Chapter 30

"Flash, it's safe to come out now," I call through the intervening door, pounding on it with a fist.

"Are you sure?" he asks quietly.

"Pretty sure," I reply, my ears flopped down in shame.

The door cracks open just wide enough for a white-maned golden-furred head to stick its way out, "Are you really sure?"

I bop him on his nose, "Use this for its intended purpose, and you'll know.

Taking a deep sniff with said appendage, he grins sheepishly, "I guess it is safe... are you okay?"

"Yeah. Mostly just embarrassed. I'm sorry for any trouble I caused you. Trixie's not mad at me, is she?" I ask, my face heating up.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is not angry with you, Irony Shieldbreaker," I hear from behind Flash, before her powder-blue head appears next to his. She smiles up at me, "Trixie found her lover's response to your scent rather humorous!"

Now it's Flash's turn to redden, "Trixie! I thought you weren't going to mention that anymore!?" His voice drops to an almost inaudible whisper, "I begged you not to..."

She lowers her head, and eyes, "Trixie is very sorry, dearest Flash. She forgot in the excitement of talking to Irony."

Rubbing his muzzle against hers in a sympathetic nuzzle, he responds, "All is forgiven, but please don't forget anymore."

She nods vigorously, "I won't. Thank you, Flash."

I watch them nuzzle each other for a few more moments, then interrupt them, "Actually, I didn't just come by to have an awkward moment or two. Mindy and Moon Shadow tell me that there are a few more ponies out at the farm, and that they've started work on cultivating some fields. I thought I'd go give them a hoof, and was wondering if you two wanted to come with?"

"Actually, Trixie and I were just about to leave as well. We're meeting Mindy and Soarin for a double date..." Flash trails off, giving me a pleading look that begs me to understand.

I give a tip of an imaginary hat to him, "No problem. You guys enjoy your date. But, not too much, eh?"

He flushes red again, and Trixie giggles at him as she pulls him back inside their room.

I head off, shaking my head at their antics.

* * *

"Hi, umm, Irony was it?" a dark brown stallion, with a light gray mane and a plow cutie mark interrupts me pulling my own plow. I've been trying to lend my strength to their work by tilling the soil, since I overtop every pony present in size and raw power.

"Yeah, that's me. What can I do for you?" I reply, running a hoof through my mane, sweeping it out of my eyes.

"Yeah, hey... I, umm, hate to do this... but I kind of got elected to talk to you, since aside from you I'm the biggest pony here..." he paws at the ground with a hoof as he speaks.

"Okay... what seems to be the problem?" I ask, knowing that a problem is really the only reason they would have elected a single pony to come over to speak to me.

"I can't think of a nice way to say this, so I'm just going to come out with it... you kind of suck at farming. Everything you do makes more work for us... so... can you please stop?" he looks up at me, and I can see a little fear in his eyes, but also a pleading, too.

Shrugging off the yoke from the plow, I reply, "You know, you're right. I do suck at farming. It is definitely not my talent, thank Celestia."

He heaves a great sigh of relief, presumably at the fact that I didn't get angry, or upset. I give him a brief salute with a hoof, and make my way out of the rows of tilled soil.

I take a seat in the shade, next to a bright blue unicorn. She extends a cup of water out to me with her magic, "Here, you look thirsty."

I take a sip of the water, it's ice cold, "Wow, that's refreshing. Thanks!"

"Ice and water magic happen to be my specialty," she replies, gesturing to the snowflake on her hip. "Don't feel bad, they asked me to stop helping yesterday. They don't mean to be rude. Watching them, I've realized that they're able to work together on a level that those of us without the talent can't understand."

She looks down at my rump, "With a mark like that, I'm betting you were a soldier, or a guard, of some sort. Your talent is fighting, isn't it?"

"Well, you're half right," I answer, turning so she can see the other side, "my other skill is smithing."

"Whoa!" she exclaims. "I've never heard of somepony having different cutie marks before. At least, I can't remember having ever heard of it..." she trails off.

I know what she means. Our memories are so spotty, that we have no idea what we might have known before we were cursed. Though, here I do remember something, "According to Twilight, it had never happened before in recorded history. She said I was an anomaly."

"Interesting," she says, sitting back against the trunk of a tree. She remains silent for several minutes before she speaks again, "You know, there's an anvil in the barn. There might be some tools in there, too."

I can hear the blood suddenly rushing through my ears, my heart is pounding. I feel the deep longing pulling me to my hooves. I don't realize it, but the unicorn smirks at me as I'm drawn toward the barn without so much as a farewell.

* * *

Shouldering the door open, I quietly slip into the old farm building. Looking around, I can tell there aren't any electric lights in here. Given the age of the structure, this isn't much of a surprise. What is a surprise, is the nearly pristine propane fed kiln staged off to one side. Very, very nice... I muse to myself, taking in the 110 pound Anvil nearby, with no less than three quenching tanks nearby. They're all empty right now, but that is easily remedied.

I take my time looking over the equipment. I'm quite surprised at the condition it's all in. Whoever this farm belonged to before Lightning Dust, must have had the same love for metalwork that I do, I realize while studying the Anvil. It's obviously well used, but doesn't have any of the normal signs of negligent use. No chips. No cracks. No warping. There isn't even any rust. I run my fingers across the top of it, then rub them together. Ah, that explains it... whoever used it last had oiled the entire thing up, evidently expecting there to be some time before it would be needed again.

Everything is in its place. There is a rack of hammers and tongs, sorted by size and weight. They are all similarly oiled. It's like they knew they weren't coming back... but hoped someone would make use of it again someday.

I stroll out to the propane tank to check the connections to the barn. They're in good order, as are the regulators. I open the required valves, allowing the liquid petroleum gas to flow once more. After that, it takes very little time to fill the quench tanks with the appropriate baths.

Less than an hour since first entering the barn, and everything is ready for use again. Priming the forge, I soon feel warmth emanating from the 2000 plus degree oven. Finally, I make a quick trip out to my car, where I pull two cloth wrapped bundles from the trunk.

I unwrap the bundles, spreading the cloth and its contents out on the workbench. One of them contains several of my personal tools that I just couldn't bear to leave behind, including my leather apron, my favorite hammer, and sharpening stones. The other... Hmm... I wonder...

Slipping the apron over my head, I set to work, humming quietly under my breath.

* * *

After a time, I look up from my hammering to see the same bright blue unicorn I'd met under the tree sitting on her haunches by the door. I nod, acknowledging her presence, and start another heating cycle. In the time it takes the metal to turn a bright yellow, two earth ponies I recognize from working in the field show up. Without saying a word, they take a seat next to the unicorn.

I continue, my hammer-falls forming a cadence. When I turn to heat the metal again, I realize my audience has grown once more; from three, to five. Two pegasi I don't recognize have come to join the party.

Holding the hot steel in a pair of tongs, I place it on the anvil and resume pounding on it with the smithing hammer in my right hand. The thuds echo around the old farm building, creating a heavy beat. Soon, the lone unicorn opens her mouth, and begins to sing. Within a few words, the other four join in:

Will you, will you,

Come with Irony?

He cast out the ponies,

We were forced to flee.

Strange things did happen there,

How much stranger could it be?

If we met all the ponies,

Just like you and me?

Will you, will you,

Come with Irony?

Where ponies called out,

Hoping to be free.

Strange things did happen here,

How much stranger could it be?

If we met all the ponies,

Just like you and me?

Will you, will you,

Come with Irony?

Where we can fly,

And all can roam free.

Strange things did happen here,

No stranger would it be.

If we met all the ponies,

Just like you and me?

Will you, will you,

Come with Irony?

Wear our blades proudly,

Side by side ponies.

Strange things did happen here,

How much stranger could it be?

If we met all the ponies,

Just like you and me?

Hissing punctuates the last line as I thrust the metal into the quenching vat, releasing a plume of steam.

The room falls silent, the moment broken.

The unicorn, whose name I hadn't caught before, and the two pegasi leave while I'm inspecting the piece. That should take an edge really well. I hold it against the other parts that came out of the bundle, A perfect fit.

I pick up another blade form from the bundle to inspect. My concentration is interrupted by a clearing throat.

"Excuse me, Miss, um... Irony?" I realize it's the same pony that asked me to stop helping them in the fields. He's alone now, his partner evidently having left him to speak to me.

"Hmm?" I cock an eyebrow in his direction.

"Umm... I'm really sorry about before," he looks down, turning red, "I shouldn't have said that you suck at farming."

"It's okay. I do suck at farming. Plowing is definitely not my thing. This," I sweep my hand in a circle around me, gesturing at the forge and anvil, "is where I belong. This is my talent. There's no harm in facing the truth."

"Even so, I'm certain there was a better way of putting it."

"I value bluntness. Short and to the point. Don't worry about it, okay? Oh, and please thank everypony else for the song. It really made my day," I smile.

"Thank you. I don't really know where it came from, but it felt right. To me, at least."

He pauses, taking a deep breath, "So, do you think you can repair our plow for us?"

I chuckle at his awkwardness, "I think I might be able to."

His head comes up, excitedly, "You'll help us?"

"Of course I will, but there is a small problem," I say, immediately dashing his excitement.

"Oh," he hangs his head again, "what is it?"

"I need metal, if I'm going to make anything. There isn't any here. I'll tell you what. If you will get me high-carbon steel, I'll fix anything you need," I offer a hand to him.

"I think we can do that," he places his hoof into my hand and we shake on it.

* * *

"Irony, what the hell are you doing?" the powder blue pegasus demands, storming into the barn.

"Soarin, I'd think it was obvious. I'm fixing a plow. Why?" I ask, smirking at his grumpy look.

"You know that's not what I'm talking about! Do you know how much raw steel these ponies are asking me for? And when I asked them why they need it, they all say that it's for you! Do you have any idea what metal costs these days?! What is going on?" he slows down at the last, his anger seeming to whoosh out of him with his breath.

"I wondered how they were going to go about getting their hooves on it. I guess it makes sense they'd come to you, since you are kind of responsible for bringing them here in the first place. I really do need the metal, though. Tools break and need repaired. But, more importantly, I need it to make armor and weapons."

"Armor and weapons? What do we need those for?" he asks me quietly.

"We're thinking long term here, right?" I look over at him.

He nods in response.

"Our goal is to get home, to Equestria, right?"

He nods again.

"But what if we can't? What are we going to do then?"

He shrugs.

"If we can't get home, we will have to make our home here. We will have to be prepared. Celestia forbid, we may even have to defend ourselves. The more ponies we gather here, the more people will notice us. We can't stay hidden. It's in our nature to gather; you know that, you were born a pony. We will be seen. You know there are some terrible people out there that will try to kill what they don't understand!" I'm breathing heavily, getting myself a little wound up.

Soarin holds up a hoof to stop me, "I know. I already thought of all those things. The steel will be here tomorrow afternoon. Dust has authorized me to acquire what we need, she can cover it. I just wanted to be sure that your reasoning was the same as mine. You've got a pretty good head on those broad shoulders of yours," he pauses for a moment, "Speaking of which, you might want to wear more than an apron when working in here."

I look down, "Why?"

"Technically, you're covered, but, well... you know..." he trails off.

"And?"

"Nevermind. Do as you will," he turns around, heading toward the door. "Mares!" he mutters, shaking his head.

I can't help it, I throw my head back and laugh, a deep belly laugh. I swear I can hear him growling as he makes it out the door.

* * *

"Hey Flash," I call as I tromp up next to my brother.

"Oh, hey sis," he waves a hoof.

"How's tricks?" I ask.

"Oh, she's fine," he answers distractedly.

"Not Trix, as in Trixie. Tricks, as in stuff. You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good. My mind is just elsewhere, I guess."

"What's on your mind? Something bothering you?" I turn to face him directly.

"Oh, it's nothing. Hey... what do you think of Mindy?"

"Umm... she's cool, I guess. Kinda crazy, like Pinkie Pie, I think. Why?"

"No reason. Just curious," he evades.

"Okayyy... you know you're weird, right?" I quip before trotting off.

* * *

"Lightning Dust! How was your meeting with Agent Walker?" I ask, wrapping her in a hug. She got home earlier in the day, but we barely were able to exchange a few sentences before her presence was requested by the FBI. After that, she and Mindy made a trip in to the local Wal-Mart with a panel van.

"Well, we're going to have a VIP visiting us tomorrow. He wants to see what we're all about," she responds, wrapping her arms around me and giving me a nice kiss.

"Mmmm, that's nice. How big a VIP? Governor? Senator?" I query, nibbling her ear.

"Bigger than that. Much bigger. His daughter is turning into a pony," she heaves a pleasant sigh from my ministrations.

"Much bigger than a Senator? You don't mean... the President?" I gasp.

"The one and only. He'll be here tomorrow, possibly with his daughter. I don't know if he's planning for her to stay with us, or what, but we should be ready for the possibility."

"Is this an official visit? Or is it hush-hush?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"No media. As far as the rest of the world knows, he'll be at Camp David."

"That makes sense. How would he explain to the rest of the country that he's meeting with a group of small, multi-colored, talking equines? It would blow most of their minds," I state, smirking at the thought of a nation-wide mental reset.

"Yeah, I think that's exactly what they're trying to avoid," she grins, evidently picking up on my mental image.

"So, moving right along, care to tell me about your trip to Wal-Mart?" I ask, suppressing a giggle.

"Nothing to tell. We went, bought a bunch of supplies, and came home," her face turns a bright shade of pink.

"Really. Nothing interesting happened?" now I'm fighting the grin that keeps trying to spread its way across my muzzle.

"Nope. I don't remember anything happening," she bites her lips.

I pull out my phone and play a video, "So, this isn't you, Mindy, and a whole bunch of people high-stepping your way out of the store?"

"How the heck did you get that?!" she nearly shouts.

"Soarin's search programs caught the video as soon as it was posted. They downloaded it, and stored a copy, before it could be removed from the internet. It's gone from the net now, by the way."

"Somebody must have recorded us and put it up. So, yeah... things got a little weird. It all started when Mindy found the chocolate covered espresso beans..." she trails off.

I feel my eyes widen severely, "Did you say... Chocolate. Covered. Espresso beans?!"

Dust nods, "Yeah..."

"Oh my god. And the store is still standing?"

"Amazingly enough. Have to admit, it was a lot of fun," she shrugs her shoulders.

"What about the Rockette dance routine? How did she talk you into that?" I ask, bewildered.

"I have no idea how that happened. Mindy said something about the Music of Harmony," she shrugs again.

"Okay, I guess that kind of makes sense. Guess spontaneous song and dance routines were real, not just imagined by the writers. Damn, I never really considered that before..."

"Whatever it was, everypony was affected. While it was fun, I'm sure glad it's over. This pony is not a huge fan of singing and dancing," Dust shakes her head as she speaks.

"Oh, I don't know. I bet you've got a great singing voice," I tease her.

"Shut up," she blushes, and turns to go. "I have to talk to Soarin about the visit tomorrow. I'll meet back up with you later."

I wave goodbye, still smirking. I think I'll go talk to Moon Shadow...

* * *

"You know how I told you that I've been Dreamwalking every night?" Moon Shadow asks me.

"Yeah, you've been practicing, and trying to remember more, right?" I look at her, my head turned to one side.

"Exactly. And let me tell you, it's been a bit of a wild ride. I--"

"Wait, wild, as in dangerous?" I interrupt.

"A little..." her ears flop over, and she won't look me in the eye.

"You mean very, don't you?" I glare at her, my arms crossed over my chest.

"I made it out okay... with a little help," she says, the last under her breath.

"What kind of help?"

"Erm... the Princess kind..." she squeaks.

"You got in enough trouble that you had to be rescued? By Princess Luna?!" the volume of my voice rises on every word, until I'm almost shouting.

"I would have gotten out of it on my own, even if she hadn't shown up." she retorts. "Eventually..."

I glare at her for a moment, before she speaks again, "Besides, Irony, what else am I going to do? I need to learn about my magic, about my abilities. There isn't any other way to do that! I don't have Luna here to guide me!"

"I'm sorry. I know. It's not your fault that you can't remember all that you knew before, or that your teacher isn't here," then something she said before hits me, "Wait, you said that Luna saved you, won't she teach you again? I mean, I know that she's not here, but from what you've told me, distance has no meaning in the Dreamworld. Isn't that right?"

She shakes her head, "You're right about distance being irrelevant, but there's another problem. That's what I was actually working my way toward before we got off on this tangent. Princess Luna didn't recognize me. After helping me, when I tried to talk to her, she ran. She literally ran, like I was a windigo or something! And she's continued to run from me every time I've seen her since. It's worried me."

I lay my neck over hers, hugging her close, "I'm so sorry, Moon. It has to be hard to have her not know you. But, you have to remember, she has a lot more years than we do. There is a lot more for her to have to sort through. Give it some time, and maybe she'll remember. And, if she doesn't, you can remind her."

"Thank you, Irony. It's been bugging me for a couple days now. I just didn't know what to do," she kisses me lightly.

"For now, I'd let her be. Chasing her will only scare her and drive her off. And if pushed hard enough, she might even become violent... Though I think that'd take a whole lot," I advise.

"That's a good idea, my love. Thank you again," she nuzzles me. I kiss her gently in return.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Noah. Noah!" a voice calls from behind me as I trundle along. "Noah Mason, are you even listening to me?!"

"I can hear you, Mama. Come catch me!" I pump my little legs even faster, trying to lead the woman behind me on a merry chase.

"You are one wild child, my dear. I'm coming for you!" she gives chase.

I squeal in laughter, running as fast as I can. I manage to remain several steps ahead of her. She growls like a bear, causing me to giggle even harder. Suddenly, I veer towards the shoreline.

"Noah, don't go near the water. It's still too cold!" she calls, but I don't listen. I charge, laughing all the way, right toward the water.

She starts screaming behind me, but it's already too late to stop me. I hit the water at full speed, and very shortly am in over my head.

I try to yell for help, but end up with a mouthful of salty water instead. I gasp, pulling the brine into my lungs, causing me to cough violently. I thrash wildly about, trying to keep my head above the waves. The tide is pulling me further out.

Frantically, I look around for something, anything, onto which I can grab to save myself. There is nothing. Even worse, I can see my mother. She's too far away. She can't help me.

I feel adrenaline rush through my little body as I realize the danger I'm in. This powers my lungs and thrashing limbs. This serves to only push me further away from shore. I keep pounding the water with my fists, but can't keep my head above the water.

My screams turn to sobs as I realize that I'm going to die. What little strength I possessed, has fled. I can't do it anymore.

Sinking under the waves one last time, my eyes close, and I silently say a prayer that my Mama taught me:

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake,

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

Goodbye, Mama... I love you.

Suddenly, I feel my body lifted up. Arms wrap around me, pulling me close. Water swirls around me as I am drug from its icy grip.

Arriving at the shore, I'm dropped to the ground. My savior pounds on my back, encouraging me to expel all the fluid I've swallowed. I wretch, spewing it out in streams. Finally, after what seems like forever, there is no more. I gag for several moments, and roll over to see who has saved me.

It's my mother. She who I thought could never reach me in time. She's down on all fours, vomiting up her own belly full of water. I reach for her, but my strength has fled. My body begins to shiver with cold. I curl up into a ball, the shivers intensifying into trembles. I feel my Mama wrap herself around me. She's cold, too. I can feel her shaking.

Feeling some warmth start to infuse me, my shakes slow down and I pass into unconsciousness.

* * *

Mama has been sick for the last three days. I've been trying to take care of her, but I finally had to go fetch Uncle Stu. He was very angry when I got him. He knocked me down with how hard he hit me.

"Boy! Get your ass over here, you worthless bastard. I swear to Christ, I have no idea what my brother ever saw in your mother. Or you. Worthless. Both of you," he hollers at me.

* * *

I shake my Mama, trying to wake her up. I have to make sure she drinks her broth, or she won't get better.

"Mama, wake up!" I call to her, but she doesn't respond. I reach out to shake her again, and realize she's cold. I pull on her arm, rolling her over.

"Mama?" Her eyes are open. They look glassy. Like my dog's eyes looked when he went away.

"Mama! No, Mama, don't go!" I wail as the truth sets in.

"Boy!" I hear roared from behind me, "Stop your yammering!"

My uncle comes over and looks at Mama, "Hmmph... so she's finally gone, is she? Well, good riddance."

I turn and, letting out a horrific scream of hate and rage, charge my uncle. I try to wail on his legs, the only thing I can reach, but he just bats me away like the gnat I am. Immediately, I run at him again. He looks at me with contempt plain in his eyes, and cocks his fist back. He lets go with it just as I reach him, catching me under the chin and lifting me off the ground.

Landing on my back, my head slams into the dirt floor. My eyelids flutter closed, and the darkness overwhelms me.

* * *

"Come away from that. You have faced this dream too often," a firm voice speaks, pulling me away from my torment.

"I had hoped that I'd forgotten it," I say, then bow to her. "Princess Luna, once again you honor me with your notice."

"I told you before, stop that. I only do what is right. You like to torture yourself with this dream, I have noticed. You really shouldn't," she stomps a hoof in emphasis.

"I can't help it. She died because of me. I was a foolish, spoiled child, and I deserved all that came after," I turn away from the Princess, so that she won't see the tears forming in my eyes.

"How old were you at the time?" she asks quietly.

"Seven, I think," I answer, my head and ears drooping in shame.

"Much too young to understand the consequences of your actions. And much too young to have suffered such a loss. I am so sorry that you faced that," she reasons.

"I should have listened to her. If I had, she wouldn't have died there. What happened after was my just punishment," I moan.

I feel a hoof strike my shoulder, knocking me forward. "Nopony deserves to be sold into slavery! NOPONY!" she's using the Royal Canterlot voice, at full volume. It's actually rather startling. She's breathing heavily, her sides billowing in and out, almost a pant.

The emotion in her brings me up short. Very tentatively, I ask, "Princess, are you okay?"

Slowly, she responds, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled. Slavery and imprisonment are two subjects I feel very strongly about." She pauses for a moment, "But, the point remains, nopony deserves to be sold into slavery. Not even for heinous crimes."

"Princess, I caused my mother's death. There is no way around that. And even though over 150 years, and two lifetimes, distance me from it, I still bear the guilt and shame."

"You will learn to get past these thoughts plaguing you. They aren't your fault; you are not responsible for the actions of others. I know this from personal experience. It took me over a thousand years, and being blasted by the Elements of Harmony, to finally come to terms with my own mistake. I pray it does not take you as long," she gives me a sad smile as she turns to leave.

She pauses once, lifting her head to look at me, "Instead of hating yourself, you must work to prevent these atrocities from happening to others. At least, that is how I atone."

"Wait, Princess," I call, intending to speak to her about Moon Shadow, but she fades out of my dream without responding.