The Vacation

Noble trotted up to the town, sporting his usual scarf, along with a stetson.
"You picked the worst clothing items for this trip, you know that, right?" Sky said.
"Hey, I like the stetson. It fits the atmosphere of this town." Sky rolled her eyes. "No, I mean the scarf. It's hot out here, why are you wearing it?" Noble looked down at his scarf. "I've told you a thousand times, the heat doesn't bother me. I'm heat-proof." Sky shrugged off his logic. "Fine, let yourself melt.", she said with laugh. "Let's explore this town a bit. We might meet someone interesting."

Snake Eyes groaned, her grey fur and black mane did not help matters. She even shed her usual black suit jacket to roast in her red button down. At least her signature black aviator shades helped with the glare.

"This was a horrible idea, Angel. Whydja' convince me t' come to this backwater town!"

Seraph shook his golden blond mane and closed his sky blue eyes. his white buttondown shirt and his argyle sweater vest didn't even show one stain of sweat. He adjusted his round glasses. "You were the one who suggested that we go on this little vacation, My Dear. I thought it was a grand idea! Now isn't this so much better than the Polluted streets of Manehattan!"

"Better than your hoity toighty Canterlot." Snake mumbled as she took another sip of her Long Island iced tea.

Seraph sat down next to her on the swinging bench on the patio of the house they rented. His brow furrowed as he faced his friend (with plenty of benefits) "This is still a very important trip. For us, I do mean. We could not do... this... without fooling the... 'Folks Back Home' that we are doing some idiotic dance around each other."

Snake Eyes contemplated this.
"I am so glad we aint doin that idiocy anymore."

Noble and Sky had stopped their exchange. They had simply been viewing the town and all that it had to offer.

"I think you're right. It is way too hot to be wearing a scarf.", Noble admitted, using his hoof to blow air in his face.

"Does that mean you'll take it off?",  Sky inquired.
"No." Sky groaned, and rolled her eyes. Noble brought his sword, leaving it strapped to his side. It didn't seem to bother him as he bounced through the town. "Is the bouncing really necessary?" Noble stopped in his tracks, and pointed toward two ponies who were on a swinging bench.
"Those two look interesting. You know the drill."
Sky rolled her eyes and sighed. "Do we have to?"
"Yep. You know how I get about meeting new ponies. And in a town so far from Ponyville? It's friend making time.", Noble declared as he bounced in the ponies' direction.

"Snake, Old Boy." Seraph shook his exhausted friend.

"Hmm?" She sleepily raised her ears, her eyes covered by her glasses.

"Social interaction." he waved at the two ponies. One bounced enthusiastically, while the other sulked along behind him.

"Hmm..."

"Now now, at least put on a smile. They do appear to be tourists, just like us." Seraph lifted her head with his hoof. Snake Eyes rolled her eyes and sighed. "FINE. But you owe me. And I don't mean in Bits. I mean in hot, nasty, Stick-It-In-The-Plot, Se-"

"Hello there!" Seraph interrupted his vulgar friend as he waved at the pair. "A fine day, is it not? Care to join us for a drink?"

"Not re- oof!", She was cut of by Noble's hoof jabbing her in the side.

"We'd love to!", he said, before glaring daggers at his sister. "What's up with you today?", he whispered. She waved the question off with her hoof. At least they seemed trustworthy enough. Well, at least one did. Noble took his sword off and dropped it on the ground, sitting down next to it. He was trusting, but he was a guard. It was his job to be cautionary. He beckoned his sister to sit next to him, which she did, hiding her distrust to the best of her ability. Noble knew that these two weren't from Appleloosa. He knew a Canterlot pony by heart, no matter if they were snobby or not. These two didn't look the snobby type, but were definitely from Canterlot.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. The name's Noble. Noble Shield. " He looked to his sister. She rolled her eyes.
"I'm Sky High.", she said simply.

Snake Eyes didn't notice the sword by the stallion's side until he dropped it. A standard issue for a Guard.

Her little Angel sure knew how to pick 'em.

She glanced at Seraph pointedly at the one in the scarf. Seraph's brow furrowed slightly but shrugged and adjusted his glasses. "So? trick-or-treat much?"

Snake Eyes scowled as she leaned forward in her swingy chair "No stupid. Not yet. Jusst don't like Boysss in Gold." She didn't notice her subtle lisp edge into her Manehattan accent.

Seraph massaged his temples slowly. "Company. Watch your Lingo, Bingo."

"Point taken. Have your fun." She sat back and observed the two newcomers.

Seraph took a sip of his (non-alcoholic) Iced tea and gestured warmly to two chairs "Apologize, If you hadn't guessed, we are not native to this charming town. My name is Seraph."

Snake Eyes waved and smiled behind her aviator shades. "Name's Snake Eyes. Long Island Iced Tea?" She offered.

Noble's smile had died down. Sky raised a brow at this. He still had a smile on, but one of little meaning. He had seemingly mellowed, unnervingly so. She made a mental note to take him to the Ponyville counselor when they got back. She had hoped his change of facial expression was subtle enough to make it past the two ponies in front of them. He had this sudden change of personality every now and then. She pinned it on the "incident" with their parents. Noble had stopped showing much emotion, aside from the small smile.

"I'd love some, thank you."

Snake Eyes nodded, slightly unnerved by his sudden bought of apathy. Already untrustworthy due to the fact that he was a guard, this turn of events was not helping that fact.

"Three Long Islands, comin right up." Any Manehattanite worth his (or her) salt would know how to make a Long Island Iced Tea, the quintessential drink of the city.


She sauntered indoors and to the mini-bar they had. "Vodka, check. Gin, check. Tequila, check. Rum, check. Triple sec, Really? Damn Discord, Angel, you really splurged on this one."  She marveled at the clear, orange flavored liquid before setting all five bottles onto the counter.

"Sometimes I feel I got to... run away/ I've got to... run away from the pain you drive into lovin me...~" She sang as she prepared the drinks, pouring the five liquors and liqueurs into a highball of ice, a splash of Cola and Lemon Juice. She sliced up a lemon and added a little slice to each glass as garnish.

"Now..." she muttered to herself. "Add straw... and done..."

Meanwhile, Seraph smiled and tried to make small talk.

Noble Shield... where did he hear that name before? The memory of the name on paper lingered in his mind.

"So, Mr... Shield, was it? What brings you and your sister to Appleoosa? Business or pleasure? Its a rather far way from Ponyville, don't you think?"

Sky could swear that the changes in personality were due to the Canterlot incident.

"Pleasure, Seraph. I'm taking my sister on a trip around Equestria, to try and dull the pain we endured after a recent fight with our...", Noble paused. His eye twitched. Only slightly. Almost unnoticeable. "... parents." He shouldn't trust anypony anymore. The last time he did... she helped and that's he should trust others!
What's going on with me...
"Sadly, and you may have noticed this, the whole incidence left me with a certain... bug."

"Ah." Seraph nodded solemnly. "I read about that. Your psych profile-" He stopped himself before he could continue as Snake Eyes conveniently came in with three glasses.

"Iced Tea Time! Made by yours truly the way they used to do it in the Roarin' Twenties." She put one on her chair, one with Noble, and one with Sky...

Seraph groaned and shook his head. "Really, Snake? The filly?"

Snake Eyes stared (or looked like it, her glasses still hid her eyes) at Sky for a good long second.

"Oh."

She put the drink next to Seraph instead. "Whoopsy. Sorry there." She chuckled uncomfortably. "I aint used to drinking with kids."

Sky waved a hoof.

"Nah, don't worry about it." Sky waved off any concern. "He needs the alcohol more than me, anyway." Noble glared daggers at her.

"Oh, please. This is only a small bug. You make it sound as serious as MPD or something else that gracious amounts of alcohol helps with." He knew that he was probably lying to himself. He may very well have a split personality. He just didn't want to believe it.
"Anyways, she can get something to drink when we get back on the train." Noble needed to keep this thought to himself for a bit.

"So about my psych profile..."

"'Gracious amounts of alcohol isn't really a proper substitute for any psychological disorder." Seraph said, nodding owlishly.

"So about my psych profile."

Snake Eyes adopted a look of confusion and annoyance. "Oh for... really, Seraph?"

Seraph quickly got up and shuffled inside. "Let me look around! We must have some soda somewhere!"

"Discord damn... Don't leave me!" Snake Eyes whispered urgently.


Suddenly, she was alone.

With a bipolar guard.

and his kid sister.

There are many things that Snake eyes doesn't like in this world, among them is Guards, and getting kids involved in any potential scuffles. In her line of work, there was no such thing as a good guard.

Well, Angel was sort of an exception. He technically wasn't with the Royal Guard, and he also was not all bad.

Snake Eyes squirmed uncomfortably. "So... your a guard, huh?"

Noble frowned at the unnaturally hasty retreat into the home. He then turned to the mare. She wasn't comfortable, that was for sure.

"Yes. It's really the only thing I know how to do, killing a pony so that several may live." He looked to his sword and kicked it away with his hoof. If he was going to let himself be a depressing, passive-aggressive prick, then he wasn't going to have his blade near. She whispered something interesting though. Guards have ears comparable to those of a damned elephant.Now, this was something that he didn't really care about. But why not have some fun with it?

"Discord damn, huh?"

Snake Eyes froze. Her tail twitched and waved back and forth. "You mussst be hearing thingsss." she said. "You gonna drink that?" She pointed to his Iced Tea.

Snake Eyes leaned back a bit, revealing the red iris of her eyes, but nothing more.

"Discord worship is pretty looked down upon. Usually because it goes hand in hand with certain... criminal dealings." She slowly took her jacket and moved it closer to her, checking to make sure her collapsible baton was still inside.

As a form of insurance, you understand?

"Nopony would want to openly admit to being a Discordian. It would be practically declaring you to be a criminal." She explained.

Seraph walked back onto the porch with a glass of Cola. He set it down in front of Sky and smiled. "Cola for a Thirsty Filly. Enjoy!" The stallion turned and watched Snake for a second.

"Everything alright, Old Boy?" He asked hesitantly.

Although her shades concealed them, it was painfully obvious she was staring intently at Noble. Whether out of interest, anger, annoyance, fondness, or a strange combination of all three, It was not entirely clear.

Noble gave a smile and raised his glass into the air, before bringing it down.

"Cheers, old boy.", he said, before sipping his drink. Sky was watching the two. Noble was having fun. He never toyed with others for his own amusement, like, ever. She decided that she was being too quiet.

"Thank you, Seraph. These two were just...", she paused as she glared at the two of them. "... bonding."
Noble could care less about the way his sister felt. He was having way too much fun doing this. And this confirmed his suspicions. He was going batshit crazy.

"So how about you tell me a little about yourselves?"

Seraph's smile remained on his face, but his voice shifted. He sounded a tad threatening, like his smile hid a knife.

"Watch that tone of yours." He reminded cordially. "Never know what trouble it could give you-"

Snake Eyes interrupted her partner loudly. "Private Contractor." She almost yelled. "Born in Ponyville, Bred in Manehattan. Ssseraph and I met in-"

"Saddle Arabia, I believe." This time, it was Seraph's turn to interrupt. His peered over the edge of his glasses at Noble. "Now didn't Somepony else come from Manehattan? Oh yes! I do believe that Snake and Noble have something in common!"

"Ssseraph." Snake Eyes hissed (literally) at her companion. Seraph stared back coolly and shrugged.

Noble chuckled at this.

"Yes. I suppose we do." Oh, and that stallion. Telling him to watch his tone? His tone was fine! But he seemed to begin shifting his own tone.

Was that a threat? Oh, you will regret ever giving me that to- As he was in the middle of though, a searing pain went through his skull. The worst pain he ever felt. So much he put both hooves up to his head, to try and soothe the pain.

Don't tell me. That bubbly idiot is coming back. Oh well. Fun while it lasted.

He quickly trotted behind the building, yelling as he went.
"I'll be back in a second! Sky, keep them company!"

Sky could only glare at him as he went behind the building. He had done most of the talking, and she certainly didn't want to mimic him. She had to make some sort of small talk.

"So, uh, the weather is pretty good today, eh?"

"Mhm..." Seraph drank a long sip of his iced tea as he stared down his snout at Noble, who disappeared behind a corner. No doubt to suddenly switch... identities? Personalities? something or another. Seraph was sometimes a forgiving pony, but if that one tries anything...

Seraph toyed with the idea of having to explain how a guardspony got third degree burns on seventy percent of his body.

Snake Eyes, on the other hoof, was welcome of the change in pace. "Eh, I aint one for the heat. Manehattan is usually pretty cool most of the year until summer. But this dry heat is brutal. Almost makes me wish I was back home." She sighed as she unbuttoned the next button on her shirt. "So how's about you, Kiddo? how'd you like the Wild West?"

Sky turned to the direction of where Noble ran to. She hoped that he would be able to expel any worries that she had, when he got back.

"It's okay, I guess. I mean, I think that it would be better if I only had the really happy Noble around." She hoped that they would find a way to keep him under control. As she thought about it, she heard hoof-steps.

"I swear, if that prick hurt anyone in the slightest way...", he mumbled to himself as he ran back around the house. As he got there, he looked over everypony. Seraph looked fine. Snake Eyes looked fine. And his sister looked fine. Still, he would rather ask.

"Are you guys alright? He didn't try to incinerate you, or anything did he?"

"Hurt?" Seraph glanced at Snake Eyes briefly. This odd pair caught their attention and interest.

Snake Eyes glanced down at her body. "Well see'in as we ain't burnt crisps, I say he didnt do any extraneous harm."

"Incinerated?" Seraph raised a brow questionably.

"Love to see you..." Snake paused for a moment with a blank expression on her face. "...See him try that."

"Mmm." Seraph nodded, mellow as can be. "Is... 'he' usually violent?"

Noble shook his head.

"No, he has never hurt another soul, but I assume that he has a knack for offensive magic, like me." Noble looked towards his sword, and levitated towards himself. "I also worry that he may be able to use this. He has my skill, but he's a coward. A clever coward, mind you. But a coward, no less."

Noble's horn shot out a small magical charge. His ears drooped as well. He wasn't sad that this thing was in him. He was angry. Furious even. He drove his blade into the ground.

"If I could, I would cut him out. I hate admitting it, but I am good at killing. It has only happened three times, but the faces haunt me still." Noble sighed. He didn't like thinking about the ponies that he has killed. But it brought comfort. Noble chuckled, lightly.
"But I doubt that you'd have too much trouble with him. Don't you agree?"

Seraph leaned back in his seat, regarding Noble. He looked him up and down, noting everything he could glean from a glance.

Snake Eyes snorted, full of hubris. "No offense, but I'm pretty sure that between the two of us, we could do fine."

"Yes." Seraph said quietly.

"And besides!" Snake Eyes punched her friend in the shoulder a little harder than he was prepared for. "My little angel here is the best there is at Ignum and Lux magic! That's Fire and Light. I think."

Seraph grew slightly quieter and withdrawn. "I only studied it a little in the Academy is all."

Snake squinted comically at Seraph. "But you would mop him in seconds with it."

"But I wouldn't."

"But you could." Snake said, slowly noting Seraph's serious tone.

"But I wouldn't." Seraph said, peering over his glasses. His eyes were not their usual sky blue, but a colder, icier color. Devoid of tolerance or amusement. He blinked, and the sky blue eyes returned. "Wait a minute."

He pointed to Noble. "You may be mis-diagnosed."

Snake Eyes rolled her eyes. "Oh for the shenanigans of Dis-"

Seraph quickly cut her off. "Noble, do you consider this... 'him' to be a separate pony from you? or is he simply... er.... how shall I put it?" he tapped his chin in thought for a moment. "Is he... another way that you look at the world?" He nodded, satisfied with his question.

"To summarize, Is your 'other side'... not you?"

Noble thought about the question for a moment. It didn't feel like they were the same ponies. But Noble knew where his companion got his views from.

"I don't really know how to answer that. I guess you could say that he was a way that I saw the world a long time ago, when I was living on the streets."
Noble snapped his head in the direction of Snake Eyes.

"Yes, I suppose that you both could hold your own"

Noble shook his head violently.

"Retrogressed Identity Disorder?" Seraph tilted his head. No no no. that was another pony entirely. Something about an eye... A brief flash of a picture of a sandy brown pegasus with golden yellow eyes came to mind.

"For Di-Goodness sake, Angel, I want grub. Shut up!"

"Oh. Right." the slightly chubby stallion tittered as he walked inside. "No matter! Do come in! I just had a pot of chili on the stove. It should be just about simmered to a delightful flavor!"