What did ya git fer him? (Patreon)

Bombay Bombastic was finishing up the books when there was knock on his office door in my Equestria dreamscape. Without looking up from the ledger he was writing in he spoke.

     "Who is it and what do you want?" He grumbled.

     From behind the door he heard Rex's muffled voice. "It's me boss. Ya, ya got visitor." Bombay could hear tentativeness in horny toad's voice which was uncommon. "She says she's got business with ya." Link

     "Hold on a second." The mouse stowed the ledger in one of the desk drawers. At the same time he quietly opened another drawer and carefully withdrew a large pistol. Quietly he disengaged its safety and set it in his lap. Then spoke again.

     "Okay. Let them in."

     The horny toad opened the door and made a polite gesture for the visitor to enter. Standing the doorway was an adolescent female mouse who was just taller than the horny toad waistline. For her age the newcomer was wearing an unusual ensemble of crimson leather that in the hallway light looked like freshly flayed flesh. Around her neck was a brutal collar of blackened iron with a glowing orange star pattern at the front of it. A pair of long bone handled knives were stuck in her boot tops. They slowly emitted wisps of black smoke or vapors. The two other things that were immediately apparent to Bombay were:

     First. While the visitor looked like a mouse no more than 14 years old she had commanding presence of one much, much older and much more powerful. Also so she moved with an almost predatory grace and confidence.

     Second. Was the look that Rex gave him when their eyes met. Bombay had known the horny toad for years, and he was an unflappable individual who could keep his cool under most circumstances. What Bombay saw in his eyes was a look of fear.

     Bombay remained seated with hands resting on the desktop as he addressed the newcomer. "Good evening. I am Bombay Bombastic." He said in a very subdue voice. "Please come in and have seat. Apparently you wish to speak to me?"

     The newcomer silently stepped into office and sat down in the offered chair she crossed her legs and then rested her hands in her lap. Then she nonchalantly looked over her shoulder at Rex who was still standing in the open doorway.

     "This ain't none of yer business. So be on yer way and shut the door while yer at it."

     Bombay swallowed and nodded his head. "It's alright Rex. Why don't you and the rest of staff call it an early night and just lea–"

     "I'd strongly advise that nobody skedaddles from here till r' little chat is over and I mosey off." Newcomer interrupted. "It's really nasty outside. Ya don't want ta go wanderin out in it. Trust me." she said this while shooting Bombay a very predatory grin

     As if emphasis the newcomers statement the howls outside the restaurant became shrieks and screams that physically rattled the walls of the establishment. Bombay swallowed and nodded his head. "Yes. Yes that seems wise. Rex. Please leaves us. I'll call you if I need anything."

     The horny toad slowly closed the door. As soon as the door shut the young mouse made casual gesture with her left hand and Bombay felt his own wards being overridden as new ones were applied as the physical lock clicked shut. With that accomplishment she looked down and brushed off some minuscule amount of dust from her leather bustier top as she spoke.

    "Befer we git down ta business why don't ya do us both a favor and put that peashooter ya got in yer lap on the desktop. As a good will gesture." As she said this she looked up and directly into Bombay's eyes. Her eyes were now glowed softly. "Beside it won't save yer hide if ya decide ta be dumb!"

     Bombay started speak, but then stopped. Slowly he reached down and lifted his pistol up and placed it on the desk. The young mouse nonchalantly reached forward and plucked it off the desk. She looked at it for a moment. Then she casually tossed it up in the air where it suddenly vanished. When restaurant owner made a sudden nonverbal sound of alarm she glared at him.

     "Ya will git yer toy back when we’re done. Besides, all ya would've dun with it is git yerself hurt." With that done she leaned back in her chair. "Now. Ya just did a deal in this here room a few hours ago with a mutual associate of ours. I know it went down. What I'm hankerin ta know is what did ya git fer him? I'll make it worth ta ya if ya just spit it out."

     "And um, which mutual associate would this be? I know many..."

     Bombay's voice tapered off as the light in the room began to dim while newcomer's eyes started to glow brighter yellow green. There was also an abrupt drop in the room's temperature. With a quick wave of her left arm the newcomer conjured a small image of King Trafalgar on Bombay's desktop. It glowed with the same yellow-green light. At the same time a dream diamond the size of a small chicken egg appeared in her right hand. In the now dimly it room it sparkled a star in the nighttime sky. She casually started tossing it into the air while looking Bombay in the eyes.

     "So. What did ya git fer him? Ya tell me and I'll give ya this here bauble in my hand?"

     "And if I don't?"

     The newcomer caught the dream diamond in her right hand and clenched it in a fist. In a very soft but ominous voice she spoke. "Then things will most likely git very rough and messy." As she said this room grew darker as shadows started climbing walls like snakes. Bombay felt a terrifying wave of intense and ancient magic wash over him. He closed his eyes bowed his head. Eventually he spoke

     "It was a vial of primal salamander blood from Lake Kranena of Lower Dark Realms. I didn't get it for him myself. I just arranged for him to get it. That's all." Link

     He felt the room grow warmer and brighter. Opening his eyes he found the young mouse smiling at him. "There! Now was that so hard?"

     She promptly stood up and tossed the dream diamond on the desktop where it made a solid thunk sound. Then she held out her left hand and the pistol rematerialized out of thin air and fell into it. She gave it one last look then tossed it on the desk as well. She got up and turned her back on Bombay. She clapped her hands and her wards vanished and the door unlocked. She stepped out in the hallway and looked back.

     If ya and yer staff knows what's best fer y'all, ya won't say peep about what happen tanight ta anybody. Ya git my drift?"

     Bombay stared wide-eye at her and nodded his head. She gave him one last looking over and then left.

     Holly Wood and Rex were silently sitting in a booth staring at tabletop. Outside the wind continued howl and scream like the chorus of the damned. The newcomer came back out into the restaurant. She started walking toward the doors when she promptly stopped and sniffed the air. Her head turned toward bar and she immediately made for it. Without asking she vaulted over it. And started picking through dozens and dozens of glasses that were destined for the dishwasher. Sniffing them as she searched. Finally she found the sniffer that AJ had used earlier that evening.

     Carefully she raised glass to her nose and sniffed. Then she ran slowly ran her tongue around the rim and the inside of the glass. After a second she grinned and muttered. "Ya old fool. Ya didn't see this a comin either did ya! I wonder?" Link

     She sniffed the glass again and then looked up at the numerous bottles behind the bar. Spying bottle of Ladon Farms Special Reserve Applejack she snatched it off the shelf. Rex saw this and started to speak.

     "Hey! That stuff ain't cheap ya can't...." His voice faltered as she suddenly glared at him. Quickly he glanced back down at the tabletop.

     The young mouse snapped her fingers and a hip flask of swirling iridescent metal appeared in her hand. With a loud pop she pulled the cork from the bottle and then she unscrewed the cap to the hip flask. She poured a big healthy slug of the liquid into the flask. Then she screwed cap back on and then put the cork back in the bottle. Then she clapped her hands and the flask vanished.

     Leaving the bottle on the bar she leaped back over the bar and walked briskly toward the front doors. She threw arms out wide and the doors responded with a resounding crash as they violently opened up. Once again gale force wind came roaring in. It still had a stench that reeked of death, fear, and caustic chemicals. Holly was seated facing the doors; upon hearing them thrown open she looked up in alarm. As she watched it appeared as if the night reached out and swallowed the young mouse while grabbing the doors and slamming them shut behind her.

     Then it was suddenly quiet outside. Bolting out of the booth Holly ran to the doors. Rex initially tried to stop her but she was too quick. The rat threw the doors open looked out on a clear, calm starry night. Off in the distance some nighttime bird sang its tune. The horny toad came to a stop alongside her. For several second they said nothing. Finally the waitress spoke.

     "Have ya ever seen anything like this?"

     "Nope." Said the bartender.

     Holly shivered. "We, we should check on the boss.

     "Yeah."

     Then both turned and walked back into the building.

To be continued.