare if he caught us drinking on duty.”

“Yeeeah, but who said ‘us’?”

You grin to yourself listening to them bicker. Passing through the town, you could see the hustle and bustle of daily life begining to get into full swing; a streak of rainbow bouncing between clouds to disperse them, fresh food being put in the window of Sugar Cube Corner, the scent of various apple-based goods floating down the way from an open cart.

Nearing the bar, you greet a fellow Clopliner, Mr Breezy. He tries to strike up a conversation, to which you nod towards the two guards accompanying you, he gives an understanding glance and tips his hat your way, before going back inside his fan shop.

Finally approaching the bar, you see Ditzy Doo stood waiting for you, a large crate by the door, a bundle of mail sat on top.

“Top of the morning Paddock!” She half yells, enthusiastically trying to mimic your accent, “Thank you so, so much for letting Dinky perform last night, it meant so much to her!”

“Not a problem, Ditzy. Where is your little’un today?” you respond, levitating the delivery receipt over and signing it with a pencil offered to you by the mailpony. Dinky quite often accompanied her mother on the weekend mail route, as it was slow enough for Ditzy to complete without having to fly.

“She’s visiting a little friend of hers, with Berry’s daughter?”

You gulp.

“Did you hear about last night?”

“Yes. That’s why I’ve got the fuzz with me.” you respond, motioning to the two officers, stood waiting for you to open the door, “If you could get Snappy to come, it’d be grand.”

“Captain Snapshot is taking a statement from Ms Punch, mate.” the sergeant said, looking a little impatient.

“Uh... Brassy...?”

“Not now, Needles.”

You glance behind you, looking past the pompous sergeant to the figure Needles was pointing at. Bridges, having not seen his superior approaching, kept talking, babbling on about wanting to do real policing, not dealing with “Bloody immigrants” - seemingly oblivious to the fact that Cloplin was well within Equestria’s borders. As Snapshot approaches, he clears his throat and you laugh as Brassy snaps into a salute, one hoof dinging gently against his helmet. The corporal copies the gesture lazily, to which Snapshot rolls his eyes, unused to the lack of professionalism seen outside of his usual department within the royal guard.

“Sergeant, Corporal, you’re dismissed. I witnessed what happened, so we don’t really need his statement.”

“But sir, protocol dictates...” Brassy starts, before being cut off,

“Sergeant. You know who I report to, and you know who I regularly spend a great deal of time with. If you have a problem, get in touch with my commanding officer.”

The stallion sergeant visibly shrinks, his companion unable to stop himself from snickering. Embarrassed, he salutes again and gallops off, leaving the young dragon behind. The remaining officer waves, more than salutes, before making a move as well.

“Oh, Corporal, thought I should mention, I’ve got some lovely fresh blue-john gems in this delivery. Would you be interested in stopping by later to sample them?”

He smiles, revealing a set of beautifully shiny teeth and promises to come and visit the bar later, glancing at Snapshot, who appears to give no sign of disapproval.

You finally manage to open the door, levitating the delivery box in first after you and Snapshot wave farewell to Ditzy. Glancing around, you curse yourself again for expecting the place to have been broken into - it had frequently been the case when you had been working at the Lyre, often ponies with little to lose had found a way inside and had taken beer or occasionally money if they managed to get into the safe in the back. Ponyville, however had never given this problem, which made you smile. You spend a few minutes putting stools back on the floor, before Snapshot takes a seat at the bar, removing his helmet and placing it in front of him.

"So, what can I do for you?" you ask, unloading several smaller packages from the crate you had brought inside.

"What really happened last night?" the captain responds, staring you dead in the eyes.

"I told ye', he hit her, so I hit him. T'isn't right for a stallion to be beatin' on a mare like that."

"Hmm," The captain began,

"You've had a problem with him yourself, haven't you? What happened? Did he try it on with your missus?"

"No, and she isn't quite my wife yet, Paddock."

"Care to tell me the story then? I saw Macintosh holding you back."

Snapshot sighs, looking at himself in the polished oak of the bar. Recognising the look, you levitate a clean glass from the rack and pull a pint. Putting it in front of your only customer, he finally talks once more,

"When we were young, Pierce and I were friends."

"And he changed one day, aye?"

"Yes. You've seen Ditzy's eyes, haven't you?"

"Ah, they might be wonky, but they're amongst the prettiest I've seen."

"They weren't always like that. There was an... accident."

"His fault?"

"She was lucky not to have been blinded. Pierce didn't understand that though, he was too busy laughing at her misfortune with his new friends. It broke her heart."

"He's a nasty piece of work." You say, frowning and shaking your head, "I take it you're thankful for me having dealt with him?"

"I'll admit, there was a certain satisfaction in watching you, Paddock. With Berry's statement, we can have him put away for some time, provided the charges stick."

"What do you mean, if the charges stick?"

"Did you see him strike her?"

"Well, no, but it was pretty damned obvious... didn't you see the shiner he gave her?"

"Then there is a chance that he'll get off. It's up to the courts. Unfortunately I don't have the leverage to change what they think."

"Hold on, you work with the damned Princesses, you have their ears on a daily basis and you can't have a creep jailed!?"

The stallion looks down, looking as if he wanted to drown himself in the beer before him. Realising you lost your temper, you immediately apologise.
"I'm sorry Snappy. S'just not right that he could get away with what he's done."

"I know. Trust me, if there was anything I could do, I'd have done it." the guard replies, bringing his head up to look at you, "There actually was something else I wanted to talk to you about," He opens the saddlebag around his waist, and grabs a delicate looking envelope between his teeth. He places it on the bar, allowing you to levitate and open the letter.

----
Dear Green Paddock,

You are cordially invited to the marriage of Captain Snapshot of the Royal Protectorate of Canterlot, and Miss Cheerilee of Ponyville. This joyous ceremony will be led by Her Majesties, Princesses Celestia and Luna in full tradition of military matrimony, on the fifteenth of August, 1003CR within the halls of Canterlot Castle.

As this ceremony is military tradition, members of the guard are permitted to wear their dress uniform for the event; civilian guests are expected to be dressed in formal attire, and many tailors throughout the nation will be able to provide stallions with full morning suits. Following the ceremony itself, there will be a reception held on the grounds of Sweet Apple Acres, of which everypony is welcome to attend, but we would like to request that younger guests are taken home shortly before sunset.

We would also like to extend the invitation to allow you to bring a guest with you, however please inform us via D-mail or in person if you intend to bring somepony!

Our kindest regards,

Cheerilee & Snapshot.
----

You fold the letter up again and slide it back into the gilded envelope. Beaming, you turn to Snapshot;

"I'll definitely be attending... not too sure if I'll have a plus one to bring with me though."

The captain smiles, clearly in on some sort of joke that you're as of yet not privy to. He finishes his drink, nudging the glass towards you and you levitate it over to the sink to deal with later. The stallion places the helmet back on his head and bids you a good day, trotting out into the mid-day sun and no doubt on his way back to his mate...

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