All of this seems… hauntingly familiar.

The geothermal units groaned and croaked as they worked, harnessing the natural energy from far below the surface. To the side, exactly where they’d been weeks earlier, lay the old components, the workers of that fateful having apparently never gotten around to shifting them down to recycling after I’d grabbed the Memory Orb.

Sloppy. I get taken to the Medbay, they get to take time off.

The ledge was the same, too, as was the dark expanse beyond it. I stood where I was for now, not quite ready to head over there yet, even though I would have to eventually.

Here’s where I found the Orb, and where else in the Stable could an Alicorn princess and a Changeling queen hide? The Orb was still tucked into my barding, in a pocket over my heart. It felt heavier, there in that place, than it had at any time since I first grabbed it in my magic.

“So then,” I spoke to the machinery and darkness, “shall we get started?”

“Get started with what?”

I jumped. That’s new. Looking up, I saw a shadowy figure raise itself up from where it was nestled between some gargantuan piping. I know that voice. “Roc? What are you doing down here?” HOW did you even get down here? “Didn’t I fire you?”

His claws kicked up sparks as he raked them down the metal pipes. “That means nothing, Snowflake! No matter what manner of calamity you bring to my Stable, I will never bow to your commands!”

Is that so? “So you waited down here to tell me that, or is there another reason you’re not in the Overseer’s Office right now?” More like three reasons, and one of them’s my big ‘lump’ of a little brother.

He only gave a flicker of uncertainty before coughing into his claw. “Well, I could hardly leave a… disruptive element, such as yourself, to wreak havoc in MY Stable’s inner workings. The protection of Stable 61, its equipment and residents both, is one of my most important duties as its Overseer—”

“Not the Overseer anymore,” I interrupted in a sing-song voice, with an intentionally goofy grin, “...‘cause I fired you!” It probably wasn’t the time, but I felt I owed him for all the grief he’d caused me.

“What are YOU doing here, exile?” He bleated, launching himself into the air, before jabbing a talon at me. “What do you think is down here, in this dark corner of the Stable? What do you think you know of this place that I, the Overseer, do not?”

I burst out laughing. Where do I start? “Oh, just so many things, Roc. I’m not even sure I’ve got the time to list them all.”

He cawed back a harsh laugh. “Is that why you spent all your time stuck on Monitor Duty, you census-line? Because you knew so much more than those of us who actually could navigate the Stable’s environment? The Stable didn’t need you, Snowflake. It needed me, and those like me, to determine the path to New Equestria.”

Bingo. “And there it is.” I smirked up at him. “Roc, since you are so needed for New Equestria, I’m sure you’ll be able to tell a poor naïve outsider like me the answer to this question. See, it’s been bugging me for a while now, and no matter how I wrack my brains about the Stable’s teachings, I just can’t ever remember any details on this.”

Landing at the edge of the darkness, Roc smoothed down his feathers, then looked down his beak at me. “Ask away.”

“What was so bad about Old Equestria?”

He waited for me to continue for a few seconds, then scoffed. “That’s it? That’s the question you don’t have an answer to. Well, clearly you paid less attention than even I thought.” Perfect contentment on his face, he spoke in his smoothest tone, eyes closed. “Pay attention now, little Snowflake. Old Equestria went to war, my dear. They forsook peaceful cooperation, and took up weapons against their fellow equines. That was their failure. We of Stable 61 have a duty to not make their mistakes all over again.”

“Then what would you change?” I asked, plainly.

“Hmm?” One of his eyes opened.

I pressed onwards. “What would you change, Roc? Old Equestria went to war, we all know this. What led to them making that decision? What wouldn’t you do that Old Equestria did?”

“I—”

Butting in, I didn’t let up. “What would you do that they didn’t? How about the parts that they did, which you’d also do but differently? How differently?” I lifted my hoof to pan across the cavern, its equipment, the dark expanse, and the two of us. “Name the parts of Old Equestria which caused the problems? Tell me your plan to prevent the problems happening again. Tell me how your New Equestria would be different from the Old.”

“Well, obviously we wouldn’t consider warfare as an option.”

“Who wouldn’t? Plenty of folks out there with guns, Roc. They’ve used them too. But that’s in the Wasteland. You haven’t answered my question: What parts of Old Equestria were wrong, to bring about its own end, that your New Equestria wouldn’t be?”

He held up a single talon. “Well, I would say… um, it would be the… you see, the crux of the matter was…” The talon lowered, and he frowned at me.

Hah! “Not so easy is it, to pass judgement over an entire nation, especially when you’ve sat apart from it, hiding in metal walls for two hundred years?”

His frown deepened. “And you would know better?” Two talons came up. “You’ve barely been out of the Stable for two months, if that, and suddenly you believe you can solve the problems of the past two centuries?”

“Not all at once, no,” I shrugged at him, ignoring the glare this brought on, “but I’ve got a working theory. See, I’ve seen Equestria. Every Equestria. As it was, and as it is now. Memory Orbs are useful that way. But anyway, I think I have a notion as to Equestria’s failing, both past and present.”

He sniffed in derision. “Oh, do enlighten me. I could use a laugh after the events of today.”

I smiled. Not the malicious smirk that I’d sent his way before, but a beatific smile that wasn’t aimed at him. “Balance.”

“‘Balance’.” He echoed, claws crossed.

“Balance.” I confirmed. “See, Old Equestria was full of love. The people, the land, the Princesses. There was so much love in Equestria, they didn’t know anything else. Trouble is, when you know nothing but love, you lose perspective on the rest.”

Roc cocked an eyebrow. “‘The rest’?”

“Hate.” I clarified, pointing at my smoking eyes. You won’t get it, but these are what I’m talking about. “Hate arises when there are problems between people. To recognise hate is to recognise that the problem exists. If you can’t hate, you can’t perceive problems before they become too big to ignore. That was Old Equestria’s failing. Because they only knew love, they couldn’t stop the war before it was too late. Problems can’t be solved without love, but they can’t be discovered without hate. There needs to be a balance, within ourselves and within Equestria.” And we can’t achieve it with just ponies. We’ll need the others, too. “Hate will sharpen your eyes when you need them, and love will soften them again afterwards. Love and hate need to be in balance. We need to accept both to bring about harmony.” We need them both to make the Gardens grow. “That’s my answer to the riddle of New Equestria. We need to find the balance. Unless we can find acceptance of all sides to ourselves, we won’t succeed, and history will repeat itself.”

“And how will you do that?” He asked pointedly.

Well, I have been told that ‘acceptance’ is my core virtue, but… “I won’t, though I do know who will.”

“And who might that be?”

Blazing sapphire eyes ghosted across my mind. I touched my breast, over my heart, still smiling gently. “No, that one’s for me.” Shaking my head, I tried to wave him aside. “If I told you, it might throw off the balance. You’re not ready to be a part of this yet, Roc. Let me take care of it for now.”

Both wings shot out to bar my path. “Excuse me, Snowflake, but poetic speeches do not give you the right to walk about my Stable as you please.”

I facehoofed. “Are we really doing this again?”

A voice from behind me forestalled any response Roc might have had. “I concur with the lady. It would be best for you to leave, Overseer.”

I had about-faced before the third word was out of Peanut’s lips, horn glowing and stance lowered. “Roc, you should leave.”

“I am not going—”

“ROC!” No attempt was made at niceties anymore. “If you stay, either he or I will kill you. Get out of here!”

Peanut was poised with his mouth just an inch away from his holster. The hoofcannon that had given me my latest scar lay within. “I would listen to her if I were you, Roc. Not that your life means anything to me, but noncombatants are just so… distracting.”

Roc, stymied, hovered at my shoulder as Peanut and I stared each other down. “Snowflake, you have no weapon. He has a gun.”

Glacier-blue light glowed brighter. “Got this right here.” I sucked in some air through my nostrils as Peanut’s mouth twitched towards his shooter. “Roc, I don’t much care if you live either, but you’ll have one chance to get away. Listen closely.”

He leaned in, beak to my ear. “What is th—”

Then I cracked him across the jaw with my ice-covered hoof.

DAMN, that was satisfying!

He dropped off the side, in a boneless heap.

Taking two long strides away from the unconscious griffon, with Peanut following my movements all the way, I squared up again. “Now then.”

He spoke without moving his neck. “Indeed. Quite the nice speech you gave, I must say. ‘A balance between love and hate’. Very evocative.”

“Glad you liked it.” I deadpanned.

“Oh, I did!” He smirked. “My favourite part was—” His hoofcannon was between his lips before the next breath, snapping off two shots.

I blocked both, one hitting the ice I’d conjured up in front of me, and the other chipping off the barrier I’d erected around Roc.

“Mm. Clever girl.” Then he moved.

Cartwheeling to the left, he snapped off another three shots mid-flip. All three hit exactly where his first shot had struck. The second and third splintered the ice, and the fourth shattered it.

I’d already thrown myself to the side before the shield broke, and slammed a hoof into the ground as I landed. Four Cryo Serpents shot out from where my hoof had landed, surging for Peanut.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! Four more shots, and each ice trail faded out. I tried to will another spell into play, but Peanut crossed the distance between us in the blink of an eye, driving an elbow into my stomach.

The impact lifted me off my hooves, and forced all the air from my lungs. I flew out over the black expanse. On instinct, my horn fired off, a thin ice ledge shooting out from the edge to break my fall.

It was still ice, though, and thin, meaning I was left gripping at it with every part of me, teeth included.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Peanut reloading. “What is this now, Red Ice, our… fourth go-around? I mean, you have been called insane before but, as you can probably guess, that was from ponies who don’t much like you.”

I got one hoof wrapped tightly around the ice, and hauled myself upright. “This isn’t the same as before.”

“Why?” He tossed his flighty golden locks. “Because of that crooked new horn? Fast work, by the way, but it won’t be enough.”

I set my new horn glowing. “We’ll see, Peanut Gallery. A lot’s changed since then.”

Brilliant white teeth shone with his smile, as he reached inside his Plottawa uniform. “I know. You’re not the only one who picked up a new horn.”

He withdrew a string from under his collar. On the end dangled my old horn, still cracked and jagged, but a perfect match for my coat.

Well that’s… macabre. “I’m gonna want that back.”

His perverse trophy was quickly tucked back inside his clothing. “Come take it. You couldn’t beat me with it, and you won’t beat me without.” He pointed at my forehead. “Maybe I’ll take your new one, too. First pony in history to take the same unicorn’s horn, twice.”

“And what,” I groused, “gonna give it to Red Eye when you turn and present your plot to him? Maybe stuff ‘em both inside first?”

He rumbled in his throat, smile fading. “Don’t be so crass, Snowflake. Red Eye is doing more for Equestria than you, or your ‘balance’, could ever do.”

Ooh, did I hit a nerve? “He’s just another slaver, Peanut, like you. Neither of you will get what you want in the end. You’re both destined to fail, because Equestria doesn’t need people like the two of you.”

Drawing in a long breath with his eyes closed, Peanut popped his neck. “Okay, that’s enough.”

What happened next was all in one lightning quick motion. His eyes opened, focused and predatory, and he fired at me and my ice ledge.

I was in motion too. I’d reformed the ledge to catapult me into the air, and as I spun over him, I left another body in my wake. When I landed, now with him between me and the edge, I was rewarded with the sight of him flipping aside, to avoid the spinning scissor-kick of Naiara.

Well, almost Naiara. My friend couldn’t truly be revived, but I could picture her clear as day in my mind, and bring that forth as living ice.

Even as Peanut’s eyebrows shot up, Ice-Naiara fell into a zebra combat stance between us, one I’d seen so many times in the past from the graceful filly.

Peanut had stopped blinking for the moment, regarding the summon warily. “Well, this certainly isn’t the same as before, I will grant you that. Still, this seems a little out of character for you, Snowflake.”

“Every time we’ve fought, I’ve been a different person, Peanut. You don’t know what my character is.”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Perhaps not, but what I do know is this: This one,” he nodded at Ice-Naiara, who stared back blankly, “couldn’t beat me either. I put her into the wall when she and I fought. How is this pale imitation going to save you?”

Without waiting for an answer, he charged. Naiar-ice rushed to block, kicking out with her Stompeii Emboli moves I remembered so well. Peanut twisted, letting the blow glance off his hip to little effect, and countered with a powerful Fallen Caesar thrust that shattered her throat, with the rest of her following.

The breath caught in my chest. Naiara… Even as a summoned ice-golem, seeing her fall again tore open the scabs of her death.

I only barely got my hoof-sole ice-skate spell, and a weak ice wall, in place before Peanut’s hoofcannon triple-tap sent me sliding back into the hard rock wall.

More shots came, but they were intercepted by a pair of new arrivals.

“Will wonders never cease?” The Plottawan leader exclaimed, an edge of irritation creeping into his voice. “Who might these two be?”

Shaking the stars away, I glared past my reinforcements to him. “See, that’s the problem with your whole ‘slavery’ approach. It’s so impersonal. Let me introduce you Vorbis and Contego. They were guests of the Plottawan hospitality system for a time, and then you and Willow Wisp dragged them to Lethbridle to die as your meatshields!”

Comprehension dawned. “Oh, I do remember those two. That’s right. I offered to let Fedexi Lexi buy them back, but she apparently couldn’t spare the caps.”

“Don’t try to turn this around on my mother!” You already know our relationship, and I’d tell you proudly even if you didn’t! “You don’t get to dictate terms when you’re snatching people from their business and spiriting them away to your gulag!”

He barely reacted to my anger, quietly musing over my words. “Perhaps I should test the depth of your mother’s pockets. Even if she didn’t pay up for these two, she can’t ignore it if I dangle her daughter in front of her. Either of her daughters.”

Red began to mix with the purpose smoke around the edges of my vision. “That was a mistake. You won’t get near my family again. Let me show you what happens if you try.”

A third frost figure coalesced. This one was a young filly who, in life, had been pure white with a bright gold mane. “Remember her, Peanut? Not a slave this time. She was one of your slavers.” My voice dropped down deep. “I froze her solid to make a point. To get you to come out and play. You never did.”

There wasn’t even a flicker of recognition in his eyes for his fallen soldier. “I already know you’ve done some questionable things, Snowflake.”

I winked without smile or cheer. “Oh, you just bring out the worst in me, dear heart. Hell, Red Ice was basically born in your office, so you’re kinda the closest thing she has to a father.”

He pulled his head away slightly. “Wait, so are you saying that you’re Red Ice’s mother… and Red Ice? That’s… disturbingly incestuous.”

“Like I said, you bring out the worst in me. And now my worst is going to kill you.”

Hot Topice, Vorbice, and Frostego charged. I followed on their heels.

Peanut batted Vorbis aside, then jammed his hoofcannon under Contego’s chin and pulled the trigger. Hot Topic reached him before he could reset his stance, and took them both down in a heap. The ice-filly rained down chilly blows as she straddled him.

Blocking with his front legs, Peanut got his back legs under her, just in time to buck her straight into me. Her head caught the bullet meant for mine, but chips of her frozen face nipped at my eyes. Blinded, I scrubbed at my eyes to get the frost splinters out.

A bullet, one that felt like it was the size of my hoof, blasted my back knee out from under me. Howling, I thrashed on the ground as I tried to reach the wound. For my trouble, I got kick to the face for my trouble, cartilage breaking in my nose from the blow.

Through the pain haze, the purple smoke, and the ice shards in my vision, I could barely see Peanut line up another shot.

I felt it though, as my other back knee shattered.

Reduced to whimpering, I couldn’t do anything as the smoking barrel of his gun was pressed into my unscarred cheek.

It sizzled as he held it there. “I told you, Red Ice. No matter what you have on your head, no matter what ghosts you summon to your aid, you can’t beat me. You aren’t strong enough.”

“Red Ice isn’t,” I muttered under my breath,

He leaned in closer, pressing the burning metal harder into my face, until it was flat against the teeth under the flesh. “What was that? Speak up now.”

Red Ice isn’t… “...but Snowflake is!”

Gnarled ice teeth sank into Peanut’s arm. The slaver boss howled as Inbox clung tightly. Both of them shook and struggled against each other, until a massive cloven hoof sent them both flying.

Inbox couldn’t hang on in the air, leaving Peanut free to flip himself into a four-point landing. He came up glaring at me, as I lay atop the frozen visage of Chief Rockhaunch.

Even as he cast about for his fallen weapon, I spoke down at him from on high. “Red Ice can’t kill you, Peanut. She doesn’t have enough people on her side. Neither do you. You’re alone. Like Red Ice, all you have is your sins.”

I followed his gaze as he found his hoofcannon. He made no move to grab it, as Hot Topic stood with one hoof on it. As he watched, she sank into the ground, encasing the weapon in a perfect, inaccessible hemisphere of crystal ice.

Openly glaring now, Peanut remained defiant, even as the leg that Inbox’s teeth had savaged shook and threatened to crumple. “You haven’t won, Red Ice. I just have to sit here and let you bleed out.”

I didn’t glare back, instead just stared with level eyes. “You won’t get the chance.”

Inbox, Contego, Vorbis, and Hot Topic swarmed, grabbing at the stallion from all sides. He tried to dive away, but his gamey leg slowed him too much. In moments, he was struggling against unmoving statues, trapping his limbs even as they rooted themselves in the cavern floor.

With slow, deliberate steps, Naiara moved to stand in front of him.

Peanut ignored her, continuing to try to incinerate me with his eyes, even as she reached inside his collar and withdrew my old horn. “I won’t die down here, Red Ice, not in this backwater Stable at the end of the world!”

She half turned, tossing it to me. I caught it in my mouth. The hoof that had thrown it, still raised as if in triumph, morphed into a single, wicked spike.

Hanging my old horn’s thread from my new horn, I took a moment to take in the scene. “Stay down here, Peanut Gallery, with Red Ice and all your mistakes. Equestria’s more balanced without you.”

Naiara, ever graceful, pirouetted. Her ice spike sank deep into Peanut’s chest, and stayed there.

I watched impassively. “This isn’t the end of the world, slaver. Be thankful you’ll never see what’s beyond this place.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~