Eclipse let his gaze wander around the hotel lobby. “Not too shabby. Looks like it’s in decent repair without giving that ‘high and mighty’ vibe Canterlot hotels do.”

Aranna chuckled. “You really hate that city, don’t you?”

Eclipse slumped. “Why do they have so many prissy nobles living in the same place? The haughtiness per square inch is unbearable! At least the eastern side of the city has some regular people living there instead of a bunch of gaudy mansions.”

“Says the guy living in the royal castle.”

“Shut up, Aranna.”

A third voice spoke up. “But the conversation’s just getting good.”

The pair turned to find Vitamort strolling up to them. “Welcome to the hotel I've called home since I arrived in town.”

“They let you rent a room here?” Eclipse asked. “I would have thought they’d be too scared, considering your… occupation.”

“They let me in on the condition that I didn’t do anything or have any experiments that caused too much damage or ungodly smells.” Vitamort chuckled. “Truth be told, I don’t really have an interest in that sort of thing. I just read and try to learn a new spell every now and again. I just accepted because it’s easier than arguing the point.”

The mare at the desk looked up, waved and returned her attention to her work.

“See? They realized that I’m decent enough.”

“Only because your bits were decent enough, too.” The mare responded.

Nodding, Vitamort turned back to the duo in front of him. “I’m glad you accepted my invite. But where’s the rest of your party?”

“They went down to the marketplace.” Eclipse said. “I think they’re just looking out for more information.”

“Is the changeling disguised?”

Aranna shook her head. “It’s not like the town doesn’t already know he’s here.”

Vitamort frowned.

Thorn laid the menu down, confidant in his order. “I will have a coffee.”

“W-w-would you like c-c-cream or s-sugar with that?” The terrified waitress responded.

“No, thank you.”

“R-r-right away.” The mare turned and moved away from the table as fast as she could without running.

Thorn gave his menu one last glance. “I wonder how the rest of Blackreach is doing.”

His reverie was broken by Dust Demon nudging his with a hoof. “I think she likes you.”

“Because barely contained terror is equivalent to love? Hmph. Please use your brain before jumping to conclusions, Dust Demon.”

Dust Demon smacked the changeling in the side of the head.

When the waitress returned with the coffee, she was greeted by the sight of a brown pegasus trapped in a spherical bubble of green magic. He was currently shouting obscenities at the changeling powering the shield, but his words were muffled.

Thorn turned to look at the stunned waitress, who, with mouth hanging open, set the coffee on the table. “Ah, my drink has arrived.”

The waitress screamed.

Blinking slowly, Vitamort grunted. “I suppose that’s true.” The stallion coughed into his hoof, took off his cloak and sat in a nearby chair.

“Listen… to be honest, I don’t know what the deal is with this evil necromancer. I’ve tried to find out, but I’ve never gotten close. A guard did, once, but he’s still hospitalized. Comatose, from what I’ve heard. Any leads I could dig up are dead ends. The one that might not be is still too far out of my reach to investigate.”

“So you want us to help you?” Aranna asked. “Great.”

“I want you to help this town.” Vitamort replied. “Something I suspect you are here for, anyway.”

“Guilty.” Eclipse chuckled, raising a hoof.

Vitamort nodded. “I am here solely to stop this menace. But the lead is in the next town over and leaving too long would endanger Braycover.”

“What about the paladin lady?” Eclipse asked. “She seems like she can hold her own.”

“She is trustworthy enough, but she doesn’t trust me. If I try to leave, she’ll insist on coming with, to make sure I’m not actually going to lend a helping hoof to the other necromancer. And, she wouldn’t dare venture off on her own.”

“Why not? She could investigate and you’d be here to protect… Oh, yeah. She doesn’t trust you enough to let that happen.” Aranna grumbled, rubbing her chin. “Unless the two of you went off on this little quest of yours… and left us here to keep mister villain from stomping the town!” She pumped her talons, excited at the excellent plan she had conceived.

“That could work.” Eclipse agreed. “Instead of having to be the guy at the center of the adventure, I can just sit back and give the main crew the time they need to find the bad guy’s weakness, or whatever. It’ll be a nice change of pace from leading the charge.”

“One slight problem.” Vitamort said, an apologetic smile on his face.

“Oh, come on!” Eclipse moaned.

Aranna nodded. “Seriously? There’s more?”

Nodding, Vitamort grimaced. “Sacred Lance has it out for Eclipse almost as badly as she does for me. I can’t blame her. Every fiber of my being is telling me to be more cautious with you and the group who follow you. Sadly, I feel that I have to trust you if I want this threat to end.”

Eclipse frowned. “Well, then. I guess at first glance I’m evil, then.”

“Chaos magic, for one.” Vitamort began. “Not to mention the rather muted color scheme. Heroes are usually brighter. Though, I suppose the black armor Lance goes around in is an exception, as well.”

“What the fuck does color have to do with it?” Eclipse said, checking himself over. “Gray happens to be my favorite color. I can be gray if I want to.”

“And language, too.” Vitamort chuckled.

Aranna ruffled her wings. “Okay, so there is just about nothing to do. Now what?”

“On the contrary, I believe there is something to the benefit of all.” Vitamort, Eclipse and Aranna all turned, surprised to find Sacred Lance standing there. Behind her was Sagebrush, Thorn and Dust demon, the last of which was currently tied and being carried by the paladin.

“I hate all of you.” Dust Demon muttered.

“You did attack me.” Thorn returned. “Even after I released you from the holding sphere.”

Sacred Lance unceremoniously dropped the stallion onto the ground. “I’m just surprised that it was the changeling that was trying to keep the situation from escalating.”

Thorn smiled. “Stick with us a bit longer, Paladin. I promise that you will be truly surprised rather soon.”

Sagebrush nodded. “Anyway, we’ve been here for a while. Heard some of those ideas you were tossing out, at any rate. I don’t know what she’s planning, though.” He motioned towards Sacred Lance.

The paladin smiled. “Actually, it’s rather simple. Vitamort is correct in assuming that I wouldn’t trust him or the chaos mage with this town, and I wouldn’t want to let them out of my sight. But, we also can’t leave the town undefended. So, I propose that the changeling, griffin and Sagebrush stay here, while the three of us, along with Dust Demon, investigate this lead of yours.”

Vitamort blinked once. Then twice. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak. “So you have some trust in the changeling, then?”

“In light of recent events…” Sacred Lance replied, unsubtly glancing at Dust Demon.

“Screw you, lady.” Dust Demon grunted.

Eclipse sighed. “Front of adventure, here we come.” He turned to Vitamort. “I don’t suppose you’ll handle all the actual investigating, at least?”

Vitamort smirked. “I think you’ve been stuck in a role, like it or not.”

“Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.”

Author's Notes:

The other branches might bash on it for not being as hardcore, but Air Force basic training was still two months of absolute suck.