Chapter 4-1: Change In The Wind

[Lady, you’re trouble!]

I opened my eyes to assess the situation.

Bars on the doors. I guess we didn’t get out.

Naiara and Bosco were nowhere to be found. I was alone.

Again.

This wasn’t like the first time either. I wasn’t alone facing the terrifying possibility of making my own way in a world I didn’t know. No, this was far from that. I curled up as I lay alone and facing the terrifying possibility of having that little bit of my own way permanently taken away. I was a prisoner. I would be a slave and sold to the highest bidder. I very much doubted that the highest bidder would be a nice and upstanding citizen. The Wasteland was not a world where such people became rich enough to be the highest bidder.

I tucked my head into the crook of my legs. No, there would be no soft-hearted master for me. Peanut may be a perpetually affable person but he said himself that he couldn’t allow our attack on him. He would make sure that whoever he took bits from for me would be of a suitably nasty disposition. To send a message if nothing else. I would be used and abused over and over again. It would send a message. Foolish little Snowflake-no, I would be Red Ice wouldn’t I? Fitting really.

Bosco was right. It was a stupid idea. I knew nothing about Plottawa yet still thought I could walk past countless slavers, chat it up with some people I’d never met before and leave without a trace. How arrogant. How very Red Ice.

In my mind the Overmare was smirking.

Yeah yeah, I know.

Old Equestria won. It got me. It didn’t even need to fire a shot either. A good lesson. Old Equestria is subversive. Red Ice was arrogance, pure and simple. I thought myself smarter than the world around me after a few days. Probably from day 1. My way was right. I gave no thought to any other. No, Bosco, I totally don’t need to kill. Go ahead and take my bits, Naiara. Hi, Raiders, care to chat about your problems?

Pure hubris. Snowflake knows best. Everything’ll be fine.

Just look at me now.

Alone. Again.

I...am alone, right? “Is anyone there? Guys?”

Silence. That could be good or bad. They might be captive too but held separately. It would compound my failure if those two had been captured as well.

Maybe...just maybe, there’s hope for them after all.

Perhaps they hadn’t been caught after all. Naiara’d picked the fight but Peanut only knew who I was. He only knew Red Ice. He wasn’t exactly in any condition to raise the alarm either after I’d fixed him to the desk. I was passed out in his office but the others could have gotten away.

I really hoped they’d gotten away. Damning them by my actions was infinitely worse than damning myself. Bosco was still just a kid. Naiara was a zebra. Neither of which were likely to make things pleasant for them if they were enslaved.

What have I done?

It really was what *I* had done, wasn’t it? Old Equestria couldn’t take the blame. That would be too easy. Before I’d feared the red ice. Now I’d claimed it. The monsters it had touched were no match for the monster who’d taken on the name.

I really hope you escaped, Bosco, Naiara. You need to spread the word. “Stay away from the Red Ice! Stay away!”

That seems to be the closest thing to good I can do in this world.

It wouldn’t be enough. Not if those two didn’t escape.

I lowered my head back down and closed my eyes. I’d know soon enough.

~~~~~~

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*

“RISE AND SHINE SLEEPING BEAUTIES! Can’t have you taking up room in here all day.”

Ah. My wardens approached. Would I recognise them from the big party? Would they recognise me? We were, briefly at least, the heroes of the hour after all. Whoever it was they weren’t graceful. Those were some heavy-sounding steps.

My gaoler rounded the corner and stopped in front of my cell. I gaped. He chuckled. “Well if it ain’t li’l Stronghead. Finally awake are ya?” The buffalo deputy with beech fur stood completely relaxed on the other side of the bars.

I couldn’t believe it. “You? You’re here? How? Why? Does Chief Rockhaunch know?”

The buffalo cocked his head at me as if this was the craziest question in the world. Was this sort of betrayal commonplace? “Well o’ course he knows! He set the rotation after all.”

My mouth went dry. No, not the chief. He seemed so upstanding. So collected. Not a cowboy cop. Not looking out for number one. Not...this. “How...how long have you and the chief been working here?”

The deputy grinned back at me, gearing up to talk a little about himself. “Oh years now. Too much turnover in the forces makes folks uneasy. They need to see the same bodies day in and day out. They trust buffalo, not badges.”

He was so cavalier about it. A long, stress-free con. He was right too. You see the same bodies day in and day out and eventually you stop noticing them altogether. They’re just part of the routine. You don’t look closely. That’s when they get you. Simple.

Simple yet heartbreaking. “I...really thought you were better than this.”

He frowned. “Now what’s that supposed to mean?”

I matched his frown. “You were hired to protect the people of Lethbridle. Not betray them like this!”

He seemed thoroughly confused now. Finding meaning in your work was apparently a foreign concept. “Betray them? Who’s betraying them? We’re looking after them like we promised when we took up the badge!”

“At least until the money’s in Peanut’s coffers you mean!”

“Who in the hell is Peanut?!”

I finally managed a chuckle myself. “Wow. That’s sad. You must be really far down the ladder if you don’t know your benevolent leader after years and I managed to meet him in less than a day.”

He was looking very wary now, staring at me with the strangest expression on his face. “I think we’d best get some medical types in here to look at you. You’re not making any sense.”

I barked out a laugh. “No? Sure then, bring in the doctors. I bet Plottawa’s got just fantastic healthcare for its slaves. Peanut wouldn’t allow anything less, right?”

Understanding dawned in his eyes and his laughing resumed, full-throated and full-bellied. “Waahaahaahaa! Oh you had me scared for a while there girl! Here I was thinking you’d taken a harder hit to the head than you did. Oh this is a horn-curler and no mistake!”

I was not in the mood for this mockery. “What? What’s so damn funny?!”

He didn’t say a word for a moment as he unlocked the cell and slid the door open. He beckoned me into the hallway. “Come have a look at this notice and then tell me whether or not you’re still impressed with ‘Plottawa’ or not.”

I stomped out of the cell grumbling about smartmouthed hornheads and looked around for whatever was causing that annoying grin on the deputy’s face. “Alright, smiley, what’s got you so amus-”

Oh. I see. Well...I feel stupid. Again.

Stencilled onto the wall in big black letters were the words:

Lethbridle Jail - Overnight Cells

“So how does it compare to Plottawa hospitality?” The deputy utterly failed to keep the amusement out of his voice as my tried to keep from showing him my burning red face.

“Wh-what happened? The last thing I remember before waking up in that cell was fixing Peanut to his desk in his office at Plottawa.”

The deputy just shrugged. “Dunno, I wasn’t on duty when you showed up here. I just came on this morning and there was a note to make sure you were okay when you woke up.” His tone turned sincere. “You are okay, aren’t you li’l Stronghead? The chief wouldn’t be pleased if you weren’t. He’s taken a little bit o’ a shine to you after that noggin-knockin’ you gave him.”

I’mnotaslaveI’mnotaslaveI’mnotaslaveI-oh right, talking...

“Yeah, I think I’m okay. I’d kinda like to know what happened though. Are Bosco and Na-are my friends around?” Naiara still might not be welcome in Lethbridle. I really didn’t want to cause her any trouble. I didn’t want to cause trouble period right now. Or ever again if I could help it.

The deputy just shook his head ruefully before a dreamy look came over his face. “Couldn’t say little lady. Like I told you, I just came on duty this morning, had a few days off with a certain special ladyfriend-”

“Lithu, right?”

He managed to blush and look shocked at the same time. “Now how did you know that?”

“We met in the bar. You were passed out in the corner.”

He rubbed the back of his head with a hoof, shamefaced. “Well yeah, hehe. After that we got to talking and had ourselves a nice few days together.”

“Aww, how sweet.” I couldn’t help myself.

The buffalo just blushed deeper. “Ahem. Anyway, I don’t know where your friends are and they aren’t here. I suggest looking around town. Though since you’re just up I’d say take it easy and don’t go storming any more slaver compounds for a little while. Sound good?”

I gave him a small smile. I was glad to be free but apprehensive about my friends’ whereabouts. “Yeah, sounds good. I’ll be going now...you know I never did get your name.”

“Deputy Dent, ma’am.”

“Deputy Dent. Thank you for taking such good care of me. Give my regards to your sweetheart.”

His beech fur turned rose briefly. “I’ll...make sure to do that ma’am. And you don’t need to thank me for taking care of you. It’s why I wear the badge.”

~~~~~~

I was utterly unwilling to set hoof in the market district again for fear of running into that ghoul and this left me with only one place in Lethbridle that I actually knew the location of: Nightcap’s bar. Nursing an ever-warming cider I kept my back against the wall and stayed silent as I took stock. Not that I could hear myself even if I were to talk. The place was packed and the clientele were considerably rowdier than last time. Everybody seemed to be gathered around the central tables cheering but I couldn’t see what was the cause.

Okay, let’s review: I, well...Naiara, picked a fight with a combat master in his office. I, not Naiara, then proceeded to freeze him to his desk and give a fake name when he asked who I was. After which I passed out. In between passing out and waking up in Lethbridle jail Bosco and Naiara apparently got at least me out of Plottawa and then took off somewhere without telling anybody where they were going. Chief Rockhaunch agreed to watch over me while I was out. Today I woke up after a few days, based on the length of Deputy Dent’s private getaway with Lithu. Neither Lithu nor her colleagues Latvi or Esto appear to be here. Here being the only place I know to look for them.

To sum everything up - I’m here in the only place others might know me yet none of those others are here.

Great.

I frowned as the crowd at the centre of the bar began cheering louder. That’s not helping me think. What is going on anyway?

I downed the dregs of my beverage and strolled over. Too many ponies were crowded around for me to see. The crowd noise was still annoying and I was determined to find out what was going on so I began pushing. A half-dozen ponies got a horn in the ribs before I managed to get through the throng. A surprising sight greeted me.

“I don’t believe it.”

Two pairs of eyes, one forest-green and the other scorching sapphire, stared back at me. “Snowflake-dahling! We meet again!” Schwarzwald gave a jaunty wave and an easy smile graced her scarred lips as she lay down her cards.

Next to her, Wings also lay down her deal and faced me. She didn’t display the same enthusiasm as her partner. Instead she afforded me a cautious appraisal. “You’re still alive then?”

I tried not to let this dissuade me. We weren’t friends. Not really. We had fought together though, that should count for something. I smiled back uncertainly. “Yeah. You too it seems. How have you been?”

She didn’t immediately respond but an answer came from across the table. “Hey! Gossip later, play now!” The speaker, a gruff stallion scowled over his deal.

Next to him, a mare who could best be described as decoration followed suit. Her shrill voice backed him up. “That’s right baby! That cut-up old nag’s just stalling cause she bet all her caps and is bluffing!”

Schwarzwald suddenly went very still. Wings noticed and immediately lay her cards down on the table. “Hell no, I fold. Oh little girl you really shouldn’t of done that.”

The fetlock-candy wasn’t finished though. “Oh right, like I’m scared of that middle-aged mare. My baby is the toughest pony around. He won’t let anything happen to me.”

The stallion was puffing up with pride. “That’s right, sweetheart.”

“Oh, is that right? You’re the toughest are you, ‘baby’?” Schwarzwald’s voice was about as far from jovial as you could get. A glaring change from her usual demeanour.

The stallion apparently didn’t notice. He puffed himself up. “Damn right I am! You think you can take me? Don’t cry when I bend you over the table and make you scream my name!” The crowd wasn’t cheering now. Everybody was eagerly awaiting what would happen next.

Schwarzwald chuckled before uttering one word. “Try.”

The crowd immediately sprang into action. Tables were lifted and set aside, chairs were hauled away, bodies were pushed back and in moments a clearing developed with the stallion, his ‘sweetheart’, Wings, myself and Schwarzwald in the middle. The stallion began popping his neck. “Sounds like you’re ready to go. Wanna make it interesting? Our card game was interrupted before we could settle up. How about whoever wins here takes the whole pot?” His date was staring at the pile of caps with open greed.

Schwarzwald barked out a mocking laugh. “That is what you think interesting? I propose a real wager. Since you want to ‘bend me over the table and make me scream your name’, how about this?” I was suddenly off-balance as she grabbed Wings and I around the shoulders. “You win and you get not only me, but my two friends here. We’ll do whatever you say, no questions asked. All. Night Long.”

My eyes went wide. “Hey wait! Schwarzwald!”

Wings nudged me from the side. “Relax. Just watch.”

“What?!”

“You’ll see.”

The stallion was leering at the three of us in a way I was in no way comfortable with.

Why am I involved in this? I just met them again 2 minutes ago!

He nodded, his eyes drifting south. “Deal.”

Schwarzwald held up a hoof. “Hold on there ‘baby’. You didn’t hear the other side. If I win. I get you all night. Same rules. You...and your chirpy friend there.”

It was the filly’s turn to gape. “M-me? Ew, gross. Baby don’t do it!”

This was, apparently, the wrong thing to say. The stallion rounded on her in fury. “What, you think I’m gonna lose? Who do you think I am?!”

She shrank back in fear. “B-baby...”

The stallion wasn’t listening anymore. He was running on pure macho pride now. “Shut up!” He glared at Schwarzwald. “You’re on, bitch!”

Off to the side, Wings deadpanned to me out of the corner of her mouth. “I’ll be surprised if he lasts ten seconds. Come on, let’s make sure Chirpy over there doesn’t bolt.”

We took up station on either side of the now-shaking filly. I didn’t like where this was going. “Hey, Wings? Should we be doing this?”

She just shrugged. “Schwarzwald knows what she’s doing. She won’t hurt this one. She’ll definitely hurt the stallion but he had his chance to walk away.” She winked at the quaking pony. “Don’t worry. She’s only rough if you want her to be.”

The only response was a small squeak.

By now the two fighters had taken up station on either side of the arena. Nightcap had materialised with the last call bell. Both fighters were waiting on the signal. The stallion was pacing and jabbing at the air. Schwarzwald was barely moving at all, just standing there with a delighted smile on her face.

Nightcap looked between one and the other then rang the bell.

~~~~~~

“What’d I tell ya? 6 seconds.”

Wings and I were collecting up the winnings while Schwarzwald directed the unhappy filly out the door, occasionally spanking her as a hurry-up gesture. The unconscious stallion was slung over Schwarzwald’s back. She didn’t even seem to feel the weight as she grinned like a demon.

Sitting down, I took one final look as the new bedfellows disappeared out the door. “Bosco wasn’t kidding. She IS scary.”

Wings laughed roughly at this. “Yeah she is. She’s also very, very good with her tongue. Somepony’s crying her name tonight. Whatever name she gives them anyway.” She took one look at my face and guffawed. “Hahaha, get any redder and you’ll melt, Snowflake.”

I didn’t say anything as the mental imagery of Schwarzwald’s no doubt soon-to-be-wild night ran rampant through my mind so Wings continued. “So where is Bosco anyway? He dead?”

Aaand my good mood evaporated as the world outside of Nightcap’s bar reasserted itself. I fought the depression that immediately surfaced but I wasn’t smiling any longer. “I...don’t know where he is. I don’t know if he’s okay or not. He got me out of Plottawa and back here but he was gone when I woke up.”

Wings choked on her drink. “You got caught by the slavers? Damn that’s fast work to get you out again!”

“Uh...not exactly. We didn’t get caught. We snuck in. There was an...altercation with the leader which didn’t go well and I kinda...got knocked out. Bosco and a friend of ours got me out but I dunno where they are now.” I hung my head. “Or even if they’re okay.”

“If that’s the case then you don’t have to worry.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll hear soon enough. Does that thing on your wrist pick up radio broadcasts?”

“Yes...”

“Tune in to DJ Pon-3 over the next few days. He’ll fill you in. He’s kinda like the Wasteland news. Reports on all kinds of things. You’ll get your answers there. For now just remember this. Your friends are fine.”

“How do you know?”

She shrugged with a wry smile. “If they dragged your unconscious backside all the way from Plottawa then they weren’t likely to be bothered. DJ Pon-3’ll tell you the rest. I get the feeling you’ll really like it, Red Ice.”

I gasped. “How do you know about that?”

Her eyes lit up. “You mean that really is you? I was just guessing. Oh wow, I know a celebrity! Here I was just thinking that DJ Pon-3 was mispronouncing-”

“Wings!” My sharp cry cut her off. “Can’t you just tell me what’s going on?”

She regarded me coolly. “Not all of it. You’ll get a better picture from listening to the radio. I’d just be repeating what I’ve heard.”

“But-”

“Remember this, Snowflake. I like you. You helped me out when you didn’t need to. Schwarzwald likes you because you’re, and I quote, ‘funny in a cute way’. However don’t think that means I owe you answers to anything.”

I frowned at her. Where was this coming from? I know she doesn’t owe me answers but she’s double-talking and pawning me off on some ‘DJ’. Is it really so much to give me what information she does know rather than leave me clueless until I can get the ‘better picture’? All I wanted to know was whether or not Bosco and Naiara were okay. I was worried about my friends, she couldn’t cut me some slack for that?! Seems like she wasn’t just harsh on the battlefield.

Maybe that’s what I need right now.

“Wings?”

“Yeah?”

“You don’t have to tell me what happened if you don’t want to. However, given what you know, do you think my friends will show up here?”

She didn’t even hesitate, which I took for a good sign. “Oh yeah. Definitely.”

Perfect. Now I can focus on the reason I went to Plottawa in the first place. Wings and Schwarzwald should be more than enough backup for my friends in the meantime. “In that case, you still owe me a favour.”

The cautious look from when I first arrived. “Be careful, Snowflake. I owe you, but don’t be stupid with this. Think about what’ll happen to you AFTER we’re even.”

I ignored her entirely non-veiled threat and pressed on. “Relax, this won’t be hard. I’ll be heading out of town in a little while to take care of some business. All I need you to do is look after my friends if you’re still in town if they should up. Just while you’re all in town. You’re better in a fight than I am and there might still be trouble from Plottawa.”

She was silent for a long time as she mulled this over. I didn’t mind. I had a few things to work out in my own head.

If I can get her word that she’ll look after them then I can head out to the caravan company and pass along word about Contego and Vorbis. Bosco and Naiara shouldn’t have to make the trip after all the trouble I got them in by dragging them to Plottawa. Plus if Peanut comes after me then they won’t be in harm’s way. Only I’m Red Ice after all, not them.

Wings seemed to reach a decision. “...alright. I’ll do it. IF I see them in town then I’ll look after them until they or I leave. No more. I won’t put my life on hold just to babysit your little friends.”

Relieved, I gave her a wide, honest smile. “I know. Thanks Wings. This really means a lot to me. We’re even after this, I swear. You look after those two while I’m out, and I’ll be your friend for as long as you want.”

Now the chocolate-furred griffon just looked confused. I made a ‘nevermind’ gesture and got up to leave. “I have to go. When Schwarzwald gets back, tell her I said thanks too.”

This is how it should be. I’m not putting Bosco and Naiara in that sort of danger again just because I want to be nicer than the Wasteland. Bosco, Naiara, Wings, Schwarzwald, Rockhaunch, Dent, all of them. They can survive in the world outside the Stable. They might not be able to survive in MY world and they shouldn’t have to.

~~~~~~