Chapter 13-3: Butterflies

Each step further into Whinniepeg only served to increase my distrust of the place. Since my first trip here, the town had become associated with loss, amoral griffons, Haylander Raiders, and now a pony snatching fog monster.

It hadn’t gotten any prettier either. The burned out husks of homes and shops still stood empty and ruined, the blackened bench where Cassie and Wings had jumped me was still filthy, and now the mountain wind and snow had begun creeping into town from the north. There was a definite chill in the air, stressing my already fragile mood.

“Any sign of Wings and Breeze? I don’t want to stay here any longer than it took to get Undertow and Bosco back.”

“I don’t see them, dahling.”

“Nor do I, though I share your unease.”

“Oh?” I bit out, sardonically. “Why’s that? Guilty conscience maybe?”

Cassie didn’t respond further, just continued to scan the surroundings as she floated a few metres above us.

Kicking at a blackened wall, Schwarzwald’s hooves blew up small clouds of ash, and lighter patches of concrete were left where her hooves had struck. “Where shall we search first, when dear Wings and Breeze arrive?”

I could only really think of one place that was even worth searching in the dead zone. “After Cassie left with Wings,” I tactfully avoided mentioning what they had been doing here, as if it needed to be said. I’d already told Schwarzwald what had happened at Hoofshine, and it was obviously on Cassie’s mind too. “McCoy’s monsters showed up, and went into that building over there. It’s got plenty of underground levels, and it was some sort of research facility. The fog might have been made there, or something.”

The tall, maybe irradiated building lay at the centre of the town, and was the only thing that still had all its walls and ceilings. Idly, I wondered if Caber Toss’ Haylanders spent much time inside there.

Maybe I’ll ask him when I see him at the Raider summit. Though, after the stunts he pulled with Ballbuster and Four Fields, I’m not telling him we were here until after we’re long gone.

“They are here.”

Looking first at her to gauge the direction, Schwarzwald and I turned to face the same way. I couldn’t see anything though, and the mercenary mare was squinting too. I was about to suggest that Cassie was seeing things, until two specks appeared on the horizon, far above the ground.

How did she see them from so far out? Those sniper eyes of hers are strong.

“You’re sure it’s them, not any of McCoy’s griffons coming back to poke around inside some more?”

She was adamant. “Wings is scowling.”

“…Now you’re just showing off.”

She gave a small smirk. “No, now I am just lying. But it is them. I recognise my sister.”

Cassie flew higher to catch the attention of the incoming fliers, while Schwarz and I began to head for the research building. True to my word, we stopped before going further, to wait for them. True to Cassie’s word, Wings was scowling when they landed.

“What’s wrong with you?”

The scowl deepened. “Friggin’ griffons asked a lot for their help. I don’t wanna talk about it, let’s just go already.”

I looked to Breeze for an answer, but she just shook her head and took up position beside her sister. Filing it away for later, I pushed open the door, leading them into the lobby.

It was as deserted as the last time, with the glass doors still forced open. Trotting quietly around the desk, I peered into the corridor beyond. There was just enough light to see by, but the path was still dark.

Igniting my horn, I let the glow drive back the darkness a little bit. Cassie stepped up beside me, using the light from my horn to sweep the corridor. “It is clear.”

“You two should go first, dahling. With your eyes, and Snowflake’s glow, you have the best chance to spot any trouble for us. Wings and Cassie will guard the sides, and I will watch your rears.” It was a more subtle double-meaning than Schwarzwald usually came out with, but perhaps she was just trying to keep us from being detected.

We all nodded our agreement with the plan, and set off. I tried to remember what I could from my time in the custody of McCoy and his Monsters, but I hadn’t been giving my full attention. I couldn’t even remember how many flights of stairs I’d gone down before we were forced to give up.

There was a fair amount of jostling behind us, as Breeze kept stopping to peer into the gloom of the ransacked research labs, probably hoping to find some cool gadget or device. I had my doubts she’d find anything even if Schwarzwald didn’t simply push her onwards, as the Monsters, and whoever else had visited before them, had gone over the place with a fine toothed comb, taking anything not nailed down that possessed even an ounce of usable material.

As we made our way down each floor, the same blocked passages and rubble greeted us as I’d experienced with the Monsters. Sometimes there was only one way to go, and it always led down.

One such instance was particularly egregious, as there were four possible pathways, though all but one turned out to be blocked straight after the first corner. Soon enough, the backtracking and turnarounds had us gritting our teeth.

“This place sucks!” Breeze never was one for restraint in her opinions.

Nobody argued though. We were all thinking variations of it, but I contented myself with glaring at each collapse that turned us away. Most of the time I contented myself with that, at least. I did aim a kick at one pile of rusted metal and chalky earth that looked particularly annoying. The others had already turned back, and as I moved to follow them, I thought I saw something in the pile, out of the corner of my eye.

Is something living in there? Like a rodent or a bug or something? Whatever it was, I quickly stepped away and rejoined the others. Nothing followed, and when I looked back, the pile was just a pile.

After a dozen or floors, we were getting pretty sick of the run around. “How far down does this freaking place go?”

“Dunno,” I called back. “but I don’t think I got this far last time, which is weird, because we got blocked down every corridor on one floor.”

“Maybe somepony has been here since?” Cassie was still acting as our scout, but she was blinking more often.

I could relate to her strain, my horn’s glow had diminished from being in constant use. Maybe it’s just darker down here?

“Snow… it might be time to call it quits. It looks like the zebra and griffons were wrong.” Wings had been talking quietly with Schwarzwald for the past few floors, apparently about how to broach the subject.

“No! Not yet. We keep going until we can’t get any further. I won’t give up on them just like that!”

“Yeah, I know, but…”

“Aha! Dahlings, I found some stairs!” Schwarzwald’s happy interruption forestalled whatever nonsense Wings was about to say. I gladly rushed over to where Schwarz was standing. Sure enough, there was another flight of stairs here, though how we missed it, I didn’t know.

Doesn’t matter now. We keep going. “Let’s go.”

Without waiting for an answer, I took the stairs down, two at a time, ignoring the cries to wait. The staircase was longer than the others so far, and didn’t turn back on itself.

It took a full minute to fully descend, and when I did, the glow from my horn barely extended past my face. This was not a time move further without support, so I did wait this time.

Schwarzwald was the first to arrive, and wasted no time in whapping me upside the head. “I told you not to wildly run in, Snowflake! Remember what happened last time?”

“I walked down the stairs, then stopped to wait for you. How is that running in wildly?”

“We do not know what is at the bottom of these stairs, dahling. It may be something fun, but we can’t indulge ourselves until we find the little ones.”

“Good point.” I turned to the dark surroundings. “Bosco? Undertow? You there? If you can hear me, please say something!”

I hadn’t received an answer by the time the three fliers arrived, and spread out to the sides.

“Found a wall.” Breeze poked around the side of the stairs, and discovered one edge of the room. Cassie relayed similar information from the other side.

We still don’t know how far the room stretches, but at least we know where the exit is.

“Undertow?” I tried again. “Bosco? Please, if you’re here, tell me where you are.”

We got an answer, but not the one I’d been hoping for. We all had to cover our eyes as blinding light filled the room.

“Who’s there?”

“I can’t see!”

It was a worthwhile demonstration of how weak my horn’s glow had become in comparison. While I’d been barely beating back the darkness inches from my face, these powerful illuminations filled every spot in the room, not even allowing a shadow.

I was the last of our group to remove my hooves from my eyes, and I was finally able to see the room for what it was. Mostly barren, it seemed to be a simple cube, maybe fifty metres across, with our stairway at one end, and a heavy metal door at the other.

Between us and the door, however, was the gold fog.

It was much larger than it had been at Whitepony, taking up half the width of the room as it floated there.

We were all readying ourselves for the confrontation; Wings and Cassie were reloading, Schwarz’s gatling gun was spinning up, and Breeze’s hooves were on her irregular arsenal. My horn had blazed back to full glory too, the sudden shock and adrenaline of the lights and fog appearing serving to wash away my tiredness.

“Where are they?!” My rage and fear were bubbling over as I faced the impassive cloud. “Let them go!”

It wasn’t clear whether or not the fog was even alive, or could communicate, but it responded nonetheless. Splitting off from the main body, two smaller mists floated to the floor, and then began to coalesce, changing and morphing as they did.

Within seconds, two glorious Molar Bears stood before us. Not the smaller ones that Bosco had mentioned either. These goliaths outweighed even the creature who’d chased me into Cefar.

And there’s two of them!

“Oh shit.” Breeze and I whimpered. She certainly hadn’t forgotten stumbling upon the family outside of Grindstone.

Cassie and Wings already had their guns up, eyes hard and watching.

Schwarzwald, though I couldn’t see her, certainly sounded happier than she should be at this situation. “It would appear that we are to be tested. More fun for us.”

All the possible ways that this would not be at all fun ran through my mind, while Schwarzwald took charge. “Wings, Cassie, get their attention. Breeze, Snowflake, support them with your special talents. I shall cover you.”

The two Molar Bears picked up on this, swinging their tree-like arms down, claws throwing up sparks as they raked across the floor. In unison, they unleashed their spine-chilling roars, momentarily freezing even Schwarzwald in her tracks.

Then they charged.

“WATCH OUT!” The eruption of Schwarz’s battle saddle snapped the rest of us out of our stupor, and split the Fog Molars apart. They were still coming at us, but now they were on opposite sides of the room.

Recovered, Wings and Cassie surged forward to meet one each. The Molars swiped at their flitting opponents, trying to swat them out of the air, but couldn’t connect. Wings twisted her body into a cylinder, shooting under the wicked black claws, while Cassie went high, popping off a shot that slammed into the thigh of one of the creatures. It didn’t seem to have much impact.

Breeze crossed my path as she moved to help her sister, unofficially leaving me to back up Wings. The chocolate-and-cream griffon was orbiting the beast, peppering its back, chest, and shoulders with revolver rounds, while it held up its arms, to protect its head and neck.

That took a lot of the Molar Bear’s natural weapons out of the fight for now, but Wings would run out of bullets eventually. I’d need to help her out now, while she could keep up the barrage.

I could just barely make out the glaring eyes of the beast through the gap in the claw barrier it had thrown up. It was, at this point, a blessing that the fog chose to take on a guise of the big, slow variety.

Its eyes were hardly moving, and I already knew where they were with my magic. It wouldn’t take much.

My horn hummed.

The predatory eyes suddenly turned white, as a blindfold of ice covered them. Howling, the creature lashed out wildly with its arms against we now-unseen enemies, forcing Wings to break off her strafing, or risk being decapitated in a blind swing.

The Fog Molar dropped to its haunches, letting loose a roar that made me cover my ears, or risk going deaf. The roar was so powerful, that I barely noticed the beast sniffing at the air, and zeroing in on my scent.

“Uh oh.” I didn’t even hear my own words past the roar.

The Molar Bear was already in mid leap, wicked claws outstretched and shining. It couldn’t see me, but it could smell me, and it had claws the size of my torso. It was not so concerned with accuracy, with weaponry and endurance like it had.

I squeaked helplessly as it covered the entirety of my vision, before a blur cannoned into me from behind, forcing me between the creature’s legs and past its tail as it landed.

Wings, having swung around behind and saved me, immediately turned and opened up with her guns again. Three shots caught the Fog monster in the back, causing it to turn back to us, though as soon as it did it became the victim of a triple grenade strike, courtesy of Schwarzwald.

Rocked, the giant demon crashed to the floor.

Wings took the opportunity. “Snow, take out the claws!” Shooting upwards, though angling away from the unmoving main body on the other side of the room, Wings reached the ceiling in seconds.

In those seconds, I’d managed to freeze the claws of the Fog Molar to the floor, trapping it on its belly.

Wings descended, talons first. She must have run out of bullets.

In an almost contemptuous display of strength, the gold Bear effortlessly ripped its claws straight out of my ice shackles.

It wasn’t enough, though, as Wings reached it before it could raise them high enough. Slamming down on the head from on-high, Wings’ diving claw strike exploded the demon.

Literally, it exploded into a cloud of gold dust, which immediately began to segue back into the main body.

Claws stuck in the metal floor, Wings was blinking her blazing blue eyes owlishly, thoroughly confused about the lack of resistance to her dive.

“One down. Let us help the twins now, dahlings.” Schwarzwald didn’t even sound winded.

“R-right.” My ice barely affects these things, what am I supposed to do?

The answer, apparently, was not much. In a testament to their long years of fighting together, the two pegasi had already taken care of their beast.

Confined to an octagonal Shock Lock pen, the second creature was convulsing madly, barely able to make sense of its own muscles. With every twitch, one random body part tensed, while another involuntarily straightened.

Cassie had holstered her rifle, but her whip trailed lazily out of her bracer. Beside her, Breeze’s greave was dribbling a thick liquid down onto the wire, coating the entire length.

At a nod from her sister, Cassie swung her whip in a beautiful arc, drops of the coating flying as the cord swung down, wrapping around the neck of the Fog Molar.

Tugging it tight, she nodded to Breeze, who ran her switchblade, deployed from her greave, along Cassie’s whip bracer, causing sparks to fly. One landed on the whip wire, and instantly ignited.

The fire raced down the garrotte, until it reached the noose around the Molar Bear’s bulging neck. Within moments, a collar of dirty orange fire was ablaze, turning the roars of the creature into panicked howls. Cassie dispassionately ejected the burning wire from her bracer, and watched the Fog Molar die.

Until it too exploded, again with the leftover smoke returning to the main form.

Forming up, we faced the Fog monster. “We beat your pets, now give me back my friends!”

The Fog clearly had more ability than simply sending out two offshoots against us. It was toying with us, and I was not willing to accept being toyed with, not while it still held those dear to me.

This time it did communicate, though not with speech. The entire structure of the Fog began to morph, not just offshoots this time. The noise it gave off was unlike anything I’d ever heard before. I didn’t even have words for the sounds I was hearing.

The five of us began to retreat a few steps as smoking wings burst from the mass, followed by a horn erupting out of the cloud.

When it was finished, none of us expected the giant, shining gold Alicorn staring down at us.

Eyes wide, I could only stare. I’ve only seen them in pictures. Were they all this big?

“That’s not possible.” Schwarzwald’s voice was barely a whisper, and completely devoid of her characteristic humour.

“What the fuck is that?” Wings and Breeze chorused.

Cassie just gaped.

When it spoke, it was with many voices in unison, some mare, some stallion, some filly, some colt. “You have potential. We must ask something of you.”

“W-what?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Not just the acoustics, the words were beyond comprehension.

“Why the hell should we do shit for you? We just beat your crappy guards, ya big freak!” Despite the size of the monster, Breeze was riding a wave of confidence after winning the fight against the Molar Bear copies.

Does she have to taunt the giant demon?

“Those were merely a test, to determine your strength. If you wish it, we shall show you our true power.” Opening the swirling nexus that functioned as a mouth, a metre thick jet of green flame shot out, encircling us in a blink.

“Breeze.” Wings spoke very carefully, shying away from the cordon. “Shut. Up.”

Even Cassie was glaring at her.

I tried to ignore the flame, and push through. “Where is Undertow? Where’s Bosco? Why did you take them?”

The starlight pinpricks of its pupils came to rest on me. “We sensed something. Something we thought lost. We must discover their secrets.”

“WHERE ARE THEY? They’re not yours to keep!” I couldn’t leave those two in this… thing’s clutches. That was the polar opposite of protecting them.

A horrible smile formed, though the lips didn’t seem to move as you’d expect. It was more like they fell out of focus, and then reaffirmed themselves in an upward curve. Whatever had happened, there was no warmth there. Turning a quarter circle, the golden demon showed off its ‘cutie mark’.

A sphere of water, with two ponies trapped inside.

“Undertow! Bosco!”

A small gap formed in the shield, through which I could see a unicorn worn ragged through the effort of maintaining the barrier for so long. “Lady Snow! You came!”

“I’m so sorry, Undertow! I couldn’t protect you!” Tears streamed down my cheeks as I poured out my shame.

“I am alright, Lady Snow, but… Bosco…”

“What? What’s wrong?”

I followed her gaze to the quivering colt within the shield. “I do not know, Lady Snow, but something is affecting him.”

Bosco was shivering violently, and his charcoal coat was slick with sweat. He seemed in pain, hooves wrapped around his head and body, as he squeezed his eyes shut tight.

“Just hold on, we’ll get you of there now. Please, just wait a little while longer, Undertow.”

“I-I will try, Lady Snow.” Forlornly, she closed the gap, reforming the complete shield.

The monstrous gold tail of the false Alicorn swung around, enveloping the sphere. When it came away, it took the two with it. The Fog apparition was now blank-flanked, with Undertow’s bubble perched on its tail.

Alarm bells rang through me as the door behind the beast opened up, and the bubble barrier was flicked inside, with the heavy iron door immediately slamming shut behind it.

“NO!” Uncaring of the fire, I ran straight through it. “BRING THEM BACK!”

“Snow, don’t!”

“Fool, don’t rush in!”

“Get back!”

“Red Ice!”

A colossal hoof slammed down in front of me, the shockwave knocking me back.

The red mist was in my eyes, and I screamed incoherently as I bolted upright, charging again. A second hoof came down, putting me onto my back once more. It happened a third time before three ponies and a griffon dog piled me.

“UNDERTOW! BOSCO!” I screamed at the four pinning me down, and the grotesque ghoul blocking my path. “GIVE THEM BACK!”

“They are ours. If you want them back, you must bring us something in exchange.”

Bastard! “What do you want?”

“You call them Memory Orbs. There are three. Bring them to us.”

“There are thousands of Memory Orbs out there, you jackhole! How will we find them?”

“We sensed them, when we fought you before. The sense was weak, almost vanished. You know something, AND YOU SHALL BRING THEM TO US!” The last part thundered around the room like an earthquake.

“Give me back my friends first!” I wasn’t going to do anything until I knew Undertow and Bosco were safe, especially if Bosco was sick.

“Little pony, we will return the two when you have completed your task, and not before. Go now, and do not return until you have what we ask.”

Raising its grandiose wings, a green fire aura swirled around its horn, flashing out and blinding us.

After the flash faded, there was no sign of the Alicorn demon.

Or the door through which Undertow and Bosco had vanished.

“Nonononono! Not again!” I struggled in the grip of the four, unable to move. “Get… get off me!”

“Where’d it go?” Breeze let go, then took wing and began exploring the room. The other followed suit.

As soon as I was free, I was charging towards the wall. I threw my hooves against it, beating against every part I could find, trying to make the opening reappear. “UNDERTOW?! BOSCO?! WHERE ARE YOU?!”

Schwarzwald hadn’t moved from her spot in the centre of the room. “They are gone, Snowflake. We have lost.”

“No, they can’t be gone! I saw them! She’s waiting for me to get her, and Bosco needs help! We have to find them!” Couldn’t she see that?

“We shall find them, and bring them back, but this place is closed to us for now. Our best hope is to find these Memory Orbs that that… creature wanted.” Even she seemed disturbed by the Gold Fog-turned-Demon we’d encountered.

The others flew back down to stand around me. “Sorry, Snow, but there’s nothing here.”

“We will assist you in bringing them back. We gave our word.”

“…The colt, at least.”

Breeze swiftly backpedalled after her words, as I was clawing at the space she’d been standing, my rage overloading my mind. Wings struggled to hold me back.

My strongest desire at that moment, even above bringing Bosco and Undertow back safely, was to tear out that insufferable bitch’s Hate-Filled. Evil. Lying. Tongue!

“Apologise right now, Breeze!” Cassie snapped at her sister with as much force as she’d shown to me, during the fight at the Woodpecker village.

“She’s the one trying to kill me!”

“This time you deserve it, now apologise!”

“But, Cass…”

“No! Not this time. You went too far!”

“I…” Breeze looked heartbroken at her sister’s disapproving glare, dropping her head in shame. “I’m sorry, Snowflake.”

My strength was draining from me, as grief over losing my friends a second time overtook my rage. I said nothing, made no acknowledgement of Breeze’s apology. I simply sank to the ground, still held by Wings. My hooves wrapped around her as the emotions burned me up.

~~~~~~

“…Cefar.”

The listlessness of my reply to Wings’ request for the passcode, to enter Hoofshine Harlots, was basically unnoticed. Hardly surprising, considering I’d been acting that way since Whinniepeg.

With a click, the lock disengaged, and we trooped inside, Wings went in first, then Breeze. Cassie was next, having made certain to always position herself between her sister and I. Schwarzwald brought up the rear, back to her jovial self.

My hoof lethargic pointed down the corridor. “Rooms are down there.” I monotone. “Last on the left is Bosco’s room. Set one hoof in there, and I’ll kick you out to freeze. Naiara and Undertow will also have a room. Other than that, take whichever one you want.”

I didn’t wait for an answer, instead plodding towards the bar, and the hidden master bedroom. As I was unlocking the underground entrance, I caught sight of the four as a reflection in the glass.

Wings was poking through the various cupboards, and examining the pictures on the walls. Breeze was already assaulting a terminal, trying to glean its Old Equestria secrets, with her sister nearby, engrossed in a laminated drinks menu.

Schwarzwald was watching me, though she turned and headed down the corridor to the bedrooms when our eyes met.

Though her expression was far from normal, I was neither able or interested enough to discern its meaning.

Inside Miss Match’s subterranean territory, I flung myself face down on the bed, hating that I was here.

The only place I knew where we might find three Memory Orbs was in Bosco’s bags. If he wasn’t carrying them with him, then this was the first place to look. It had taken us until dark to reach this place, and it had been decided, by the others and with heavy protest from me, that we’d stay here tonight, and head back to Whinniepeg in the morning.

Wait as long as you can, Undertow. Keep him safe, and I’ll be there as soon as I can. I won’t let anything happen to either of you.

…Don’t die.

~~~~~~

The hours passed slowly as I lay there, too worry-sick for sleep, and with the covers thrown haphazardly away.

The situation I found myself in plagued my mind with questions:

What was that thing under Whinniepeg?

What did it want with Bosco and Undertow, while ignoring the rest of us at Whitepony?

Was Bosco going to be alright until we got back?

Would he be okay with us giving away his Orbs?

The Memory Orbs. This whole ordeal hinged on them, sitting in Bosco’s room right now.

I suddenly felt uncomfortable leaving them there, resolving to at least keep them with me for the time being.

Still exhausted, both physically and soulfully, I lugged myself out of the room. When I emerged into the bar, a Pegasus was sat at the counter, nursing a strong drink, going by the smell.

Still furious, and not in the slightest bit interested in talking with her, I woodenly moved around to the other end of the bar, and headed for the bedrooms.

With Bosco’s Orbs stashed away in a pocket, I returned to the bar. She was still there.

I was two steps away from the entrance to my bedroom when she broke her silence. “Do you think she’s hurt bad?”

Pupils shrinking, I jerked away from the hatch. “Breeze, if you say one more word about her, I swear…”

“Fuck you. I’m not talking about the Rai-“ She caught herself. “I mean, I’m not talking about Undertow. I’m talking about Naiara. You fought that thing In Whitepony, didn’t you?”

“…Yeah.”

“Is she hurt bad?” The ice in her glass rang as she took another sip.

“She was. Cept says she’ll make it.”

“How’d it happen?”

“It went for me, she got in the way. It slashed her side. She lost a lot of blood before we got her to her people.”

Staring evenly at me, she took two more sips before responding, setting the glass down on the bar as she did. “You’re a bitch, you know that?”

“Love you too, featherbrain.” I mocked darkly, tossing Naiara’s words at her.

From the way she was bristling, she’d picked up on it. “See? That right there. What the hell did Naiara ever do to deserve you?”

I cared less than nothing for her opinion at the time, but she clearly wasn’t going to stop until she’d had her say. I wanted it over quickly, so I stayed silent and waited for her to continue.

“Naiara, Schwarzwald, that colt, Bosco. What did any of them do to deserve having to deal with you, a dumb bitch with a pet Raider?”

“Undertow’s not a pet. If you plan on calling her that again, you can leave right now.”

She angrily threw her hooves wide, spilling some of her whiskey as she did. “See, I don’t understand that at all. She’s a Raider, a blight on the Wasteland! She’s done terrible things, like all Raiders have! Why do you care so much about her? Why didn’t you just kill her like any other Raider?”

I was already weary of this conversation, and gave a sigh as I explained. “She’s a Raider because people like you call her one. What she really is, is a scared little filly who doesn’t like being around others too much. She can’t handle it. She killed those who wouldn’t leave her alone, even though she went all the way to Soft Swell Lake to BE alone. Her magic makes it so the water’s a second home to her, private and quiet. She’s the only one who can experience it like that. Others wanted to see it for themselves, and hounded her to let them in. It was always because others wouldn’t leave her alone.”

Having been forced to respond, I felt myself starting to wake up more, and knew sleep wouldn’t be coming any time soon. Thus, I poured a drink for myself too. “The lake was everything to her, playground and protector, garden and guardian. I took that from her, made it so that she lost her belief that the lake was stronger than anything. I robbed her of the one thing that was sure in her life. So I had to make it up to her, and protect her myself. It’s the least I can do for her, make sure she’s safe, and warm, and happy. It’s what you do when you’re the older one, you look after them, and try to keep them on a good path.”

She was staring at me strangely. “When you’re the older what? You’re an older what to Undertow?”

I blinked, not understanding. “The older pony, older friend. The one who looks after the others.”

She calmly, but forcefully, whacked the glass back on the counter. “Unbelievable. I know you’re a bitch, but that’s just cruel.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Her constant insults had me tuning out.

It didn’t stop her though. “After all Cassie and I went through, and we knew it straight away. This sort of thing… just fucking cruel. Congrats, you’ve actually got me feeling a little sorry for her.”

“Breeze, what are you talking about?”

“Ugh, I can’t believe you. What does Naiara think about you and the Raider brat? I said brat, not pet. What does Bosco, or Schwarzwald?”

“What do you mean? They like her.”

Rolling her eyes, her expression suggested that she’d have more success talking to a newborn foal. “I know that, Red Ice. That wasn’t what I asked.”

“Then what did you ask?”

“…Think about it. How you talk, and act around her, and what they think about that.”

“…”

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she gave up and hauled herself off the barstool. “I’ve got nothing against Bosco, and I’ll help you get him, and Undertow, back as a favour to Naiara, but you seriously can’t keep things like this. It’s not fair.”

“What’s not fair?” I demanded, thinking she was insulting me in a more subtle way.

“No, I’m not telling you like this. We’ll get them back, and then we’re back on different sides about the Raiders. You’re not even close to showing me that that’s a good idea.” Stifling a yawn with a wing, she lazily waved the other one as she went to her room. “G’night, cruel bitch.”

I stared after her, more confused than insulted now, though still insulted. Her questions hadn’t made any sense, except to fill my brain with a lot of words that I’d need to filter out, before I could rest.

I need some air.

Opening the front door, I stepped out into a world of white, of falling snowflakes.

My breath misted as I stepped away from the building, strolling into the trees, though I made sure that I wouldn’t lose sight of Hoofshine.

As I walked, I voiced my musings. “Little ways to Cefar. I wonder how Facemask is doing.”

The kindly doctor pony had been the first pony I’d spoken with after leaving the Stable.

How things have changed. What would you say now, Facemask?

Beyond Facemask, and Cefar, lay the Stable. I’d never reach it without the Pipbuck, which brought to mind the nightmare I’d experienced days ago: Freezing to death while chasing Cassie and Wings through the snowfields and forests.

I really want to bring Undertow to the Stable, show her where I grew up. She wouldn’t like the crowds, but I know all the quiet places. My brothers’d love her too. They’d make her one of the family in a heartbeat.

A shivering squall brought my train of thought to a halt. My hooves were getting soaked by the fallen snow, so I decided to turn back.

“Sorry, Undertow. Another time. We’ll talk about it when I get you out of there.”

The wind picked up as I returned to our den of freeloaders and squatters. The cold was invasive, slipping beneath the skin, teasing my lungs when I breathed.

Seeing a way to kill two birds with one stone, I triggered my ‘move faster’ slick spell, and soon was gliding over the snow. The actual speed increase was negligible, but it lifted my spirits a little, and there was no more crunching when I crushed snow underhoof. With the wind’s whistling, any noise I made was being masked.

It was almost enough to lift my spirits. Almost.

Any possibility of positive emotions disappeared when I spotted something in the trees, around a corner of the abandoned brothel. A blinking blue light, moving back and forth.

What in the world?

Still using my spell to mask some of my movement, I crept closer. Flattening myself against the hard corner wall, I eased my way up to the edge, listening intently for any sign of trouble.

“You worry too much, dahling.”

Schwarzwald? Why’s she out here this late? And who’s she talking to, Wings and the twins are inside.

There was a response, but I couldn’t make anything out over a cracking branch.

“You must be patient. This will not happen overnight.”

A happy thought surfaced. Maybe it’s Naiara? The zebra medicines might have sped up her recovery!

Poking my head around the corner, I prepared to welcome Naiara home. At least one worry would be eased when I saw her.

My eyes shot fully open. It was not Naiara.

“I’ve been patient for longer than you know, Schwarzwald. Now what’s going on?” The blue light had revealed itself.

Staring her down, the Spritebot’s words were heavy.

I whipped my head back around the corner, relying on my ears to keep track of the conversation.

I’d seen that Spritebot before, and knew the voice.

Watcher?! Schwarzwald and Watcher?

She addressed the floating bot. “I am not yet convinced, dahling. It is too soon.”

A short burst of static served as a fine indicator of annoyance. “You’ve been talking her up to me for weeks, and now you say to wait? What changed?”

Schwarzwald was her ever-entertained self. “The game. There are new players on the board. The tests she passed before will no longer suffice.”

Watcher was less than pleased. “You know I hate it when you call it a game, Schwarz. There’s a lot riding on this, and we can’t afford to be less than thorough.”

I lost my battle with curiosity, and risked a peek around the corner, looking for video and not just sound.

Schwarzwald’s face was contorted in such a pinched, tight position, and she spoke with a voice that was colder than the air around us. “You do not need to lecture me on the stakes of the endeavour, Watcher.” The lack of a ‘dahling’ seemed deliberate here, and set me on edge. “I know better than any other of how the game is played, and also the risks and rewards.”

The two stared each other down for a moment. Neither spoke, and it was clear that Watcher had crossed some sort of line. Schwarzwald had never acted even close to that in all the time I’d known her. She’d frowned, and she’d shouted, and calmly expressed disapproval, but had never lost her cool like I saw her do with Watcher.

Whatever they’re talking about, it has to be big. Watcher doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who messes around, and certainly not like this. Schwarz being serious is the bigger give-away, but what would tick her off this badly?

Watcher broke the silence at last. The little bot managed to look sheepish, and somehow repentant. “You’re right, Schwarzwald. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

The wood-brown mare lowered her head for a moment, before opening her conifer green eyes, all smiles again. “Do not fret, Watcher-dahling, I am sure you meant no harm.”

Shaking excitedly, the robot effectively displayed relief. “Okay then. So these new players, do you think…”

“Yes, dear, I do. Well… no, I doubt that they will be what we are looking for. Certainly not that one, but the others... I shall watch them closely, and try to be sure. There is potential there, though for what is not yet clear.”

Watcher’s bot body didn’t move, but his tone was speculative. “It would be pretty crazy if you’re right about all of this. I can get behind your thinking about her, but these others? It’s been a while, and I’m not sure.”

Schwarzwald shrugged. “The net must be cast as wide as possible, dahling. A conservative approach will not serve here.”

Watcher twitched. “Damn, almost out of time, but you may have a point. Keep on it, Schwarz. You know I trust you. I’ll try to keep in contact more often, so if you can find some excuses to get some quiet time away from her, then that’ll make it easier.”

“I understand. Good luck with your investments.”

Another burst of static. “Please, Schwarz, don’t call them that. It makes them seem less than alive.” The voice cut off in a screech of interference, before being replaced by tinny, upbeat music.

Watcher had run out of time, and the Spritebot was already ascending, disappearing into the night.

Schwarzwald, and I from my corner, watched it go. A full minute after it was out of sight, she barked out a sudden, hard-edged laugh. “ ‘Less than alive’? An interesting choice of words, coming from a floating relay, dear Watcher. Perhaps your calling is comedy, rather than what you strive for?”

As I looked on, she angled her rifle upwards, and fired off a single solitary round into the cloudy sky. “The starter’s pistol has fired, dahlings, and we must all join the race. We will soon reach the first corner, and those without control will reveal themselves, by falling and tripping the others. The leaders will be those who find their way through the chaos.”

She paused her soliloquy by bending down, and scooping up the spent, smoking cartridge. Wisps of steam and smoke curled up from her hoof. “Games are only fun when they are uncertain. One-sided affairs are dull and uninteresting. You worry far too much, Watcher. It is all the better if we are unsure. It allows the players, and the game, to lead to more outcomes, as different as night or day, or fire and ice.”

A slight tilt let the shell slip from her hoof, and stick in the snow, pointing down. She looked at it curiously, before smiling widely, as per usual. “It’s going to be such fun, dahlings. The game has no rules except those the players make, so who will master it first?”

I chose this unanswered question as my best moment to slip away, heart beating and mind racing.

What was that? Schwarzwald and Watcher? What were they talking about? WHO were they talking about? Does it have to do with Princess Cadence? Or Shining Armour?

Why couldn’t it have just been Naiara?

~~~~~~

Level Up!

Perks gained: Mismatch’s Successor – Hoofshine Harlots provides neutral ground, no enemies will attack, and all medical and restorative effects are doubled while inside.

~~~~~~

Author's Notes:

As always, a big thank you to KKat, Y1, Auramane, Cascadejackal (he did the original cover art, which is still on the Fallout Equestria wiki), Void Heart (he did the new cover art), Shunketsunoponi and you, the readers. Please read and comment, and pass the word along if you like the story. Finally, because I find it a really funny coincidence to have another fic with a Stable 61 that’s set in Equestrian Canada, go read Fallout Equestria: Pure Hearts.

That’s all for now, folks. Please keep reading, commenting, and spreading the word on Old Souls. I really appreciate your feedback.