Chapter 7-1: Warm Heart, Cold Shoulder

[Out of all things that could happen, this is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!]

“… and I still say I won the fight.”

“Mmhm. And winning the fight landed you in my medical bay with broken ribs and lacerations.” Happy Pills was very jovial and friendly, for a Ranger. He’d made no threats or such in the time he’d been treating me. The two armoured hulks stationed at the door did put something of a dampener on the conversation though. Without them it might have been pleasant.

I resolved not to show fear, however. “You remind me of a colt I know. Don’t try to rob me of my first solo victory. It won’t work. I won, end of story.”

“But now you’re all the way here. Even if you ‘won’, won’t your coltfriend be worried?” Smarm dripped off his words.

“He’s not my coltfriend. More like a little brother. Anyhow, it’s not the first time. He knows what to do.” I knew exactly what Bosco was gonna do.

Kick my flank for getting myself into this mess again.

“As you say, princess.” He tittered while continuing his magical healing. I preferred Lexi’s approach. More pain but fewer guards.

“Princess?” Is he coming on to me? It didn’t matter how nice the teal unicorn with the pill-bottle cutie mark was acting, it wasn’t going to happen. He was still a Ranger and I was still their captive. Again.

“What else am I supposed to call a pretty mare who appears out of nowhere and bringing wonderful mysteries with her?” I was suddenly very aware of where he was putting his hooves. I looked to the guards in apprehension.

“Eh, five out of ten.” Remarked the one on the left, after looking me up-and-down.

WHAT?!

“Four.” Supplied the other.

HEY!

My jaw stayed dropped for a few seconds, before I hmph’d in outrage. I thought I’d at least rate a 6. Sure, I wouldn’t win Ms. Wasteland or anything but come on! That was harsh.

What, are all the girl Rangers drop-dead gorgeous under that armour or something? Jerks!

“Nobody looks their best on a medical bed.” Happy Pills’ tone was pitying.

I turned my nose up at him, and refused to speak for the full hour that elapsed before Iron Sights stepped into the medical bay.

~~~~~~

“Hello again, Snowflake. I trust Happy Pills has ensured a full recovery?” His civil tone, while not friendly, was a far cry from the angry accusations I’d been expecting.

I don’t like it.

“Why am I here, Iron Sights? More Memory Orbs to view?” I waved a hoof in the general direction of the doctor, “You’ve obviously got a unicorn on base now. You don’t need me.”

“Happy to help, princess.” Both the Elder and I ignored him.

“Please be cooperative, Snowflake. You know as well as I that you were not completely honest when you were last here. There was more to the memories than you let on.”

“Whoops.” I deadpanned. There was no point in denying it at this point. The Rangers clearly knew that there was more going on that I was telling them, the only remaining question would be how I would be able to satisfy their renewed curiosity while still protecting the Stable.

“Would you mind telling me why you withheld information from me?” Iron Sights eased himself into a chair across from my sickbed and pulled down the hood of his robes. He lived up to the title of ‘Elder’, what little mane he had left, including the tufts sticking out of his ears, was devoid of colour and whisp-thin. Age lined his dirty-olive body and he obviously couldn’t move much faster than a dignified stroll.

Still, his eyes were sharp and focused, looking at me with a calculated mix of skepticism and faux-kindness. “What do you know of Stable 61, Snowflake?”

For you? Nothing. “What makes you think I know anything, Iron Sights?” The two armoured guards, clad entirely in their metal exo-skeletons, reacted disapprovingly, resentful of my lack of honorific. Iron Sights and Happy Pills were less concerned, though not happy.

Looks like the angry ones get the guns. That seems totally intelligent.

The doctor spoke up next. “Snowflake, I personally viewed the Orbs upon my return to Neighlway. Caramel and Sassaflash reached Stable 61, yet could not gain entry. After failing to get inside, they left and found their way here, where they joined our great work.”

“One of them, at least,” mused the Elder, “Sassaflash was a loyal Ranger... ”

“… but not Caramel.” I finished, remembering the delicate stallion and his bitterness at the Ranger life. The mare, Sassaflash, had seized on Rangerhood as a way to cope. Caramel looked like he’d only stayed for her.

“Indeed. It would appear he only stayed out of love for her. He has made it very difficult for us to recover any information on the two.”

Thank you, Caramel. I wish Stable 61 had been fairer to you. You, Sassaflash… and your daughter. “Well, you’ve seen the Orbs, what makes you think I can tell you anymore? I don’t know where the cave is.” I was almost glad, almost, that I had no Pipbuck on my leg right now. If I was still wearing it then that lie would have been laughably obvious.

Wait a second, a thought struck me, Wings was on her way to meet the Rangers when we fought, she already had my Pipbuck! It should able to lead them to Stable.

What’s going on?

“Well, I like your flank, but mostly we want to know what else you know. Why else would you have lied to us?” Happy Pills, always appropriate.

Iron Sights grimaced slightly but kept his attention on me. “Yes, Snowflake, why did you think it necessary to withhold information from us?”

“I-I didn’t! I just wasn’t paying full attention. I don’t like Memory Orbs!” That last part was true, even after viewing half-a-dozen of them. The hours-long torture I’d been through with the damaged-and-now-missing Stable 61 Orb had left a lingering unease around the magic. The only time I’d voluntarily entered an Orb was when I was near death, after fighting McCoy in Lethbridle.

And I only did that because the doctor was crap at her job. Do no harm my flank!

“Be that as it may, you did not tell us all that we needed to know. You did not live up to your end of the bargain after we saved your life.” He had the gall to act disapproving.

“You send a griffon after me and think you can guilt-trip me? Think again, Iron Sights.” I hopped off the sickbed, causing the guards to hustle between myself and their leader who, admirably, seemed unfazed by my actions.

He raised his chin slightly and responded coolly. “We sent no griffon after you. That was her choice.”

“Excuse me?” I needed Wings to be working for the Rangers, it was the only way I would have any chance of forgiving her. If he was implying that she wasn’t…

“I believe that the griffon that you speak of would be the associate of miss Venatici? She made the decision to accompany the Pegasus on her own. Only Cassiopeia was acting on our orders.”

“What?!” My outburst had the guards uneasy again. They looked dangerously close to shooting me.

“The Pegasus was acting on our orders. As far as we know, the griffon is merely a friend of hers who she met along the way. Since she accomplished the task of finding you yesterday, I have no objections to her bringing in outside help.”

“Yesterday?” Are you getting senile, Iron Sights? Whinniepeg was a few days ago, not yesterday.

My confusion must have shown on my face because he clarified his statement. “Ah, yes. You were unconscious when the Pegasus and the griffon brought you in. You slept through the night, Snowflake.”

My eyes widened. He… he doesn’t know! He doesn’t know about Whinniepeg! Wings and Cassie never told him! They took my Pipbuck and Orb and the Rangers are none the wiser. Why? What are those two up to?

The entire issue had suddenly become very murky. I had no idea what the truth of the matter was. Everything was up in the air. Cassie, not Wings, was working for the Rangers. From her actions at Whinniepeg and the canyon I’d been convinced Wings was the one making the decisions. Cassie had been tasked to find me and bring me back. She, with Wings’ help, had called me to Whinniepeg and taken my gear but hadn’t told the Rangers. Then I had called them back to me a few days later and ended up helping them to complete their task.

I felt completely turned on my head. None of this was how I thought it was. There was an upside though, possibly two. The definite positive was that the Rangers didn’t have my Pipbuck. Without it they had no chance of reaching the Stable through the blizzard!

The other possible bonus to all this was that Wings and Cassie weren’t completely on the side of the Rangers. They were working their own angle. There was a chance that what they were doing was the right thing.

I have to find them. Whatever they are doing, I want to know. I might be able to help.

I had a chance. A slim line to hold. I relaxed, falling back and letting the sickbed hold my weight up. I finally felt like I could smile. So I did. “I’m not telling you anything, Iron Sights.”

None of them took this well. It was surprisingly easy to spot anger through an expressionless helmet. The 5-of-10 guard was straining in the grip of Happy Pills and 4-of-10. “You dare talk to him like that?! I’ll crush you!”

Is he the same guy from my first time in Neighlway?

The ancient olive earth stallion hadn’t said anything while his subordinates struggled, but the moment he rose from his seat and laid a hoof on 5-of-10’s shoulder, all activity in the room ceased.

His expression was suitable for the leader of the Steel Rangers, cold and hard. “That is a pity, Snowflake. Just as before, all I can do is offer you a choice: Work with us, provide us with the information you are hiding, and we will guarantee your safety. If not, we will have to treat you as an intruder in Neighlway, and you will be detained for as long as we see fit.”

“I’m not afraid of you, rusty, or your walking fridges.” And I wasn’t. I knew I was running headlong towards a Neighlway jail cell but I simply didn’t care at this point. I’d won a victory over the Rangers without doing anything. They had no Pipbuck and no way through the blizzard. Stable 61 was safe. Wings and Cassie might not be the backstabbers I thought they were.

I could figure out a way to get myself out of here later. For now, this was enough.

“You guys are totally crazy, by the way. She’s a 7, easy.”

“For fuck’s sake, doc, you’ve got a wife!”

~~~~~~

“Good morning, Princess. Sleep well?” Happy Pills was tapping his hoof gently against the cell bars.

Yawning, I sat up, careful to keep the sheets around my body, just in case the perverted doctor was leering. “Mm, not great. You guys need to fix your air flow, I kept overheating and waking up.”

He just smiled knowingly. “Yes, I suppose a cool filly like you would get hot in there, wouldn’t you, princess?”

I didn’t like the way he said it. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

He pointed, and I followed his hoof to a reinforced box high on the wall. “Magic stopper. Shuts off a unicorn’s spells. Even passive abilities are affected. According to the knights, you, Snowflake, use ice magic, don’t you?”

I shrugged, not bothering to play it cool with my name and cutie mark being public knowledge. “Yeah, so what?”

“So, an absence of ice magic could lead to a higher-than-normal body temperature, no?” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, “want me to get my thermometer?”

I ignored him. I hadn’t noticed that my magic had gone. I’d used it more in the two weeks out of the Stable than I had in years inside, but I still didn’t consider it a primary move. I couldn’t use telekinesis and the only ice spell that I knew, the… snake-thingy,

I have to get a name for that one of these days. Maybe I’ll ask Breeze when I see her next?

… was still basically uncontrollable. I really wasn’t a very magic-focused unicorn, was I? “Um, is it permanent?”

He chuckled. “No, of course not. That’d make us monsters. Plus if one of ours wandered into the range of it accidentally…”

“Right, right. Idiots everywhere, I guess.”

He winked at me. “Precisely. Sometimes you’ve just gotta foalproof stuff. Of course, you’ll be here for a while so it might seem permanent…”

“…” Like I needed you to remind me of that, you jovial jackhole.

“Anywho, you’re not staying in there today. We have a job for you. Helping us out with this would go a long way to getting Elder Iron Sights to go easy on you.” He flicked a small ring into the cell, and a clear ting sounded as it bounced along the floor. “Best put that on. I’m afraid I’ll have to insist.”

I made no move to get off the cot or even lower the blankets. “What is it?”

“Magic nullifier. Basically a portable version of what’s on the wall. Slip if over your horn and we can go.”

Same as Latvi’s doodad, it seems. Must be Old Equestrian tech. I wonder if I can snag it. Breeze’d be over the moon. I had to frown at the doctor’s nonchalance, “Aren’t you worried I might make a move the moment I’m out of the wall box’s range, ring or not?”

Happy Pills just grinned as the two guards from yesterday slipped, surprisingly quietly, into view. “Not terribly, no. Besides, I’ll be doing the final touch-up for your recovery along the way. You’ll want to stay for that. Doctor’s orders.”

“…” I grumpily lowered my hooves to the stone floor.

I nodded towards the ring. “Care to do the honours, doc?”

“I don’t see why not. It won’t be the first time I’ve put a ring on a filly.” His horn glowed a gentle pink and an identical aura surrounded the ring, lifting it onto the floor towards my horn. I watched it with me eyes until I went cross-eyed, then just stayed still until I felt it nestle around the shaft.

No reason to inform them that I’m telekinetically-impaired.

As soon as the ring was in place, the two guards rumbled into the cell and frog marched me out. Happy Pills took point, leading us through the halls of Neighlway.

~~~~~~

“Aaaand here we are!” Proclaimed the medic cheerfully. He had led us to a room that housed nothing except a large monitor.

I looked around but saw no other indication of activity. “What is this place?”

“It’s a monitor room. We’re going to put you to work.”

“Me?” I was surprised, for sure. Letting a prisoner watch the security cameras?

“Well, as the Elder has previously indicated, we are short-staffed thanks to that Red Ice stirring up the Plottawan slavers, and now the Grindstone buffalo too.”

Hah! Serves them all right!

However my good cheer died as Happy Pills clapped his hooves and an image appeared on the screen.

A blue Pegasus with a red-black mane, and constellation cutie mark, alongside a short-for-her-species, chocolate-and-cream griffon with blazing blue eyes.

“Cassie… Wings…” I murmured, keeping my voice low.

“Since we’re running on empty, we’re gonna have you watch your friends for us It saves on personnel.” The Ranger medic was beaming at the cleverness of it. Perhaps it was his idea?

“So what’s to stop me from simply walking out of here?”

5-of-10 stomped forward. “Me.”

The teal unicorn spun around, still wearing his wide smile. “Indeed. Him. You didn’t seriously expect us to leave you completely unsupervised, did you? No, this is just to allow us to rotate one of our guards back into duty. While you’re watching those two on the screen, our colt is watching you. Effectively we’re keeping three outsiders under observation with just one Ranger. Isn’t it efficient?”

“Efficient.” I deadpanned.

“I knew you’d like it, princ-“

“But it still doesn’t explain why I’d do this.”

“Oh that. Well, don’t worry. That one’s simple. You’ll do this, or else the other Pegasus will die.” Even though his words were horrible, he still smiled.

I wasn’t sure who he meant though. “Other Pegasus?”

“Yes, the other Pegasus. The one with a blue-and-white mane.”

“!” I instantly tensed up. Breeze! She’s here?! When did they get her? “Where is she?”

“In a safe place. It’s up to you whether she stays safe.” His tone still help good cheer, but Happy Pills was definitely putting an edge on his words. I stared back, helplessly.

They’ve taken Breeze hostage. How? Did she get caught after she and Naiara left at Sombra’s Shadow? Is Naiara okay? What happened, Breeze?

“Well, I’m off to work, enjoy your day!” The doctor and 4-of-10 strolled away, leaving me in the room with the monitor and the Ranger.

“Get to work!” He barked, before taking up station at the door.

I glared for a moment, but complied. I was under no illusion that I could fight him. He was fully armoured and if I made any sort of motion to remove the nullifier on my horn I was quite sure he’d open fire, more than likely smiling widely behind that helmet of his.

Plonking myself in front of the monitor, silently fretting for my missing acquaintance, I listened as the two fliers conversed.

Breeze, what the hell happened?

AND WHY THE HELL AM I STILL ON F*%&ING MONITOR DUTY?!?!?!

~~~~~~

“Did you see her?”

Cassie shook her head sadly. “No, they refused to let me see her. They would only repeat the same threats. ‘Do as we say or we will kill her’. Nothing new.”

Wings rested a comforting claw on her shoulder. “Relax. They need her alive to get what they want. You know they won’t risk losing out.”

The Pegasus was not comforted. “Perhaps in my head, but my heart is another matter.”

The griffon, known to some as Blue Fire, didn’t let up. “Listen, I owe you. For as long as it takes to get her out, I’m here to help.”

Cassie nodded but still held some apprehension. “Thank you, Wings, however we have to play this carefully. We cannot simply push through and hope for the best. That is what caused all the trouble at the canyon.”

“Hey, I said I was sorry about that!” Perturbed, Wings had withdrawn her claw.

“It is all very well and good to be sorry, Wings, but you went against the plan and it worked out badly for everyone!” Cassie was less than happy herself.

“I didn’t ask you to come!” The griffon shot back.

“If I had not accompanied you, then this whole enterprise would have been for nought.”

“I knew what I was doing! I didn’t use my guns or anything. You know she couldn’t beat me.” It might have sounded like bragging, but the griffon wasn’t smirking or showing any pride in her words.

“It didn’t matter which of you would have won. I would have stopped the fight if things got out of hoof.” Personally I had my doubts on Cassie’s ability to stop Wings, but she held herself confidently regardless.

Wings just barked out a derisive laugh. “You would have stopped the fight? I saw how you were getting on against the other two. A whip? Against her? You were lucky to get out of there with your dignity intact!”

Miss Venatici bristled. “Ooh, I should have left you to those Raiders!”

“Yeah? Well, you didn’t! Now you’re stuck with me!” The two stood staring daggers at each other without speaking.

Finally, physically and symbolically, Wings backed off a little. Sinking onto her back paws, she managed a smile. “Thanks, for back there.”

Surprised, Cassie mirrored her actions before waving a hoof casually. “You do not need to thank me. I admit that I did not expect to find you there. I believed that, when those Raiders were making their crude remarks about feathers, it meant that my sister was nearby. Not that I need much of an excuse to kill those filthy savages, but I was hoping to find a Pegasus.”

Their anger dissipated, Wings felt it easy to return to a comradely atmosphere. “And you will. We will. I’m not going to let those amazing skills go to waste.” Her blue eyes drifted away for a second and she chuckled, “Heh, when those Raiders got the drop on me I thought I had a real fight on my claws, then that big bastard’s head gets drilled. That girly didn’t even have time to do anything except gape before you plugged her too! Hell of a shot, by the way.”

Cassie flushed. “Thank you. I practice a lot. Breeze keeps telling me not to waste my eyes. Sniping seems like the right idea for a pony possessing my powers of perception. Also, as I said before, I believed you to be my sister,” her lips instantly curled into a vicious snarl and the next words, though delivered with her customary refinement, had some bite to them, “and I will not let even one single Raider get close to Breeze!”

Still sitting back, Wings’ interest had been peaked, and she leaned forward. “That’s more passion than I’ve seen from you about anything.”

Wings’ words seemed to shake her out of it. Embarrassed, Cassie deflected. “Yes, well, Raiders are no friends of either myself or my sister. They never will be.”

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?” The griffon was definitely intrigued now.

Wide-eyed, Cassiopeia Venatici shook her head forcefully. “No, I cannot! It is too personal.”

Wings threw up her claws in disagreement. “Oh come on! You can’t let out that much and then tell me nothing! You gotta give me something. I’ll trade ya a little of my story for a little o’ yours?”

Frowning, but herself intrigued, Cassie mulled it over before relenting. “Very well. However, I ask that you not inform Breeze about this. She does not know, nor should she ever need to. It would only confuse and sadden her.”

“Deal.”

Rearranging herself into a more comfortable position, Cassie spoke in a low, reminiscing tone. “What do you know of the Pegasus Enclave?”

Wings scratched her chin with her claw before shrugging. “Not a whole lot. They run the show up above the clouds, right?”

Cassie nodded. “Indeed. They make the decisions that govern Pegasus life. One of their core decisions is that no Pegasus should descend below the cloud barrier. My parents… disagreed with this.”

“Woo, rebels!” Cheered the griffon.

Neither Cassie or I could resist a small smile. “Precisely. They rebelled. And were branded, literally, as traitors. Their cutie marks were scarred over with the brand of Rainbow Dash, the first Pegasus traitor. Those with this mark are called Dashites. Our parents… they were outcasts above the clouds. Not maliciously so, simply misfits, born to the wrong time or place. They decided that they were willing to risk the Wasteland in search of happiness.”

Wings was not poking fun anymore, instead listening intently. “Go, mom and dad.”

Cassie gave an appreciative smile. “Thank you, but they were… unprepared for the realities of Wasteland living. Almost immediately upon descending to the Wasteland, they ran afoul of Raiders, and suffered terrible atrocities at their hooves. Things… changed after they got away. Nothing was the same anymore.”

The blue fire in the griffon’s eyes had faded to a warm glow. “What happened?”

Cassie hesitated. “I… don’t have all the specifics. Breeze and I were… too young to fully understand. I learned the full extent later.”

“Did your parents die?”

Cassie turned away, taking a few shuddering breaths before responding. “Yes, but not there. Later. Though I have no doubt that the Raider’s actions played a large part in their fates.”

“So you hate the Raiders for what they did to your parents?”

Cassie smiled sadly. “Were it so easy. But that is as much as I will divulge for now. I do believe it is your turn.”

Wings tch’d in mock-disgruntlement. “You gouger. Alright, alright. Lemme tell ya a little something about griffons then. I’m guessing you’ve not met a whole bunch of us?”

“Just you.”

Wings was not surprised. “Thought so. We can be pretty private. Anyway, griffons are big on keeping your word. About everything. You get in real big trouble if you break your word or your bond or your contract. It’s damn hard to get your trust back with other griffons when you do.”

“Fascinating. Tell me more.” Cassie was a good listener, not butting into Wings’ space, but giving an expression of perfect attention.

“Well, I’ve broken my word, my bond, and my contract a bunch of times each. I’m not gonna tell you all of them now, but I’ll give you one of the earliest examples. I’m an only child, but I’ve got tons of cousins. Some bigger and some smaller. This happened with one of the little ones. Barely out of the egg.”

Cassie was almost bursting with fraternal concern. “What happened?”

Wings took a few moments to marshal her thoughts. I took the time to look between the two. Cassie was at ease one moment and frowning the next, while Wings had tensed up considerably.

Finally the griffon spoke up. “Well, this little chick, cute as a button, had never really been the picture of health. Always sick with something. We made sure she always had somebody watching her. That day it was me.”

“… and?” Urged Cassie when Wings failed to keep talking.

“Well, I dunno what happened, but I had specific orders to not let her out of my sight. Except, well, it was just me and her, and she got sicker than usual. Like real bad in a hurry. I was tearing my feathers out in panic. I wasn’t exactly full-grown yet either. I felt like I had to help her, take her someplace to get some help, but she got bruised just from my picking her up! There was no way she could travel. Still, she was getting sicker all the time, and the doctor didn’t live far. So…”

Cassie seemed to know before Wings said anything. “So you did what any good sibling would do. You got help.”

Wings nodded, stone-faced. “I got help. It was a few minutes, tops. I ran, got the doctor, and dragged him back with me. Lied and told him it was on my father’s orders. Doc got her back to normal quick enough, and told me I’d done the right thing. Another hour and she would have been a goner. So I did the right thing… but I broke my word, and my bond, in doing so. My family were pissed.”

I mouthed ‘what for?’ just as Cassie asked in a more polite manner. “Whatever for?”

Wings shrugged, eyes downcast. “Because I let her out of my sight. That wasn’t paraphrasing. It was important that I stick to what I’d been ordered to do. We can be pretty literal, us griffons. Anyway, same as you after that. Nothing was the same anymore. I never got to watch a cousin again.”

Cassie looked like she wanted to embrace Wings, apparently family was her weak point, but the Pegasus held herself back, perhaps out of etiquette, that would be the sort of thing she worried about. She was not stingy with the smiles though, which seemed to warm the atmosphere a little bit. “Was this in the griffon lands? I confess that I don’t know much about where griffons call home.”

Wings just snickered. “Nah, this was just some mountain where my folks and the flock chose to roost. Somewhere down south, I forget where exactly. Ain’t been back in ages.”

“How long?”

“Ages.” Wings replied with finality. Cassie had enough sense to let the matter drop.

~~~~~~

I mulled over what I’d heard. I couldn’t help but think it was kinda cute for Wings to play nursemaid. Especially to a little baby griffon. They were awfully adorable critters. I remembered crèche duty in Stable 61. Sure it was messy and they wore on your nerves after a few days, but stomaching a day or two wouldn’t be bad.

Would she smile when her little cousin giggled? A proper smile, not the tough-girl smirk she wears in public.

On the other hoof, Cassie’s story had given me another reason to dislike Raiders. It must have been terrible. Nearly 200 years with just Pegasi around and the first non-fliers you come across are violent, chem-filled psychopaths. Mister and missus Pegasus must have been terrified. Rejected by their home and straight into danger.

Like me and the Molar Bear.

Damn. This is gonna make it harder to stay mad at Cassie, Pipbuck or not.

The Pegasus had been through a lot, some of which struck a chord with me. Her aloof attitude might be unpleasant, but at least you could justify it as a reaction to her parents’ troubles. Acting as civilized as possible to distance yourself from the monsters-in-pony-shape who terrorized your parents. Her actions were for Breeze’s sake too. It sounded like she was as devoted to her sister as her sister was to her.

I didn’t know whether it was the sense of empathy I was feeling at the time, or some of Wings’ story mixing in, but I couldn’t help that, like me, Cassie was a big sister to Breeze, rather than a twin.

Well, except the mane. That’s where they aren’t twins. But you expect everything to be just right.

Moving on from Cassie, I thought of Wings’ tale again. She seemed kinda sad that she couldn’t be the griffon her family wanted her to be.

An outcast in her own home. Both of them, actually. I can relate. At least these two can look after themselves out here.

Wings went against griffon values to ensure that her family member was cared for, and she was helping Cassie out of a sense of gratitude, or a debt to repay. She owed Cassie a favour and she aimed to make good.

That’s still pretty griffon, Wings, you’re just putting your own spin on it.

Would she see it that way? Considering how easily she admitted to breaking words, bonds and contracts over and over, did she even want to keep following griffon doctrine? Why did she dole out favours, which McCoy specifically thought of as social contracts to be followed to the letter, and stick so rigidly to them if she disagreed with the overarching griffon culture on the matter?

Just who are you Wings?

And what’s the rest of your story, Cassie?

~~~~~~

While I’d been thinking on the matter, Cassie and Wings had taken the time to clean themselves up and begin their preparations for the day, and soon resumed their conversation.

Twirling the empty barrels of her revolvers, Wings seemed to be looking for blockages. Cleaning supplies were laid out next to her, along with the newly-gleaming bullets. “So what’s the plan now? I mean, I really wasn’t expecting to find Snowflake yesterday. I almost couldn’t believe it.”

Cassie sat with her hooves wrapped around the barrel of her long rifle,

Still don’t know where she keeps the thing,

And was attempting do as Wings did, though her clumsy hoof movements had me thinking that perhaps the mechanically-minded Aqua Breeze took care of the majority of their maintenance. Still, she didn’t shirk from the work and stubbornly kept at it. “Indeed. You had mentioned that she was acquainted with Schwarzwald, but from your descriptions I assumed their personality differences would cause too much friction for them to work closely together. I hope you noted that Schwarzwald was privy to the entire affair. She knew what was going to happen.”

Wings just chuckled, utterly unconcerned about Schwarzwald’s potential sneakiness and loyalties. “Schwarz does whatever the hell she wants. Sure she travels with me when we have nothing better to do, but I don’t claim to know everything about her, nor do I think that I’m irreplaceable to her. She’s a great friend, and I think she does care for me, in her own way, but what drives her is excitement. She’s lived long enough and gotten so strong that nothing can really challenge her. Seriously, she could kill a Ranger by herself, so she spends her time looking for the next laugh. I just happen to be funny enough.”

There was definite pride in Wings’ words. I thought of how Schwarzwald had acted towards Amber back in the snowfields. Dismissive, barely tolerant. After the fight was over she wasn’t interested in much else. To be travelling with Wings for so long meant that Schwarzwald saw something in the diminutive griffon to hold her attention.

Poor Amber, she seemed to be a little sweet on Schwarzwald too.

Cassie had run through a whirlwind of emotions as she sought to process this new information. Approval, disgust, surprise, deep thought and others played across her cyan cheeks. Eventually she just looked lost. “Is… is that healthy? Do you feel like you are okay with that?”

Wings set down the pistols and shrugged, which then turned into a stretch as she lifted herself off the ground momentarily. “It is what it is. I don’t regret it, if that’s what you’re asking. Schwarz is capable, funny and always a good time. While she’s looking for interesting things she doesn’t disappoint herself. So, yeah. I am okay with it. She’s my friend. I can count on that. She doesn’t really lie, I don’t think she sees much point besides single instances like at the canyon, so I can take her at her word. It’s refreshing, even if she does regularly scare the fuck out of me.”

Cassie spread her own feathers and joined her companion in the air. The two began lazily drifting around the room, chocolate feathers keeping pace with blue wings. “She is certainly forceful. I have never had anypony react to my whip like that,” she seemed to suppress a shudder, “but I still have to wonder how Snowflake convinced her to participate. When I first met her, Snowflake did not strike me as greatly forceful. She also did not tell me that her name was Snowflake.”

Wings flipped onto her back, swimming face up through the air. “Oh, she used the other name? She’s getting smarter.”

I flushed, despite myself.

Their aerial exercises became more elaborate. Cassie began to twist and twirl in the air, controlling her speed and course through elegant feather flicks. “Still, I do feel bad about what happened in,” she managed to stop herself, as if unwilling to reveal where she’d been, “… um, that is, I feel bad about our actions. I worry that there might be unforeseen consequences.”

Wings bounced gently off a wall, missing the secrecy. “You mean with the Memory Orb?”

5-of-10 stirred behind me. “Memory Orb?”

Oh no. Wings you’ve gotta shut up now! That Orb came from within Stable 61. It might show them the way! They might be able to get inside! Whatever those unicorns were working on in the memory took days! It has to be big! Latvi retirement fund big! The Rangers can’t get to it, and they can’t attack my home!

My silent wishes didn’t reach Wings, who continued. “Look, we did what we did for a reason. You know that. The Memory Orb kept her from finding out what we were up to. It’s the reason she had to go through Schwarzwald just to see us again. Hell, it was mostly your idea! If she’s chasing that then she won’t be chasing us.”

Cassie was not placated. She fidgeted guiltily in mid-air. “I know that, but it still bothers me. She really seemed to value it when I first met her. She might never see it again.”

Wings made a noise that was half groan and half sigh. “Oh lay off the guilt trip, will ya? She should have had plenty of opportunities to see it. She lived for almost her entire life in-“ Now it was Wings’ turn to stop. She apparently valued the secret of the Stable more than the Memory Orb, “… in her home. She had that stuff with her when she first left. I thought that was half the reason for taking the stuff, to keep that a secret?”

“More secrets, princess?” Came the tinny growl in my ear, “Isn’t this interesting?”

How can he move so quietly in that armour? I stared wide-eyed at the screen. It was happening. The Rangers were going to find out about the Stable. They wouldn’t stop until they got in, and they wouldn’t be gentle. The Stable would fight back, most definitely including my brothers, and they’d suffer for it.

Shut up you stupid fliers! You’re gonna kill my brothers! My home!

For a second, I thought that Cassie might have heard me. Her hooves shot up and covered her mouth. “I-I didn’t realise! Oh, what have we done? We’ve robbed her of her memories, her home! We have to make this right!”

“SHUT UP, NO!” Wings was all business now, getting right into Cassie’s face and seizing her shoulders, “We can’t! You were right about throwing her off by taking that stuff. Forget all that other nonsense. She has to stay in the dark about everything! She isn’t the only pony who might take an interest, just look where we are!”

“But she must be devastated!” The Pegasus was surprisingly resistant to her own plan.

Wings threw her arms out dramatically. “All the better! That means she’s safe and not likely to do anything else stupid. If she doesn’t know then the R-, then none of those other bastards do either. Everything stays under wraps until the right time! Dammit Cassie, I’ll say it again. This. Was. Your. PLAN!”

The Pegasus returned to the ground and stood with a wing over her eyes for a long time. Wings flew short, angry circles around her until she spoke up. “I-you’re right. I know you are, but… her home. I didn’t want to take that from her. She’s never going to forgive us.”

Her head shot up as a terrible thought struck her. “And what would Breeze say? How could I face her after this?”

Wings scratched her claws across the steel wall in frustration, throwing up sparks. “All this is for Breeze! Getting your sister back is more important than Snowflake’s feelings! One thing at a time, Cassie.”

Cassie didn’t look particularly convinced, still wrapping a wing over her eyes and looking forlorn, so Wings took a deep, steadying breath before trying again. “Look, Breeze will forgive you. You’re doing everything you can just to see her again. If she loves you as much as you love her, then this is the way things have to be. Breeze’s safety is paramount. Like you said before, that’s what being a good sibling means in this case. Snowflake will make her own decision. She either forgives us or she doesn’t. We have no control of that and we’ve already crossed that line. Breeze is in danger here. These Rangers are not nice ponies. The moment they give us Breeze is the moment we decide what to do next. We don’t have that luxury yet. I won’t let you lose your sister just because you’re worrying about Snowflake.”

The griffon laid a claw on the Pegasus’ shoulder. The stallion laid an armoured hoof on mine. Somehow I doubted the intention was the same. “Keep watching, Snowflake. They might tell us what you didn’t. Isn’t it fun to think about what will happen if that’s the case?” Even distorted through his helmet’s speakers, his mocking cheer was evident.

It was like being told not to look down. Countless scenarios ran through my brain, mostly about how inventive the Rangers would be in punishing me for giving them the run around. 5-of-10 would be right there too, he wouldn’t dare miss his chance.

Meanwhile, the Pegasus had managed a weak smile from Wings’ encouragement. “This is an awful lot of help for a pony you don’t know all too well, Wings. I didn’t help you out that much.”

A familiar grin broke out over Wings’ face. I’d last seen it in Vanchoofer, when her claw was around me, and I was inches from the blue fire. It oozed confidence. “I decide what I owe and what I don’t. I’m in this until Aqua Breeze and Cassiopeia Venatici get their reunion hug. End of story.”

Cassie’s smile was stronger now. It suited her more than the sadness she’d born the entire conversation. Wings had lifted her spirits enough for some genuine hope to get in. “No matter what else, you have the griffon tenacity, of that there is no mistake.”

Cassie brought her bracer up and sighed wistfully. “I just hope I can see her soon. It was so unlike her to double back after Snowflake when the Rangers took her on the way to Neighlway.”

I froze. What?

“Breeze usually isn’t the type to take a shine to a pony so easily. Snowflake must have intrigued her. Though I confess to being confused that they didn’t let my sister go when they released Snowflake.”

Wait a second… what?

Wings didn’t lose her smile. “We’ll get her back. Neighlway can’t hide her forever.”

I glanced sideways at the Ranger still watching with me, but he neither looked at me nor made any sort of motion. It was like trying to read a wall.

What is going on?

Cassie rubbed the bracer tenderly. “I do hope she’s doing well. Those feathers of hers weren’t in the best condition when the Rangers showed them to me.”

Wings flipped over Cassie and tussled her mane in the process. “I’m telling you. They’ll let you see her soon. It’s just a matter of finishing up what we have to do.”

A roaring in my ears alerted me to the breath I hadn’t realised I’d been holding. Everything was clicking into place.

Clever, Iron Sights, very clever. Plenty of feathers lying around a Hissyflit attack site, aren’t there?

It was a bluff. I huge con being played out by the Rangers. I mentally kicked myself. I should have seen it when I first walked into this room. If they were so short-staffed that they had to coerce me into watching over these two with just one Ranger to hoof, then how were they able to successfully keep Breeze out of sight for that amount of time?

The answer, of course, that they weren’t able to do it. They’d been lying to us all. Breeze hadn’t been taken right after me, they’d just gathered up the feathers from the attack and fooled Cassie into thinking they’d been plucked fresh from her sister. Cassie’s desperation at being separated from Breeze would do the rest, keeping her from thinking too hard about the lie.

In the meantime, I was inadvertently dragging Breeze around the flank-end of nowhere and doing my part to accidentally corroborate the Rangers’ trickery. Cassie was a logical pony, she had no reason to be looking around Crystal Point and Sombra’s Shadow.

Heh, Breeze even said it herself. “Cassie has no reason to be this far out. I have no reason to be this far out. There’s nothing here.”

I should have listened. Sorry Breeze, Cassie. It’s all my fault.

But I was damn sure going to make it up to them. Now I knew what the Rangers were up to, and they didn’t know that I knew, so I had a chance to turn their whole scheme back on them.

I would need some time to figure out how, so I tried as hard as I could to keep my overflowing sense of elation from showing.

They wouldn’t know what hit them.

~~~~~~