Chapter 23-4: Playing The Percentages

I felt progressively worse, about losing control in front of my family, as we walked back through the Southern Quarter. Undertow and Lo stuck close anyway. She stayed silent while he talked at me. Mostly about how great it was that I was here again, and about what had happened during the two weeks I wasn’t in the Stable before they were exiled. My blood boiled at how the Overmare had refused to tell them anything, and how Roc had used it as an excuse to build up support for himself.

Both of those two have a lot to answer for, if I see them again. Though, I guess I’m hardly blameless either.

What really hurt during the walk, though, was how Lo would just stop talking every time I looked at him. He’d break off mid-sentence, probably waiting for me to explode again. Only when I gave a smile or a nod did he resume his stories.

My own brother was afraid of me. Lo, who had never had reason to fear anything or anyone before I found that Memory Orb. Even guys in the Stable such as Roc, who didn’t particularly like me, wouldn’t be able to break Lo’s cheer. Everybody in the Stable was at ease around him, and he around them.

And he’s scared. Great job, Red Ice.

Still, I made an effort to try to show that he shouldn’t be. I kept the conversation light, and avoided topics like the Raiders. I really did want to know what he’d been through out here in the Wasteland, and that he hadn’t been negatively affected by it.

At least I can take solace in the fact he never came across any feral ghouls.

I shuddered at the thought of those walking corpses menacing my boys. Lo noticed the involuntary motion, and broke off again. “You okay, Snow?” He blew a little snow dust out of my mane, and looked at the gently falling precipitation. “I guess it is getting colder, huh? We should hurry and get inside while there’s still some time left to find Buff before bed.”

“Yeah, I can’t wait to see him.” My last brother was going to get the right reception from me. No flipping out or glowing eyes. Just a big, warm hug from his big sister. He deserved nothing less, and a lot more besides.

The others perked up as we approached a guarded location, picking up the pace and walking past Undertow, Schwarzwald, and I. “Um… is this the place?”

Lo nodded excitedly. “Yeah, it’s a shelter underground. A lotta tunnels and big chambers. Kinda like a Stable. You’ll feel more at home here.”

Heh… a Stable… ‘at home’. Right.

The guards stopped us all at the first barrier. Lo tried to get past them by showing them his Pipbuck, for some reason, but they stood firm. It soon became clear why.

Stomping out from the dark interior was a very pissed-off guard Chief. Seeing Lo, Rockhaunch got right in his face. It was quite something to see just how much he outmassed Lo, despite them both being buffalo. “What the hell were you thinking, boy? You just up and leave all these civilians with just your brother to keep everything in order? That gadget on your leg isn’t a toy! We need that to keep track of everything!”

Lo leaned back slightly, a guilty half-smile half-grimace on his face. “I know, but-”

Snorting out of his nostrils, the Chief cut him off. “I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT! You had a job to do, and you walked out in the middle of it. Buff’s been running himself ragged down there. Get back in there right now and give him a break!”

“Y-yessir! Sorry sir!” With a round of “sorrysorrysorry”, he rushed into the dark hole in the building.

“Hey!” Wings shouted after him.

Undertow called out at the same time. “L-Lo!”

But he didn’t answer. He was already inside and out of earshot. Well, that’s just perfect. I was already conflicted about what had happened, and now I’d lost track of one brother again before I found the other. I glowered at the buffalo I wasn’t related to. “Chief, you are not helping.”

“I could say the same to you. The Raiders are all riled up again, and are into the western quarter now.” He gave me a flat, unimpressed look. “Weren’t you just there?”

“Indeed they were.” A cultured voice answered. As was made clear by Schwarzwald’s growing smile, Amber Bernstein had arrived. She was flanked by a small group of bodyguards and retainers, all sporting the Bernstein colours. Amber herself wore a thick shawl elegantly around her shoulders. Evidently she had noticed the light snow too.

“Hmph. Finally come down from your ivory tower?” Rockhaunch groused.

His irritation didn’t seem to phase her. “Indeed. I have received reports that the Raiders seem content to sit still in the northern and western quarters this evening, at least for the moment. I suspect they will resume their offensive early tomorrow morning. Latvi is not being reckless.”

“Yeah? Well, neither are we. I’ve got guards and spotters working in shifts to make sure they don’t go off your script and attack tonight.” A big, oaken hoof slammed against a nearby wall. “Though we’ve only got tonight at best. If they attack en-masse with those heavy vehicles, our barricades won’t hold. We might delay them for a few hours, and my sharpshooters know to go for the drivers, but they’ll break through eventually.”

Nodding in agreement, Amber motioned in the direction of the northern quarter. “True, but I have other news which may aid in… delaying the enemy. I have contacted some reinforcements, who are on their way here now. They should tip the scales back in our favour.”

“More Bernstein fighters?” I glanced at her bodyguards, who didn’t bother to look back at me.

“Not quite. Still, they are well trained. It will make quite the difference, I am sure.”

Breeze, for one, wasn’t placated. “Not a lot to go on there, Bernstein.”

She gave a noncommittal shrug. “Apologies, but there are some things that I must keep secret.”

Breeze dug out her communicator and waved it meaningfully. “Must be nice.”

“You will be compensated for that, above the promised caps. I do intend to discuss the matter further with you, and possible future cooperation.” She gathered her shawl closer around her. “For now, however, I would advise you all to get your rest while you may. Tomorrow will be another busy day. I bid you all a good night.”

Departing as swiftly as they arrived, the Bernstein entourage disappeared back into the dark streets. Bosco watched them go with utterly unconcealed frustration. “Tomorrow’s all she’s getting out of me. After that, I need to head for Neighlway. Whatever’s gonna happen, it all happens in the morning.”

“Try not to skip out on us too early, kid.” Rockhaunch’s tone wasn’t accusing anymore. Now he just sounded tired. He looked it too, on closer inspection. His eyes were red and baggy. He beckoned us all inside. “Let’s get you out of the open. The guards can handle things out here for tonight. We can get you some food and somewhere to get your heads down for a little while.”

Naiara perked up. “Food?”

Cassie did too. “Sleep?”

Wings didn’t stand on ceremony, and was already walking inside. “Sounds good to me.”

We all followed. I stayed near the back with Undertow. I leaned in to her as we walked. “I’m sorry for not saying anything to Lo. I want to do this with Buff and Lo together, if that’s okay with you?”

She seemed to consider that for a few moments, before nodding. “We can let them finish their work first.”

I bumped her appreciatively. “Atta girl. Take a little while to think about what you’re gonna say. I’ll be right there with you, but they’re gonna need to hear from their little sister too. I can’t just tell them to love you, even though they will anyway.”

Colouring nicely, she giggled softly. “Alright.”

Once we were taken into the underground dwelling, and I was done marvelling at how they managed to fit all this under Lethbridle in the first place, Undertow split off with the others to get some food.

I went to find a quiet place to gather myself.

Keeping my head down, I weaved through the crowds of civilians clutching their possessions closely. I had no idea where I was going here, but one of the side tunnels was a better bet for some quiet. Leaving the larger chamber behind, I turned three corners before finally finding myself alone in a stretch of tunnel. Slumping against the wall, I quietly addressed the air. “Take your time finishing your work, boys…” Not that I don’t want to see you. I want nothing more.

But will you still want to see me? How much do you know?

After ten minutes of silent zoning out, I tapped my hooves against my forehead. “Hokay, what are they gonna want to know first? Straight into Red Ice and Blue Fire? Al? Undertow? Wanna know where I got these scars?”

“Let’s start with you telling us you’re okay.” Two shadows fell upon me.

Startled, I slipped and half-fell down the wall. Catching myself just before I sprawled onto the grimy floor, I hauled myself upright and launched at my brother. “Buff!”

A cienna hoof wrapped itself around me and held tight. I felt Buff’s cheek pressing against mine. It was wet. “I missed you so much, Snowflake.”

My own tears were soaking into his fur. “I know. Me too, everyday.”

Lo joined the hug from the other side. “We looked for you for so long, sis.” His voice caught in his throat over and over, barely able to choke even that much out. “We…we tried to look for blue dots on the Pipbuck, but…”

Kissing their cheeks over and over, I refused to let go. “I’m so, so sorry. For everything that you’ve been through because of me.”

“Don’t say that.” Lo begged.

“It’s not your fault.” Buff confirmed. “You didn’t choose to leave the Stable, and you certainly didn’t throw us out.”

“Why did they do it?” Lifting my head out of their fur, I looked at each of them for answers. “What did the Overmare and Roc mean to do by having us leave? Did they tell either of you?”

Both shook their heads. “No, they never did. I half-expected Roc might have gloated a little while he was exiling us.”

Lo interrupted with a half-laugh. “I mean, he did, but not about that. Just about all these ‘grand plans’ he had after becoming Overseer.”

“...what a jackhole.” I muttered, half to myself.

Still holding his hoof around me, Buff squeezed my shoulder. “As soon as we get to Al, we can all go and find the Overmare together. She can answer for what she did to you to all of us.”

Yeah, I suppose we’ll need to find her after this, won’t we? I’ll go ahead and put that right at the bottom of my ‘to do’ list.

Excited, Lo joined in, his carefree smile returning. “And then we can go and get answers from Roc back at the Stable. All four of us! Maybe five if the Overmare comes back too. Well, I guess she’s a former Overmare now.”

The beginnings of a heavy weight began to settle in my stomach. “Yeah, about that…”

Despite his generally calm demeanour, Buff was feeding off Lo’s enthusiasm. “Oh, we know. The Lethbridle situation comes first. We’re not happy about leaving Al by himself, but this is important.” He smiled at me. “That griffon friend of yours told us that he was safe. She said that you had him staying with a friend in a safe place.”

Wings did? “Uhh… what else did she tell you?”

“Just that, and that you were here in the city. The others with her didn’t say much.”

Phew. Thanks, Wings. That’s perfect. The weight hadn’t gone away, but hadn’t yet increased either.

Lo had disengaged from the hug, and was strolling back and forth across the tunnel width. “Gotta say, Snow, you have a lot of friends out here. You’re pretty popular out here.”

“Ahaha… yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck. Almost every one of them has tried to kill me.

“Roc won’t have any choice except to allow them to visit us back at the Stable. Not after we get back. He’ll be forced to reveal what he’s done.” Though Buff’s voice was steady, his grip on my shoulder steeled for a moment.

“Easy, Buff.” I cautioned. “Don’t let Roc turn you into something you’re not.”

“I know, sis. It’s just… you were alone. We couldn’t get to you. Nobody could. We never wanted that for you.”

“C’mere.” I leaned back into the hug, while beckoning for Lo. “You too.” When our little brother returned to the embrace, I put on my best reassuring, sister-voice. “I’m okay. You two are okay. Al’s okay. It was scary, but we all pulled through. This place isn’t just the Old Equestria they taught us about in the Stable. It’s good and bad...” Like the Stable. Good for you guys, bad for me. “...and there are good and bad people out here. It is what we make of it.”

“That may be.” Buff answered adroitly. “However, I’ll sleep easier when we get back to the Stable. That’s our home.”

And that was the moment that I realised what the weight in my stomach was. Shit.

I gave no outward sign, or didn’t intentionally give a sign at least. I just stayed in the hug, enjoying the simple pleasure of having my two brothers safe and sound with me. We’re missing Al, but we’ll go find him soon enough. And also one more…

“Boys, wait here. There’s someone you need to meet.”

~~~~~~

I felt Undertow shrink back behind me as we stepped back in front of my brothers, in the secluded tunnel.

That’s fine. We’ll ease into it.

Taking a deep breath, I began. “Boys, I…” And immediately stopped again, as I realised I had no idea how exactly I was going to explain this. “Um…”

Blinking in unison, the two looked at each other, then back at us. They didn’t say anything, opting to wait us out instead.

I guess I should start with the good points? “Um… oh! Boys, why don’t you, uh… tell me what you think about all this?”

Brows furrowing, Buff stared back. “What we think about all what, Snowflake?”

I pointed at them, their Pipbucks, and at myself. “About leaving the Stable. About the Wasteland, about…” About what I’ve done. “...about my leaving the Stable.”

Now looking slightly worried, Buff and Lo exchanged another glance. Lo looked away, while Buff cleared his throat.

Good start.

“Um,” Buff began hesitantly. “it hasn’t been easy. Sorry, but it hasn’t. Your leaving was tough on all three of us, and we wanted you to come home. We weren’t ready, not for you to leave, and not for us to have to leave after you.”

My chin dropped slightly. “Neither was I.”

“It wasn’t all bad, though.” Lo managed a smile. “We met some good people too. There was this cranky old doctor in the town at the bottom of the mountain, he told us that you’d been through. Told us to go to Lethbridle.”

“Facemask.” I smiled back. “I’ll have to thank him for his help, the next time I see him.”

I can work with this. “You know, he’s not the only one I’ve had help from.”

Nodding enthusiastically, Lo’s smile got wider. “Yeah, I mean, you were kinda scary in the street, but that was some impressive magic you were showing, Snow. Who taught you how to do that?”

Showtime. Breaking into a grin, both inside and out, I turned my head to the silent filly behind me. “Come on, say hello.”

Hesitating at first, Undertow eventually snaked her way around to my side, but stopped with her nose a new inches behind mine. A tentative hoof wave was given, as she looked up at the two buffalo. “H-hello.” Her watery voice was quiet and unsure.

Giving her a break, I fixed the two of them with an intense stare. “I held off on doing this when I found Al, and was wrong to do so. The moment I get you boys back to him, I’ll tell him too. For now, I’ll tell you two.”

I stepped to the side, ignoring the panicked “Eep!” from my sister, and gave a flourishing introduction. “Boys, this is Undertow…”

Lo grinned at her, and Buff gave a nod. “A pleasure to m-”

“...our sister.”

“-eet your what?” Buff brained Lo with his horn as his head swung around. Undertow’s hooves shot up to her mouth as the two staggered around.

It would’ve been funny in other circumstances.

Lo recovered first. Still rubbing his head, he turned his big round eyes to me. “What do you mean, Snow? You’re our sister!”

“I know this is a lot to take in out of the blue.” Stopping for a moment to give Undertow a reassuring nudge, I pressed on. “But it’s really no different than what happened between you three and me. We were always brothers and sister, and Undertow has always been our sister. We just didn’t know it yet.”

Smiling, albeit weakly, Undertow looked at each in turn. “Hi, big brothers.”

As Lo gaped back, Buff stayed rock still. His eyes were bouncing between the three of us in turn, before finally settling on me. “Snow, I… how? It’s only been weeks! And besides, she’s not from the Stable.”

“What does that matter?” I shot back.

Leaning back slightly, Buff’s calm demeanour faltered slightly. “You know what we were taught growing up. The rules of the Stable are pretty clear about Old Equestria-”

“Old Equestria’s dead!” Stamping my hoof while protectively hugging Undertow, my oldest brother was subjected to a harsh, disapproving stare. “It died when the bombs fell. A month after the Stable’s doors closed. I learned this from Facemask, didn’t he tell you too? This is the Wasteland, Buff. It’s a whole different beast. I’m not saying it isn’t without faults, because it’s got a lot of them, but Undertow’s not one of them! She’s been the best part of my life out here!”

I shoved her forwards, so that she and Buff were inches apart. “And are you, Buff of Stable 61, home to many different species besides ponies, that where somebody comes from is a good enough reason to dislike them? To shun them?!” My voice was steadily rising in volume as I chewed out my brother. “Are you going to her that she’s not good enough because she was born outside of the Stable?!”

“No, that’s not what I meant!”

“Then what do you mean, Buff? Lo asked why I got so much better with magic despite spending my entire Stable life barely able to conjure ice cubes. Well, the reason is standing right in front of you!”

Trying her best to sink into the floor, Undertow wilted and blushed simultaneously under all the attention. “I um, I taught sister some of what I know. Our magics resonate, so-”

Lo finally found his voice. “What does that mean, ‘Our magics resonate’?”

Recoiling, Undertow squeaked out an answer. “She… she has ice and I have water. They are connected and…and…” Giving up, she lowered herself to the ground and covered her head with her hooves. “...I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any harm.”

“LO!”

Finally seeming to notice the size difference between himself and the cowering filly, Lo all but jumped back. “I-I didn’t mean to scare her. I just don’t know what’s going on right now!”

“Neither do I.” Buff didn’t sound angry, but did still seem perplexed. “Snow, can you explain this a little more, please?”

Taking a deep breath, I hunkered down next to Undertow, and drew her into a tight hug. “Undertow… is our sister. You don’t have to accept it straight away, but I’d like you to think it over. For now, I’ll tell you a little bit of what has happened to me while I’ve been out here. Maybe that’ll help you understand.”

I jerked my head back down the tunnel, towards the exit. “You know there’s a Raider army out in the streets, right? Well, it’s my doing. Or Red Ice’s, whichever you prefer. You two should have heard that name by now, right?”

Neither seemed surprised. “We were waiting for you to bring it up.”

I nodded. Sounds about right. “Well, if you weren’t completely sure before, then I can tell that I’m Red Ice. I had a run in with some Raiders before becoming Red Ice, and I wanted to see whether I could change the way the Wasteland the Raiders coexisted. Reform them. Only, it wasn’t really my idea. Latvi, the guy running the Raider army right now, manipulated me into bringing the Raider tribes together, forming the army. When I brought them all to a meeting, he doublecrossed me. Red Ice has done a lot of bad things, some because of Latvi and some just because of me, but I was brought back from it by the leader of one of the Raider clans: The Deep Divers.”

Stroking Undertow’s mane gently helped me to keep calm as I talked. “Undertow led the Deep Divers. She’s about as far from ‘Raider’ as a filly can get, but she was called one by the rest of the Wasteland. Mostly, she just wanted to be left alone. Not out of malice, but because she’s never been treated kindly. She and I have gone at it a few times, never her fault, but she has always been supporting me and being exactly who she always was: Our sister.”

Leaning in to the now-calmer girl, I whispered in her ear. “Hey, show them. Take the goggles off.” When she gave a nod, and moved to lower her eyewear, my heart swelled. “You guys will love this part.”

With her goggles hanging around her neck, Undertow and I turned in unison to the buffalo brothers.

four identical orange eyes faced the twin pairs of our identical brothers.

“Oh.” Was all Lo could say.

“I see.” Buff wasn’t much better.

Undertow seized upon the silence. Standing up, she reached one hoof up hook Lo’s face, then her other front hoof wrapped around Buff’s. Stepping forwards, she turned her hold into a hug, pressing her face in-between those of the Doublehorn’s. “I do not wish to ever get in the way of the bond you three have with Snowflake, but know that she is as precious to me as she is to you, and I am so happy to be part of her family. I only hope that you three can treat me as a sister in time.”

Planting two quick kisses on their cheeks, she withdrew. Eyes glistening, she began walking backwards around the corner. “I will not intrude on your time together any further tonight. Just know that I am very glad to have met you both, big brothers. I will go back to the others now. Goodnight… my family.”

Then she was gone. The three of us listened in silence until we couldn’t hear her hoofsteps any longer.

I sighed. “Was it a mistake, Buff, Lo? Telling you like this? I just wanted you two to love her like I do.”

“Yes.” Buff replied, not unkindly. “Whatever you’ve been through with her, we haven’t. No matter the outcome of all this, we don’t have a connection with her yet.”

Lo had other things on his mind. “She’s not a replacement for us, is she, Snow? Did you just move on to somebody else when you were away from us?”

A fair question. “You know, she asked me that too. She was worried I was just using her to ease the pain of losing you three. She didn’t want that. She wanted to be a real sister to me, and to the three of you. She hadn’t even met you three yet, and only knew what I told her about you. She still wanted so badly to be good enough for you, to make me as happy as you three do. So no, Lo, she’s not a replacement for you. She’s no replacement for my family, she’s an addition to it.”

“...I don’t know what to say to that.”

Sighing, I decided enough was enough. “Yeah, me neither. For now, you two should just get some sleep. There will be time to think all this over tomorrow, and the Raiders are still out there.”

~~~~~~

Getting the boys to go to bed proved as difficult that night as it did when they were in single digits, only for entirely different reasons. I was also under no illusions that they’d find sleep anytime soon, and would instead opt to stay up talking with each other for hours. This, too, would be like when they were younger.

Still, I made sure they had a comfortable place to sleep, then bid them both goodnight with a loving kiss. Even if our relationship is complicated by Undertow, or by Red Ice and the Wasteland, I can still do that much at least.

After making sure the boys were okay, I checked on Undertow. True to her word, she had found some measure of comfort with the others. She’d squeezed herself in between Bosco and Naiara, and miraculously HAD managed to get herself to sleep already. It has been a long few days. Maybe she just ran out of juice? The reason was irrelevant, but I still leaned in to give her a goodnight kiss too, then took a walk.

My walk took me up and out of the underground shelter, through the main streets of the southern quarter, and eventually up onto the stories-high walls of Lethbridle itself.

The falling snow of the day seemed to have dissipated, leaving a night that was cool, not cold. Walking the top of the wall was fairly solitary, the guards that I could see having positioned themselves near the gates. That left long stretches where I had complete solitude.

I stopped near one of the floodlights, roughly halfway between the south and west gates. The floodlight was pointed down into the city itself, looking to be pointing towards the western-southern quarter boundary. Still, the brightly shining apparatus gave off a few degrees of heat, so I paused to take in the slight warmth.

The city of Lethbridle seemed to have fallen quiet for the evening, so I turned my attention outwards, specifically, to a certain settlement to the west. One which, for want of a missed call, we might have been in and out of already. Leaning on the outer ledge with crossed hooves, I squinted through the dark, trying to catch a glimpse of the Steel Ranger stronghold.

“Y’know, if Bosco found out you were up here lookin’ at Neighlway, he’d probably have a few unkind words for you.” Touching down next to me with a few strong flaps, Wings joined me at the wall’s edge.

I just shrugged. “Bosco’s gonna have unkind words for me either way. You too, probably. You were the one who pushed to come here and bail out Amber.”

Crossing her claws in front of her, she leaned on the wall too. For several minutes, neither of us spoke at all, content to look out at the barren world in a comfortable silence.

The peace was broken when Wings shook out her wings, causing the tips to brush my shoulder. Her automatic “sorry” did enough to break me from my reverie. Shifting my own shoulders for circulation, I gave the chocolate-and-cream griffon a sideways glance. “So how’d you spend your day?”

She glanced back easily. “Oh, y’know, killed some Raiders, took their gun and killed some more Raiders with it, got a bunch of looks from ponies who figured out I was Blue Fire, was at ground zero while Rockhaunch broke the northern quarter, and then I met a couple of buffalo. Can’t be sure, but I think you might know ‘em.” The tip of her tongue was sticking out of her beak by the end of that last sentence, and the corners of her lips were turned up.

Rolling my eyes, but not able to stop the smile from gracing my lips, I let a little of my tongue show, too. “Good guess.”

After we shared a chuckle, she shuffled her wings again. “How about you?”

Tapping a hoof on the wall, I tried to be matter-of-fact in my recitation of the day’s events, though knowing I’d probably fail. “Met with Amber, made an idiot of myself, learned that she’s been listening in on all of us through the communicators...”

“She’s been WHAT?!”

“...which Schwarzwald has hopefully told Breeze about, I’ll check in the morning. After that, spoke with a ghoul who told us that Amber’s been buying up all of Lethbridle for some reason, then we fought some Raiders,” And I killed a colt to keep your reputation alive. “then fought some more Raiders, including Latvi, then we found you and Lo. After that, we came back to the shelter, where I had Buff and Lo meet their new sister.”

Wings turned to fully face me now, Sapphire eyes glinting in the background illumination from the floodlight. “Yeah? How’d that go?”

“Not as well as I’d hoped, but about as well as I could have expected, I guess.” Breathing out through my nose, I counted to five in my head as I did so. “Undertow did great, made me really proud of her. They boys, though, they were a little bit in shock. I guess it was a lot to drop on them all at once. Getting a new sister really isn’t something you accept in five minutes.”

A claw landed softly on my shoulder. “You’re fine. They’re fine. You love your brothers, right?”

I nodded immediately. “Of course.”

The claw squeezed gently. “And they love you, right?”

A few milliseconds hesitation. “I hope they still do.” They might not love Red Ice.

Another squeeze, firmer this time. “They do. Don’t doubt that. Anyway, you and your sister love each other too, right?”

“That I don’t doubt.” Not for a second did I doubt that.

“Then your brothers and sister are going to love each other, too. It’s just how things work out in your family.” Her claw left my shoulder. When I looked over, she was staring out into the open sky. “It’s really… special to see.”

Are you still hung up on not being able to go back to your family? You hated it there! My hoof found her shoulder, a reverse of what happened a moment ago. “Isn’t it enough that they love you?”

She snapped out of her trance, staring blankly back at me. “Huh?”

I nodded down into the city. “The others. Schwarzwald, the twins, Naiara, Bosco, even Undertow. Isn’t it enough that they love you? They risked everything to get you back. FROM your family, I might add. They’d walk through fire for you.”

She snorted, and tried shrugging my hoof off. “For you, maybe.” Her airy tone was forced, even I could tell.

My hoof stayed put. “For you. I’m usually the one starting the fire.”

“What does that matter?”

I looked into those sapphire eyes. “I saw how you were when you decided that you had to go home. You hated it. I… just want you to know that you’ve got a place with them. A place where you’re smiling. You don’t have to go home, unless you absolutely want to.”

“Some of us don’t have that luxury.” I muttered under my breath as an afterthought.

“What was that?” She leaned in a little.

I waved her off. “Nothing, doesn’t matter.”

The look she gave me wasn’t exactly one of acceptance, but she didn’t press the issue. “So when are you taking them back to the Stable? Your three brothers and Undertow?”

“Not for a while. Undertow will be coming along with us while we get Bosco and the others’ problems handled, not to mention the Windigoes. Lexi can watch the boys until then. I can pay her with Amber’s caps if she needs it. After that, I’ll take them all back to the Stable. Red Ice’s enemies can’t get them in there. It’ll be…” I sighed inwardly. ...boring as hell. “...safer.”

“Safe’s one word for it.” Wings scoffed, flapping up onto the wall ledge and posing on her hind legs. “Still, there’s no reason you have to be there ALL the time.”

Confused, I looked up at her with furrowed brow. “Huh?”

Her wings spread. “I bet you could get Breeze to boost the power of your communicator, so you could contact the Stable any time you want. That way you could call your brothers and sister any time you want.”

Pushing up with my hooves, I heaved myself onto the ledge as well, but kept a firm grip to avoid falling. “Call them? Why would I call them? Where else where I be?”

Looking away with a shy grin on her face, Wings scratched at her cheek with a talon. “Well, I kinda think Schwarzwald may be sticking around to work with Amber after all this is settled, and if I’m not going home then I’ll need a place to go next. Maybe down south? Somewhere where nobody knows who Blue Fire is.” She glanced back at me. “Or Red Ice.”

That… doesn’t sound too bad, actually. Especially if we had that skywagon Amber was offering. I could come back to see them whenever I wanted, but wouldn’t have to live in the Stable! And being able to just be Snowflake again would be fantastic. No more Red Ice! “I hear it’s nice and warm down south.”

Wings floated in close and, with a mischievous grin, nudged me off the ledge, back onto the walkway. Then she glided over my head and over the other side, hovering above Lethbridle itself. “Yeah, I’ve heard that too, but I’m just thinking out loud. Must be getting tired if I’m talking to myself, huh?”

“Yeah, probably best if you get some sleep. The guys down there still need Blue Fire tomorrow, and I don’t want you playing hero when you’re half asleep.” I put on my best ‘stern’ voice. “Get to bed, Gigglewings, or no sweets at breakfast.”

Putting on a put-upon expression, she playfully crossed her claws in mock-anger. “You sure your brothers and sister’ll be safe with you? Sounds like you starve them, ya slavedriver.”

Wagging a hoof at her, I played along. It wasn’t hard, with the way I was suddenly feeling. “That’s it, you’re grounded, missy! Seriously though, get to bed. I’m going down now myself.”

“Yeah, yeah, alright.”

I’d gone about a half-dozen steps towards the stairs when she called out to me. “Snow?”

“Yeah?” I turned back to the floating griffon.

“About your family and you taking them back to the Stable…”

Not quite sure where she was going with that, I stopped walking and faced her again.

Extending an open and upturned claw, her brash voice lightened. “I want you to know that there’s a place where you’re smiling, Snow.”

As she dropped out of sight, Wings left me with one final question. “Isn’t it enough that they love you?”

~~~~~~