Chapter 5-1: Blink And You’ll Miss ‘Em

[Restoring the greatest country in the world to its former glory, well, heh heh...well that takes time.]

The floating ball of metal slowly moved up and down as it hovered in the air. It didn’t seem inclined to move closer. I was glad for that.

It was inclined to speak though. “Did you have fun in Neighlway? The Rangers make you feel right at home?” The tone was clearly negative, even when delivered by a robotic speaker.

I really had no idea what to make of this. From the way it was talking it didn’t seem to be affiliated with Neighlway but they were the only ones I’d seen who used technology even remotely like this. Was Iron Sights pulling something? “Well, Watcher, they cured my getting bitten by a hissyflit. There are people in the Wasteland who’d do less in that situation.”

Watcher chuckled. Some static bled through. “Only you would think that. Well, not only you but close enough.”

Huh? “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that the world outside the Stable is very different, isn’t it?”

I kept my promise about spending a few days without overreacting every little thing. I just sighed. “Yes. Yes it is. It still confuses the hell out of me but I also feel like I’m getting used to it faster than I should be.”

The robot stayed silent a moment before responding. “Do you want to get used to it?”

“In some ways, maybe.”

“In what ways?”

I frowned. What did this...how did Lexi put it? Squawkbox. What did this squawkbox want? “I need to be able to survive here and make some friends. Being alone in the Wasteland is less than ideal.”

Watcher wasn’t done fishing. “What do you consider surviving?”

Good question. “A way for me to be happy.”

“You could go back to Sprinkles and be a guard.......don’t act surprised that I know that. I’m called Watcher after all.”

I hesitated. “That’s...an option. I’d prefer to work in-house though. Being a caravan guard seems...”

“Dangerous?” Ventured Watcher.

I shook my head. “No. Well yes but I was gonna say violent.”

“You don’t consider violence dangerous?”

“Of course I do. I don’t want to be violent.”

“Why not? It could help. You’re not that good right now but you have survived Molar Bears, Raiders and a ghoul. You’re tough enough that getting some training would turn you into a force to be reckoned with. Ponies’ll pay good money for somebody with that kind of resume.”

I frowned. “I don’t need that kind of money. Plottawa has that kind of money.”

Watcher chuckled. “Good answer. You’ve probably heard this already since leaving the Stable but stay away from there. Did you hear DJ Pon-3 talking to the boss Peanut two nights ago? The whole place is riled up, because some joker snuck in and took a shot at him. They won’t be kind to a fresh-from-the-Stable pony.”

Some joker? I guess you’re not always watching.

Watcher continued. “So, as a Stable pony in a new world of opportunity, what would you like to do? Your friend the colt seems like he could help you out. Is he still travelling with you?”

“...We got separated.”

“Well you should try to make a few more friends like that. I saw what happened when you got taken by the Rangers. Those Pegasi took off without a backwards glance. Perhaps they’re not the kind of ponies you should be associating with?”

I faced Watcher openly. “Who are you, Watcher? Why is a robot taking such an interest in my social life? With all this talk of friends I’m starting to think you’re pretty lonely yourself.”

He was silent for several long seconds.

“I’m obviously not a robot. I use these bots to communicate and, well, watch the events of the Wasteland. As for the rest? That’ll take a little while, if you’re willing.”

I nodded. “I’m listening. Go ahead.”

“Well I was serious about the making-friends part. That’s still important. Frankly though, I was hoping you were somepony else.”

I cocked my head to the side quizzically. “Who else would I be?”

If it was possible for a floating ball robot to look embarrassed then Watcher managed it at that moment. “I...uh...I was hoping you might have been royalty.”

ROYALTY?! “You mean like the princesses?”

Watcher turned back and forth like a pony nervously twiddling a hoof. “Well not those princesses but A princess...Look I’m nearly out of time so I’ll have to tell you later. For now just focus on making friends and staying out of trouble Snowflake.”

Kinda refreshing to find somebody who only knows me by that name. “How will you find me again?”

A cocky undertone crept into his voice. “I found you this time, didn’t I? Tell me the truth. How many of these bots did you notice before I approached you?”

“I...uh...” I was rather surprised to realise he had a point.

“That’s what I thought. I could cut out any moment so head South-East to Vanchoofer. I saw your colt buddy there. You should really not spend so much time alone. A pony I knew grew up like that and she only really became happy when she-”
A burst of static cut through the words and then the bot fell silent for a few moments. I waited for Watcher to come back but instead music began playing through the speakers and the bot began moving off.

“H-hey! Watcher!”

The thing ignored me and continued moving away.

I huffed. “Well great, Watcher. Like I know how to get to Vanchoofer.”

~~~~~~

“Well ain’t that somethin’? Who’d o’ thought those little bugbots could talk? All ah ever heard ‘em playin’ was that cheesy music.” Lexi took a swig of her drink as she pondered the new information I’d brought. Since I didn’t know the way to Vanchoofer I’d stopped back at Sprinkles Supplies. It too had been South-East of Neighlway so I thought they’d be the best bet for directions to the town. Lexi and I were sat at the bar in the small saloon they kept on site. The liquor quality was around the level of what I was used to back in Whiskey Sour’s bar...

I hope she’s okay. Roc’s still running for Overseer and he probably hasn’t forgotten that she kicked him out of the place
...but not even in the same league as the fine quality beverages I’d enjoyed in Hoofshine Harlots. I sighed, missing the short-lived peace I’d found in that place.

Lexi noticed and, after draining her glass, slid a bag along the counter to me. “Here, girl. This’ll turn that frown upside down.”

I opened the bag. The glint of shiny metal greeted me. “Caps?” I took a quick count. “A lot of caps?”

“Yeah caps. Payment for the Grindstone run. My boys got back a few hours before you did and filled me in about what happened near Neighlway.”

“Bit this is way more than we agreed on!”

“Yup. Three times that. An’ a little bit o’ ‘pology money from the colts fer lettin’ you be taken by them dang Rangers. Even if it was t’ save yer life.”

I left the bag on the counter for a moment and looked at the purple mare. “But why this much?”

Lexi’s smile faded and she growled out the next words.
“Cause those lousy Pegasus twins took off the moment things got hot! They left the job unfinished so they forfeit their pay. I figure it can go to a pony who earned it. That’s you.”

“But I didn’t finish the job either!”

Lexi waved me off. “Tha’s different. If you’d stayed with my crew you woulda died. You had no choice. Plus you came back and then didn’t ask fer yer money. That says sumthin’ bout you, girl.”

My cheeks warmed. Lexi was no Peanut. She lacked charisma and couldn’t charm her reflection. She was gruff and mean and expected the worst of everyone but she was a good boss to her staff and was fair in all her doings.

I’d take that over Peanut’s schtick any day. Opening the bag, I removed the original payment and slid the bag back. “Thanks boss but this’ll be fine. Keep the rest just in case. Those Rangers are up to something in Neighlway.”

Storming my Stable most likely. “You might need those caps later.”

Lexi was a pragmatist. She just shrugged and stashed the bits away. “Whatever you say, Red Ice.”

I winced inwardly. I didn’t need to hear that. I got up from my stool. The drink had done its work and left me feeling warm inside. Now was as good a time as any to head off. “I’m heading out to Vanchoofer. Thanks for the directions...and the drink.”

“Any time. You should have some fun while you’re there. It’s the right place for it. They don’t get much trouble round there so it’s place to unwind. Mebbe find yourself a nice young buck fer a night?”

I chuckled. “Well I am going there to find a guy...”

Lexi guffawed. “That’s the way, girl! And hey, you ever need a job you come see me awright? I can always find a place for a pony I can trust.”

I nodded but didn’t speak around the small lump forming in my throat. What I’d said to Watcher came back to me. I hadn’t been kidding when I said this was an option. It was nice to feel welcome in a place after being thrown out of my home and being constantly on the move. I gave a final small smile and headed out the door.

~~~~~~

“Would you leave me alone?! I don’t want to meet a guy this badly!”

This was seriously unfair. I could see Vanchoofer from here. I could see it! It was maybe a mile away yet I couldn’t get any closer because I was perched on this rock while a naked slobbering Raider kept trying to get at me. One Raider. One.

This would be so much easier if I wanted to kill you.

Ouch. That was dark even for Red Ice. No more of that thinking.

The Raider wasn’t a particular threat but I didn’t want to use lethal force and he’d so far ignored my attempts to scare him off. From the time he’d come waddling out of his cave he’d been doggedly chasing me. Not that he was particularly fast. I could outpace him at a brisk walk but he just kept coming. He had a big gut though. I’d scrambled up this steep boulder in the hope that he was too heavy to follow me.

I’d been right. The Raider had responded by throwing twigs and stones at me which I could do little but shield myself from. Luckily my Molar Bear hide made his efforts futile. I was hoping he’d get tired soon. The sun was going down and it had begun to snow. The extra moisture combined with the slope meant the Raider wasn’t getting up here but it also meant that I was kinda stuck. Judging from his actions and lack of clothing I guessed the Raider wasn’t all there anymore. Didn’t make him any less worrisome though. Given the drool on his lips and what was swinging between his legs I wasn’t sure which part he wanted to sink into my tender flesh. That thought was what was really troubling me.

I looked up at the sky. I still had maybe two hours of daylight left and I didn’t want to spend them here waiting for this poor tubby guy to get bored and wander off.

How would the others handle this? With Schwarzwald he’d be so very dead by now. Naiara’d probably just jump away. Bosco’d shoot him. Wings’d shoot him. Cassie’d shoot him. Breeze’d use some form of gadget. Who else? Peanut? Broken bones. Overmare? Kicked out of Equestria! Rockhaunch? Headbutt! Buff’d ignore him. Not like he can hurt a buffalo. Still Al’d toss him aside. Lo would...sit on him? Dunno what Lo would do.

...but I do know what I threatened to do to Lo back in the Stable.

I glanced down the boulder at the scrabbling wild Raider. “Last chance big guy. Get out of here before I chill something that ought not be chilled!”

A rock bounced off my Molar hide. I shrugged. “I warned you, fella.”

Concentrating on his swinging...parts was not the most pleasant of tasks but it was better than the alternative. I willed the cold to come.

It came. The Raider’s face turned surprised. The surprise then shifted to discomfort and finally to fear. He wasn’t swinging so freely now. He looked down at his gear for a moment and then up at me again. I looked him straight in the eyes and pumped up the intensity a little.

“YIPEYIPEYIPE!” That did the trick. He turned tail and ran as fast as his portly body could carry him. I watched and waited for 5 minutes until I was sure he was far away before cautiously clambering down the boulder. Once I was down and the brief sluggishness from magic use passed I headed for Vanchoofer at a brisk trot.

~~~~~~

This place is great!

Vanchoofer was a very simple city but wow did it work well. The whole place was one big circle miles across. A ring of hotels, barracks and other places to stay formed the perimeter and the inner grounds were all open space. There was just one entrance so security didn’t get in your face. Once you were past the entrance then you could do what you wanted. I was sitting on the grass watching a group of Earth ponies build a small stage by torchlight while a little way away there was a thunderous applause as a unicorn kicked a ball past the keeper and into the net. People were doing whatever they wanted here. Some were just laying on the grass with their eyes closed while others were-

Okay I didn’t need to see what those guys were up to.

I quickly averted my gaze though they hardly seemed to care about privacy. I wasn’t particularly comfortable about the idea of staying where I was so got up, dusted myself off, and began a slow stroll around the town in hopes I could locate Bosco.

I stopped by the many, many vendors selling salty and sugary snacks and got myself some...well I’m not sure what they were but they smelled so good. I munched on the crunchy morsels as I trotted along, occasionally stepping aside as giggling foals ran by. The last of the sun disappeared as I walked and flaming beacons were lit around the courtyard. With my search proving fruitless I finished my food and sat leaning against the outer buildings. I felt an odd sense of satisfaction just watching the people play. Yesterday and tomorrow they’d be struggling out there to make a living but in here they could leave it all behind for a night and just have some fun.

Music started up somewhere and grew louder and louder as other performers joined in. More and more torches lit up as those present flocked to the stage where the band was playing. Pretty soon the sound of laughter filled the air as anyone and everyone got up to dance. I tapped one hoof along to the music but made no move to join in.

That is until a familiar feathered figure bounded out of the crowd cavorting with a bottle of liquor in one hand and a skewer of seasoned meat in the other. She almost missed me in her revelry before freezing and backing up. “Snowflake! Fancy meeting you here!”

I was instantly on my hooves before her. The words poured out of me as I released my pent-up worries. “Wings! I thought you were in Lethbridle! Did you see Bosco? Is he okay? Are you okay? What happened to you after I left? Did Schwarzwald get any trouble from that couple she slept with? Is she with you?”

Wings just held up a talon and I shut up. She didn’t immediately answer and instead bit a chunk off the flesh and took a swig of her drink. I was hopping from side to side anxiously. She didn’t hurry though and savoured her mouthful.

Come on come on come on!

Mercifully, she finally swallowed before giving me a cocky smirk. She began ticking off with her claws. “In order: That’s me! I was. No. Hell if I know. Always. I told you that I wasn’t gonna wait around forever, I had stuff to do. Nah, Schwarz’s fine. She’s always fine. Nah she’s not with me. She had another job. We’ll meet up later.” She took another swig of her drink before smiling and throwing a claw around my shoulders. “I’ve got a nice buzz and this party’s gettin’ fun. Want to hang out with me for a while?”

The lack of news on Bosco was worrisome but I still maintained some of the festive spirit myself. I brightened up at her suggestion. “Sure!”

“Atta girl! Where to first? I know! Let’s get you a drink!”

I shrugged cheerfully. “Sure. Let’s have some fun.”

Soon I was sucking down spirits with a straw as we sauntered side-by-side surveying the sights and sounds on show. There was plenty to take in. After finishing our food we headed over to the attractions. Some enterprising ponies had set up games you could play for prizes. Shiny trinkets were on offer for the younger players while the older ones received drinks tokens or a few shells of ammo if they did really well.

Wings was a natural at the B.B. Rifle game, downing every target one-clawed. The crowd ate it up and the vendor, sensing more sales, kept her playing. She ate up the attention and really drew some applause when she started doing trick shots. First she hit the target over-the-shoulder and everybody cheered. Then she switched to hanging upside down in the air which had the crowd whooping. They burst into laughter as she brought in an adorable little filly and had her hit did center.

I was clapping along with the rest before she grabbed me out of the blue, “W-whoa!” I found myself being spun around and around before finally being dipped and ending up face to face with Wings. Her burning stare inches from mine. I just stared back nervously.

“OOOOHHH!” Went the crowd.

Wings said nothing but ever-so-slowly inched closer.

Hey wait is she going to...

BANG!

Shocked, I jumped in her grasp. I missed slamming my face into hers by the narrowest of margins. I still felt her feathers brush my cheeks. “What was-”

Wings just smirked as the crowd erupted.

Amid the show she’d put on she’d still hit the target right in the middle. Without looking! Damn she’s good.

She pulled me back up to standing. The crowd was still cheering and smirk still graced her face. I wanted to feel affronted but found that I couldn’t. It had all been in good fun. I grabbed her claw and raised it for the crowd to see. This brought a fresh round of applause.

~~~~~~

Wings didn’t get all the glory though. After moving on from the shooting gallery we somehow ended up in an eating contest. Her perplexed pose as I progressively ploughed into a pile of pies was priceless.

Shockingly I didn’t win but the colt who did deserved it. He went to town on those pies. I still needed a little while to digest them though so Wings used her drinks tokens to refill our glasses and we relaxed on the grass. We were far enough from the music and other revellers that the noise was softened enough that we could communicate without yelling.

“Where did you put it all? I’ve never seen a filly your size pull off something like that.”

Thank you Mrs. Doublehorn. “Three buffalo brothers meant you got used to big portions.”

Wings let out a disbelieving snort. “Buffalo brothers? Yeah right.”

I just lay with my eyes closed and smiled. It must sound crazy to somebody outside the Stable. “I’m not kidding. We weren’t born to the same mother but they’re still my brothers.”

Wings was still unconvinced. “Oh yeah? Then what are the names of these brothers?”

Ah. The tricky part. “Their names are...Buff...Al...and Lo.”

She didn’t buy that. A barked laugh of derision escaped her beak. “That’s the dumbest-”

“Don’t say that!”

She halted. My outburst had obviously surprised her.

I sighed. “Sorry. It’s just...their mother, Mrs, Doublehorn, had...troubles. She wasn’t really right in her head. She tried though! She didn’t always get things right but she tried as hard as she could! She was a great mother to them...and me!”
My eyes began to glisten. “You should have seen her smile when she watched her sons. There may as well have been nothing else in the entire world...”

I broke off as that thought brought up other memories of the Stable. Whiskey Sour. External Monitor Duty.

The Overmare.

“So she’s dead then?”

“Not yet,” I murmured before realising what she meant. “Oh! Uh...yes she died a long time ago, when Buff, Al and Lo were still very young.”

Wings stretched out on the grass. “So where are they now? Why aren’t they with you?”

“Well, they’re-” I stopped. Should I tell her? I took a quick glance around for unwanted eavesdroppers.

Wings had noticed that my sentence was incomplete. “They’re what? Running a nudie show in Tenpony tower?”

Wow that’s an image. I looked around. Nobody seemed to be paying us undue attention. I can tell Wings. I mean she already knows I’m Red Ice and she hasn’t turned me in to the Plottawa slavers. I should be fine. I can trust her.

I took a deep breath. “They’re back home...”

Here we go. “...in Stable 61.”

Instantly recognition dawned on Wings’ face. “HOLY SHIT!” She rolled onto her back and began belting out laughter. “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! No wonder you’re crazy!”

I frantically tried to shush her. Even here, the wrong ear could be listening in. “Wings! Come on, keep it down!”

She was shaking her head in mock disbelief. “A Stable pony! Of course you’re a Stable pony. It all makes sense now. Who else would be crazy enough to trot into Plottawa by themselves and pick a fight with the snatcher boss?”

“Wings, seriously!”

Still chuckling, she picked herself up and gave me a wan smile. “Eheh sorry. This really puts you in a different light though. A Stable pony Unicorn with three buffalo brothers. You couldn’t make this stuff up.”

Well I’m glad she’s enjoying herself but I’d best be sure. “So what light does it put me in then?” I really didn’t want to fight her if she decided that I was worth more as merchandise.

She lazily waved a wing. “Oh lighten up. Nothing’s gonna change except now I might have more questions. Who’d have thought I’d have my life saved, and claw puked on, by a Stable pony?”

I blushed. I’d forgotten about that. “I’ve gotten better about that.”

Wings shot a smirk in the direction of the pie contest. “Apparently.”

We both chuckled at that.

I relaxed. The tension had passed. I felt relatively sure that Wings wasn’t sizing me up for cash value. Considering her aim that was a very good thing. “So...still friends?”

It was shocking how quickly the griffon sobered at that. It was just as quickly covered. “Uh sure. Yeah. Still friends.”

I had no doubt I was grinning like a fool at that moment. That grin grew into a joyous smile as the Unicorns began setting off fireworks. Enraptured, Wings and I watched in silence.

~~~~~~

“Which side do you want?”

It was far into the night when the party finally began to wind down and the tired festival-goers began trudging towards the accommodation buildings on the perimeter. Wings and I only just managed to snag a place to stay but there was only one bed. Luckily Wings wasn’t the biggest griffon and I wasn’t a buffalo like my brothers. We’d both just about fit.

My chocolate-and-cream friend flopped down on the bed in response. I shrugged and took the free space. I found I could barely keep my eyes open. “Huah! G’night Wings.”

A grunt was all I got in return.

I pulled the covers up to my chin. Before I went to sleep I wanted to say one more thing though. I was riding a pretty good feeling today and wanted to share it. “Wings?”

“...”

“Thanks for being a friend.”

“...”

I dropped my voice to a whisper, not wanting to wake the griffon if she was already asleep. “G’night Wings.”

“...s’not my name.”

“What’s that?”

The Griffon didn’t turn over to face me but her shoulders bunched up a little. “My name isn’t Wings.”

“Then what’s your name?”

“...ZZZZZZ”

I left her to her fake snoring and looked up at the ceiling. That was certainly a way to stave off sleep...at least for a little while. My eyes were already getting heavy again.

The rest can wait. Glad you told me though. G’night Wings.

~~~~~~

The next morning the fun was over. Wings still had work to do and I still had to find Bosco and Naiara. I gave her the contact code for my Pipbuck and then we each left Vanchoofer, she by air and me by land.

I managed to get away from Vanchoofer without running into the feral Raider colt again. I took a wide path that kept me a safe distance from Plottawa and pointed me towards Grindstone. Of all the locations I had at my disposal this was the only one I hadn’t checked. Well aside from Plottawa but I wasn’t going back there any time soon.

A day passed uneventfully. The morning after, however... “Snowflake, wake up!”

“Whzzt?” I cracked an eyelid open and instantly regretted it as the rising sun hit me straight in the brain. I blinked through the spots but still couldn’t see the speaker.

“Come on, I can’t stay forever.” The voice was tinny and unnatural.

Ah. “Watcher? Is that you?”

“Yeah it’s me. Hurry and wake up. I don’t know how long the connection’ll last.”

“What’s wrong? Did something happen? Did you see Bosco again?”

“The colt? No. I just thought you might want to finish the conversation we had from before.”

Honestly it’d slipped my mind. It took me a while to remember what we’d discussed. “Oh! Oookay. You said something about...a Princess?”

Watcher began as I readied myself for travel. “Yes. You see I took an interest in you because of your Stable.”

I found the Grindstone heading on my Pipbuck and began walking. The bot followed. “My Stable?”

“Yes. Stable 61 is the only Stable-Tec enclosure for miles around. It’s the northernmost Stable in all of Equestria.”

I thought back to what Facemask said: “We’re the place where the road ends an’ all. You reach this li’l town and ya only got two choices: Settle in or turn around. Ain’t nuthin’ out here but us.”

The only thing further north than Cefar is the Stable. “Is that important?”

Watcher’s voice became more animated. “Heck yes it’s important! Listen, do you know what was here before the war began? Before the world ended?”

I really should. We had plenty of history books in the Stable. It’d been years since I’d picked one up though. Stable 61’s anti-Old Equestria sentiment tended to discourage it. “Uh...a spice farm?”

The bot leaned slightly in a fair facsimile of confusion. “A what? No! I’m talking about the Crystal Kingdom.”

Ohhh. “Um...what about it?”

Watcher wasn’t impressed. “I’ll tell you. The Crystal Kingdom used to be the Crystal Empire. More than a thousand years before the Great War began a powerful Unicorn king ruled there. His name was Sombra. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more powerful magic wielder.”

And I can still barely whip up a cold shock for a would-be rapist. “Hooray for Sombra.”

Watcher grunted. “If you’d met him you wouldn’t say that.”

I started at that. “You sound like you have. You were alive over a thousand years ago?”

“NO-look let me finish. The Crystal Empire was ruled by Sombra 1000 years ago but he was a tyrant. The Crystal ponies feared him. He stole and hid the mystical treasure of the Empire, the Crystal Heart. Not only that but he used its power to seal the Empire away for 1000 years. It literally disappeared off the face of Equestria.”

“One Unicorn did that? Sombra was that powerful?”

“No, not on his own. Don’t get me wrong he was still a grave threat even to Celestia but for what he did he needed the Crystal Heart. 1000 years later the Empire returned and 8 brave ponies banded together to defeat Sombra and free the Crystal ponies from his grasp.”

“I take it they were all powerful Unicorns too?”

A static-y chuckle was the response. “Actually no. Only three were Unicorns. What make these 8 ponies special was the abilities unique to them. I guess...I guess you’d call 6 of them the Ministry Mares now.”

My jaw couldn’t get any lower. “Them?” I sputtered. “They saved an entire Kingdom?”

Watcher really was enjoying himself now. “Believe it or not they’re not the most important ponies here.”

“More important than the leaders of the 6 most powerful organisations in Equestria’s history?”

This was scoffed at. “Equestria has a long history, and the Ministries are were not the most powerful anything. They were just mistakes. No, the other two ponies are the important ones. You know about Twilight Sparkle? Head of the Ministry of Magic and personal student to Princess Celestia?”

“I knew some of that.” I lamely responded.

“Well the 3rd Unicorn was special too. Captain of the Royal Canterlot Guard, older brother to Twilight Sparkle and future Prince of the Crystal Kingdom: Shining Armour.”

“WHAT?! Shining Armour was a Prince? And he was Twilight Sparkle’s brother?!”

“Their parents were very proud.” The deadpan response did not help.

“Wait. Why wasn’t he a king if he ruled the Crystal KINGdom?”

“Well they called it that but technically it was a Princessdom.”

Finally! “And the Princess you mentioned...”

“Yes. Shining Armour was her husband. She was the 8th pony. Not Earth, Pegasus OR Unicorn. She was Princess Mi Amore Cadenza...an Alicorn.”

“A what?”

“Horns. Wings. Leagues above all but a few extraordinary Unicorns in power. Alicorns are the type of pony we class Celestia and Luna as.”

“The Princesses? So this Mi Amo-...Mi Amore-...”

“Cadence to her friends. Yes. She, like her Aunts Celestia and Luna before her, had both wings AND a horn.”

“And she and Shining Armour became the rulers of the Crystal Kingdom after defeating Sombra?”

“Yes.”

“And you thought I was her?” Is he serious with that?

Watcher’s reply was bashful and a little melancholy. “More like hoped, honestly.”

“Why?”

“I DON’T KNOW ALRIGHT! I’M GRASPING AT STRAWS HERE!”

The outburst was as shocking as it was sudden. “Watcher?”

Heavy breathing was the only sound from the bot for several seconds. Finally his voice returned. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap like that. It’s just...Cadence could have helped so much. Nobody knew what happened to her or Shining Armour.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well when the fighting started the Crystal Kingdom was too far to maintain an effective defense. Their soldiers weren’t enough to stop a full attack but they were too far from the rest of Equestria to get help in a hurry. It was a bad situation. The power of the Crystal Heart could not fall into Zebra hooves. It would have been disastrous.”

They already made megaspells without it. It’s hard to think of anything worse than that.

“Cadence and Shining Armour knew this but they also cared deeply about their subjects. After a dozen raids by Zebra forces the Kingdom’s defenses were heavily depleted. Soon they got word of a massive incoming attack. They wouldn’t hold against it and help wouldn’t arrive quickly enough. That was when they made the hardest decision they would ever make.”

I was all ears. This was terrible but at the same time I yearned to hear more. “What did they do?”

A heavy sigh came through the speakers. “The only thing they could do. They used the Heart and recreated Sombra’s spell. The Crystal Kingdom was sealed away just as the Crystal Empire was. Only the two of them remained.”

Watcher managed a giggle here. “Cadence was pissed too. She wanted to seal Shining Armour away with the Kingdom since he was a Unicorn, and wouldn’t live nearly as long as her. He wouldn’t hear of it.”

That’s...that’s heartwarming...and heartbreaking. “Then what happened?”

“Well the Zebra forces arrived and found nothing there. Where the Kingdom had been there was nothing but frozen tundra. The Kingdom will return when the seal breaks though hell if anypony knows when that’ll be.”

“...The Prince and Princess?”

“Gone. The Crystal Heart too. There was no trace of any of them after that day.”

“What does it mean?”

A noncommittal sound was heard. “Couldn’t tell you. I’d hoped Cadence might have been in your Stable.”

This sucks. “I never saw any Alicorns in my time there.”

Wacher moaned low. “Ughhh. I didn’t think so. I had to try though.”

I never saw any ponies with a horn and wings in the Stable. She could have hidden one or the other but how would I have known it was her even then? I don’t know what she looked like.

“What else can you tell me about her? What did she look like?”

Watcher’s voice was void of emotion. “What does it matter? She’s not there. Probably gone like the rest.”

“Please, Watcher?”

A distinctly unimpressed air was emanating from my companion. A list of characteristics were delivered monotonously in list form. “Pink. Pink fur and multi-shade pink mane. Tall for a mare. Used Love Magic.”

The barest glimmer of remembrance appeared in my mind but disappeared the moment I tried to focus on it. It was gone so quickly that I wasn’t even sure it had been there at all. “I’m sorry, Watcher. I didn’t see anybody who could fit that description.”

“Don’t worry about it Snowflake. Thanks for listening anyway.”

“Is there anything else I can do?”

“Make some friends? Not much more than that unfortunately. Listen I’m gonna sign off for now. I need to think.”

“A-alright. Take care, Watcher.”

“You too.”

Then he was gone and the music started up again. The bot began floating away as I continued on alone to Grindstone.

~~~~~~