Chapter 26: The Balance Of Wants & Needs

[Bring all your weapons, bring your convictions, your flag of the bull…]

Swooping in low, a few hundred yards out from Sprinkles Supplies, our sky carriage's wake bowled over Naiara as she ran beneath us.

As the flying machine rattled to a stop, Cept was first out of the door, bounding over to assist his fellow clan member. “Are you hurt?”

Gripping his offered hoof for support, the supple mare almost dragged the taller zebra down as she hauled herself upright. “Cept! I have so much to tell you!”

“You have found Bosco?”

She hid her blanch behind steadying her balance. “Uh...”

Naiara's hesitation made me pause in the process of unhooking Wings. The griffon and I sharing a look as she vocalised my thoughts. “They couldn't find him?”

“M-maybe he's inside?” I really hope you're inside, Bosco.

With a sad shake of her head, Naiara apologised to each of us in turn. “I haven't seen him. There's something else too...”

Golden eyes betraying his sadness, Cept looked around. “Where is Cassie?”

“...okay, SEVERAL 'somethings'.” She pointed to the main gate of the Sprinkles compound. “Let's get inside. I'll tell you what Cassie and me found out.”

Why is she looking at me?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“I KNOW THEY'RE GLOWING! Just... leave it alone!” Slapping a hoof over my eyes, I waved Undertow away and tried to focus on the conversation. I tried so hard to focus on ideas to help Bosco, but one image had taken root in the back of my mind and wouldn't be dislodged.

The smug, condescending sneer of the Overmare as I'd last seen her, in Latvi's Sombratic vision at the Raider summit.

And then I froze her solid. The thought did provide some solace, even as my glowing-eyes-inducing anger threatened to bubble over. Should've shattered her too. Fucking Overbitch.

Whapping myself upside the mind, I dragged myself back to the present. Bosco, dammit!

We all sat outside in the cooling afternoon air. Naiara and Cept jabbered rapidly in the zebra tongue, keeping their worries about Atesh and his actions to themselves. I wished they wouldn't, but Cept still had reservations about spreading clan matters to anyone not a part of it.

They know we'll help them, at least. As soon as they decide on what they want to do, we'll get on it.

My brothers, too far out of the loop to really contribute, still managed to help put me at ease, just by staying nearby. Amber Bernstein also attended, keeping close to Schwarzwald. The businessmare listened closely as the mercenary discussed our next steps with Undertow, Wings and I.

Wings was being extra careful with her words, constantly shooting glances at Bernstein and my Doublehorns. The effort had her feathers bunching up. “Even if we can find Bosco, and help him with his... problem, it still leaves the issue of what to do next. We can't go back to Neighlway, the... group we found at the agriculture facility scattered on us, and the forest never existed in the first place!”

Undertow scrunched up her nose. “What comes after isn't important right now, Wings. All that matters is making sure Bosco is okay, body AND soul. He's been through a lot, even before this.”

“Oh, and we haven't?”

“Not like this! His whole world has changed!” The downward curve of her lips, coupled with the slight tremour in her speech, showed how hard Undertow was fighting to stay calm. “You weren't there when he first got exposed to... them.” She all but spat the word. “He almost died!”

Schwarzwald remained sat between the two of them, wearing her wry smile. “Your loyalty to our little Boss Colt does you well, Undertow-dahling, but Wings is right. We have all been in mortal peril at one point or another.”

“And yet you say that with a smile.” I plopped down next to my sister. “I'm with Undertow. Let's just find Bosco first. Has anybody heard from Cassie in the last hour?”

Head shakes all around. Cept's frown was the deepest. “She is not answering her communicator.”

Wings flexed her talons. “If we don't hear from her in the next half hour, I'm heading to Hoofshine.”

I took in the condition of her plumage. “You sure you can make the trip? You dragged us and the sky carriage a long way, and then back again.”

Said plumage puffed up. “I said I'm going. And I'll be fine,” Narrow sapphire eyes squinted at Undertow. “ this time I won't be retaining water.”

My jaw dropped.

“AND JUST WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO—”

I heard all three of my brothers shuffle to their hooves. “Hey, someone's coming!”

Instantly, we were all ready for battle. Conversations forgotten, two zebras, a pair of unicorns, and a griffon whipped around to put themselves in a rough half-circle. The three buffalo crowded in with one earth mare, while all four were covered by a second Earth pony.

Too busy to concern myself with glowing eyes, I kept my horn alight and facing outwards. “Which way, Buff?” I called over my shoulder, not turning around.

“Up.” He yelled back.

“Up?” Every neck craned skywards, scanning the horizon.

“Is it Cassie?” Naiara's voice bled excitement.

“Or the Overmare?” Lo's didn't.

There's not a single pegasus in the Wasteland that I can truly say I like. That kinda sucks. “Let's hope it's Cassie, and that she's found Bosco.” Especially the second part.

It took a few seconds, but I finally noticed the blue pegasus outlined against the cloud cover. “It's Cassie.” I confirmed.

“Is she alone?” Wings strained to see.

“Yeah,” Naiara sighed, “Bosco can't fly. Damn.”

“She is coming down by the sky carriage.” Schwarzwald was already in motion to cross the two-hundred-metre gap. The pegasus disappeared behind it at ground level.

“I would be very interested to hear her perspective on the situation in Plottawa.” Amber gracefully trotted after her.

“At least we can cross off the places she visited as where Bosco isn't. That's something, I guess.” Undertow nudged my shoulder as I said this, seemingly appreciative of the effort.

Cept outpaced Schwarzwald on the way to the carriage, but drew up short as Cassie popped up onto the top of the vehicle. “Hold on a moment, Cept, and all of you.”

Skidding to a halt, Cept dithered unsuredly. “What is wrong, Cassie?”

The pegasus glanced behind her every other second. “Just... just hold on where you are. Don't come any closer, for a few more seconds.”

The heck? “What's back there?”

“Wait, I said!” She growled. “Can you not stay patient for even a moment, Red Ice?”

“And there it is. Didn't take you long, did it, Venatici?” I stuck my tongue out at her. “We don't time for this, let's see what you're hiding so we can get back to finding Bosco.” I took a step towards the carriage.

“NO!” Cassie slammed down before me, blades crossed in my path.

“What is the matter with you?” I challenged, horn lighting up.

Sweating, Cassie continued to glance back at the carriage. “It's not about you!”

Sliding one hoof forward deliberately, I looked her straight in the eye. “Then who-”

“Guys, please stop.” A young colt called out from behind the carriage.

I jumped back in surprise, just in time to see a green flash leak out from around the edge of the aircraft. Uneven hoofsteps followed it, with a charcoal colt gingerly poking his head around a second later.

I forgot all about Cassie at that point, and exclaimed with the others. “Bosco!”

Said colt soon found himself gang-rushed by a swarm of female equines, and one griffon hen.

“You're okay!” Undertow wrapped her hooves around his neck and held tight.

“What happened?” Naiara checked him up and down for injuries.

“Dahling!” Schwarzwald sported a bright, genuine smile.

“Where did you go?” I smooshed his face like I'd done so many times with my brothers.

“Don't you ever scare us like that again!” Wings damn-near took his head off with a worried-angry swipe.

“Ow!” Bosco covered his head with his hooves.

“Wings!”

“What?” She didn't lower her claw. “I'm glad he's okay, but running off like that was stupid! And dangerous! It meant we couldn't look after Bosco and keep him safe!”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“No, Snow, she's right. I shouldn't have run off. I'm sorry.” Still covering his head, Bosco nevertheless showed a small smile.

“That's better.” Wings' claw opened up and dropped to his shoulder. “Don't do it again, alright?” And she joined Undertow in hugging the daylights out of the colt.

Cassie bustled in and used her wings to shoo the others away. “Ladies, please. Give him some room. We don't want to overload him right now. Let's try and keep calm, yes?”

“Agreed,” Cept chimed in, “though it is good to see you well, Bosco.”

He got an obviously faux-laid back response from the charcoal colt. “You too, buddy. Totally.”

“Bosco, be serious for just a moment.” Undertow had physically backed off, but still pressed with her words. “Truly, are you... okay?”

Everybody quietened down to hear his answer. Looking across all of us, he tapped his hooves together a few times before responding. “I... think I will be, eventually. There's still a lot of thoughts rattling around in my head, but I'm not freaking out as hard as I was. Not gonna say I'm not gonna have bad days with this, but try to wait those out. I can't really say better than that right now.”

Studying him statue-still for a few moments longer, Undertow finally nodded and flashed a smile. “That's fine. Take as long as you need. I just wanted to know that you're okay.”

Leaning slightly into Cassie, Bosco held out a hoof for Undertow to bump. Which she did. Energetically.

A comfortable silence descended, and I took the time to look over the group. Not everybody was smiling, but nobody seemed too unhappy.

A forcible grunt sounded from behind me. Oh, right. “Bosco, Cept, I don't think you guys have met all of my brothers, have you?” I waved the three buffalo over.

Raising an eyebrow, Cept nodded towards Al. “I have met this one in battle.”

“Oh, damn, forgot about that.”

“I didn't.” Al groused. “I think I might still have bruises.”

Bosco raised a hoof at the other two. “And I met Buff and Lo in Lethbridle.”

“Well, that's convenient then.” I pointed Cept towards each of my brothers in turn. “That's Al who you fought, he's the middle one. The eldest is Buff here, and the baby over there is Lo. Boys, say hi.”

“Hi, Cept. Hi, Bosco.” They chanted dutifully.

“Buff, Al, and Lo?” Cept didn't seem to know whether or not to smile. “But that is—”

“We know.” The three Doublehorns chorused patiently.

“I am sorry, but it is unusu—”

“We know.” They repeated, impatiently this time.

“Cept,” I elbowed him in the ribs. “I know, but they got those names from their mother, who they love very much. Please let it go.”

His golden eyes twinkled as he grasped my meaning, “Of course.” He turned an apologetic gaze on the triplets.

They just waved him concern away, and extended hooves for he and Bosco to bump. Afterwards, we all headed back to the main gate of Sprinkles Supplies, with Bosco sticking close to Cassie the entire time.

Fedexi Lexi met us as the gate opened. “Quite the crowd y'got here. Ah hope yeh ain't expectin' to stay here fer free. Cassie excluded o' course, since she already paid up.”

Never change, boss. “Just tell us what we need to do to earn our beds, boss.”

She was practically salivating at all the free labour.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Stop worrying, Snow. He'll be fine.”

“Yeah, but... Cassie.” I rested my chin on top of the outer wall of the Sprinkles Supplies walkway, looking out into the brief illumination cast by the floodlights from the corner guard towers.

Beside me, Wings was checking her revolvers for blockages. Satisfied, she gave one a quick spin before slamming the cylinder back into place. “She brought him back, and he seems more comfortable with her. Maybe you should just let this one go.” The diffuse light was just bright enough to show the smirk sneaking up her face. “Unless you're just jealous that somebody else is playing the big sister for a change.”

“I am not!” My reply probably would have been strengthened by not being so sulky. I rolled my head until my cheek was taking the weight. “I just want Bosco to be safe.”

Emptying her lungs in mock-exasperation, Wings winked her sapphire eyes at me. “Totally not jealous Cassie jacked your 'big sister' role. Totally. He's in the medical bay, way in the heart of the compound, and the most dangerous thing he'll be doing is changing Breeze's bedpan. Your boss knows what she's doing by putting him with Breeze and Cass. They're all safe.”

“Don't care about Breeze or Cassie.” I grumbled.

“Yeah, that's not true. We're too long together for you not to, unless you're a complete bitch.” She waved a claw dismissively. “You might not be best buddies, but you'll still look out for each other. For Bosco's sake now, if nothing else.”

I turned away. “...'m not jealous.”

I can hear that laughing, Wings!

Lexi had made the most of her extra help for the evening. Wings and I were patrolling the walls, and she'd assigned Bosco as a caretaker for Breeze and Cassie. The others were scattered around the building on various tasks; Naiara and Cept were cleaning the stockrooms, wearing heavy overalls to cover their stripes. Amber had already been working while we'd been away, and now Schwarzwald joined her in filing. In Lexi's words, “an easy job for three big buffalo fellas” had my brothers helping to load wagons. That just left Undertow to wash dishes in the kitchens, though the girl had asked for a quiet word with Lexi before the evening was up.

My heart had sped up when she asked that, and I couldn't help but be worried. What if Lexi says no? Undertow'll be crushed. Come on, boss, you've gotta say yes!

Gah, I don't even know what I'd do if Lexi said no. I mean, would Undertow wanna stay here or go back to Hoofshine? I'd go with her if she did, but the others'll have to stay here until Breeze recovers. What would I do about my brothers, or Bosco, or Naiara and Cept, or Schwarzwald and—

A cream feather tried worming its way up my nostril. “Hey, calling all Snowflakes, you still in there?”

“Aachoo!” The offending quill shot out of my snout in a sticky mess, just barely missing the griffon who'd been tickling my nose.

“Heh, gross. Reminds me of the time we first met.”

Blushing, I shoved her away. “I really don't think those Raiders back then were interested in sticking things in my nose.”

Making jokes about Raider rape. Quite the then-and-now change.

Placing her claws on her hips, Wings sashayed back and forth. “Well look at you, little miss Raiders-wanna-bang-me. Bet they'd just love to get a hold of a Stable pony. Very clean.”

Huffing, I covered myself with my hooves, even though I was wearing full gear. “Well, some of us have to make do with 'clean'. We can't all have pretty blue eyes, you know.”

“...You think my eyes are pretty?”

Still checking myself for Raider leer, I started answering without looking. “Gorgeous. First thing I noticed about you. Can't really be a surprise to you, you've looked in a...” My words stuck on my tongue as I caught sight of her chocolate-and-cherry colouration. “...mirror.”

Heat rose in my own cheeks. Silence reigned as we both were stuck half-staring, half-avoiding each other's gaze.

Eventually, the quiet threatened to deafen me. Say something! ANYTHING! “Um... so, you... uh... your eyes are pretty.” Was all I could manage.

“Th-thanks.” Wings looked back towards the interior of the compound, and stiffened. Following her wide-eyed gaze, I saw why.

Two pairs of eyes, one big and surrounded by sienna fur, and the other covered by goggles, peeked at the two of us from the stairs. Four eyebrows were trying to jump off their faces.

“And what are you two loo-”

Undertow and Lo bolted mid-sentence. Wings and I could only stare dumbly as they scampered away, giggling.

The griffon found her voice first. “Well, that's just super.”

Determinedly, I rooted myself facing out into the Wasteland. Not turning around again until my shift's done. “Think there's any chance they didn't—”

“No.”

“...super.”

“Yyyep.”

“So,” I forcefully changed the subject, “what was the first thing you noticed about me back then?”

Letting out a single syllable laugh, Wings joined me in facing rigidly outward, at least as far as I could see from her shadow. “That's an easy one. You came back.”

She realised I was waiting for her to continue, and did. “I didn't really see you that well when you went flying past, just really heard you shout about the Raiders. I was glad of the heads up and everything, but I really started to pay attention when you came back. Ice magic, on a snowfield, during a Raider ambush? Not what I expected when I got up that day.”

“Not complaining, I hope?” A slight breeze tugged at my mane and her plumage.

“Not dead, am I?” Her elbow nudged mine. “Not many'd do what you did, Snow, not for strangers. Some wouldn't even do it for family. Count it as a good first impression... even if you're totally weird now.”

“Oh, I'm weird? Says the most un-griffon-y griffon ever.” I gently bopped her on the shoulder.

“Three. Buffalo. Brothers.”

“You spend all your time with ponies.”

“You adopted a Raider!”

“You adopted a Schwarzwald!”

“Raider-pony!”

“Pony-griffon!”

“Red Ice!”

“Blue Fire!”

We were literally face to face, nose and beak scrunched up as we sparred verbally. She noticed the situation at the same time I did, and we turned back to looking outwards. Still, I saw her smile out of the corner of my eye, which matched mine.

Nice night for it, Gigglewings.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!” I scrambled up onto my big brother's back, goggles and rebreather bouncing as I climbed. “Do you think Snow—?”

Lo almost sent me flying as he nodded vigorously. “Totally! And also—”

“GET BACK HERE!”

The sound of thundering hooves followed the shout of my other two brothers. Lo and I looked around, just in time for Bosco to tear past, with Buff and Al hot on his heels.

What in the world?

“...I don't know what that means, though.”

“You leave him alone, you brutes!” Cassie chased after the three of them.

Bosco dodged around a stack of crates and turned back towards us. Cassie dropped down between him and the pursuing Doublehorns, forcing them to skid to a halt. “That's enough. You two should be ashamed of yourselves.”

With the colt peeking out from behind Lo, the three of us watched Cassie argue with Buff and Al. Buff ground at the floor in front of Cassie. “WE should be ashamed? What about him? He's the one sleeping with our sister in a whore house!”

Uh oh. I felt Lo tense up beneath me, and frantically started signalling for Bosco to start running.

“Sisters, plural!” Al added. “Snowflake was bad enough, but Undertow's even younger than us! He's gotta pay for besmirching their innocence.”

Cassie couldn't help herself, and laughed in his face. “Innocence? Them?”

My furry mount began rumbling, as Lo jerkily turned to face Bosco. “You slept with my sisters?”

Backpedaling, Bosco's ears flattened against his head. “Seriously, it was just sleeping. It was for safety after she overdid it in the bath.”

Oh no. My hooves shot down to cover Lo's eyes for a moment. “Run, you idiot!”

Not needing to be told twice, Bosco ran. Lo didn't waste any time either, by reaching up and plucking me from his head. He, and his two brothers, darted around Cassie and gave chase. The pegasus followed behind, threatening revenge if they hurt the colt.

I watched as the five of them disappeared around a corner. “Good luck, Bosco.” I was fairly sure that my brothers wouldn't badly hurt him, just try to scare him a little. I could live with that. It's not like I can truly be angry at them for defending their sisters' honour, even if they don't have to.

Making to get back to the kitchen, I ran into Fedexi Lexi coming the other way. Her orange mane was extra frizzy as she glared after the pursuit. “What's with all the yellin'? An' why ain't y'all at yer duties?”

Her anger did nothing to dampen my mood. “Heading back now, boss.” A thought brought me up short, however. “Um, actually, could we have that talk now?”

With one last glower at the others, she turned back to me with a kind smile. “Sure, sweetheart, we’ll go somewhere more private. Follow me.”

Dutifully, I traipsed after her, up to her office. The entire time had been spent thinking about what I was going to say, but nothing came to mind.

In the office, Lexi settled herself behind her desk, and gestured for me to sit down across from her. “What's on yer mind, babygirl?”

Barely hearing her over the thudding of my heart, it was all I could do to get any words out. My tongue felt papery, and sweat began to dampen my back. “Um, boss, uh... thanks so much for everything you've done for me, and Snowflake, and the others.”

“Y'welcome, but yer not gettin' outta dish duty.” She tried to smile, but stopped when she saw I wasn't joining her. “Undertow, what is it? Yer lookin' spooked.”

I wish Snowflake was here to help me do this. “Um. Well, the thing is, you've always treated me well, from the first time I met you. You gave me new clothes, and food, and got angry at me when I did anything silly...” I did end up smiling at that last one.

Lexi smiled too. “What about it? Ah like yeh, kiddo.”

My hoof twitched for my rebreather, to fall back into the safety of the air talisman, but I quenched the thought. Instead, I reached up, and lowered my goggles from my eyes. I can't hide right now. Have to do this right. “I like you too, boss, but what I meant was that you don't just help me out physically. You care, or at least I hope you do, about more than just how I'm doing. You keep working to make sure I act right, and stay a good person.”

“Undertow...” Lexi wasn't smiling now. She was leaning forward over the desk, purple eyes shining with concern. “...what're y'tryin' to say?”

Here it is. With a deep breath, my hoof extended out to her. “I'm trying to say that you always treat us so well, and look after me and my sister better than anybody else. You're not afraid to tell us we're doing wrong, because you always want us to do right, and do the best we can. I never want to disappoint you. I... I have to ask you something really important.”

Stepping around the desk, she took my chin in her hooves. “Jus' ask me, Undertow. Ah'm listenin'.”

The warmth in her hooves, and her words, was too much for me. Tears rolled down my cheeks, onto her hooves. “Boss... will you be our mom?”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~