//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 "The Truth" // Story: Equestria Noir Case 20 "Red Snow Fall" // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Chapter 6 “Truth” Driftly and Rosey fell asleep just as Luna was raising the moon for the evening. Rosey had refused to leave her brother’s side, keeping a close eye on him. As I watched them sleeping by the fire, Raiden came up beside me. “What are we going to do about them?” he asked softly. “We’ll drop them off at a village or something,” I answered. “Then we’ll make for the Yards and hopefully get some answers.” “Dude,” Raiden said looking at me, and then around. Applesnack was outside on lookout; Big Mac was watching over the kids, and Swarm was asleep. Although, I doubt he’ll stay asleep much longer the way he kept thrashing around. Finally Raiden gestured with his head for us to head outside. I followed and we sat behind the cabin. Raiden drooped his wings and said, “Look, about what I said earlier, when that freaky Sombra guy was inside me…” “You said something about you not being Raiun” I said, looking at my friend with concern. “You know, even though we’ve known each other since kindergarten you've never talked about what it was like at home.” Raiden sighed and said, “Yeah, I guess we all have secrets, even from our closest friends.” I knew he was talking about how I'd hidden Tailspin from him. He'd even gotten into a big fight with Potso about how I told the Bitallion pony first. They didn't talk to each other for nearly two weeks after that. I shook off the memory and said, “Raiun, was your eldest brother, I know that. You told me he became paralyzed making that suit.” Raiden nodded and replied softly, “Yeah, he was a brilliant engineer, the greatest in the world. He pioneered the way we use electricity today. He was always an advocate for technology to help those who couldn’t use magic, but this suit was his pride and joy.” He gestured to his foreleg, which still was covered in the metal sleeve of his suit. “He made it to help pegasi during hurricanes or other dangerous weather situations.” I asked slowly, “He never got the chance to use it, did he?” He nodded and replied, “There was a freak power surge or something. Next thing we know, my parents came into his lab tanned found him unable to move. They had to surgically remove parts of his suit that had fused to his skin and his mind was completely gone. He was little more than a husk, just waiting to die” “Raiden, I’m sorry,” I said, a guilty expression on my face, “I didn’t mean to bring up ba-“ “I wasn’t born at the time,” Raiden said, cutting me off. “My parents had six other kids between us. Try as they might, however, he was always the most successful, smartest, and talented. Unable to let go, they decided to have Raiun 2.0…” “You’re a designer foal?” I asked in absolute shock. “How?” “Mostly through Soyokaze, my second eldest brother, he was a great doctor. They infused most of Raiun’s DNA into me while my mom was carrying me. I always thought that I liked my toys too much, or that my clothes fit too well, or I liked some movies too much. I was six when I found out the truth. My mom got me this sweet looking suit for my first day at school. You remember I was a transfer student before we met, right?” “Yeah, you used to go to that really fancy school for smart kids,” I said, “but then you cut the power in the gym. So your parents transferred you before you could get into more trouble there.” “A lot of the teachers at my old school were very nice to me, but they talked about things and memories that weren’t mine. It was like déjà vu on steroids. One day I went up to the attic and found all of Raiun’s old pictures. He had a suit just like the one mom gave me. All of my toys, all of my clothes, everything belonged to Raiun!” He slammed his hoof in the snow and cried, “I was just their replacement! They just wanted me to be Raiun, but I’m not! I never was!” I put a hoof on my friend’s shoulder and asked, “Does Rainbow know about any of this?” He shook his head and replied, “When I saw her out in that audience for the first time, she just stood out among the other screaming mares. Rainbow mane, athlete, everything about her was just so different from the regular crowd.” He smiled sheepishly and said, “Dude, look at me acting all sappy” “Raiden, you’re the only pony who can decide who you are” I said. “Your parents never could let go, but I'm sure one day they’ll realize just how unique and utterly frustrating you are.” He smirked and said, “Well, I’m half way there, anyway.” I nodded and gestured to the cabin, “Let’s go get some sleep. If what Driftly said about the yards is true, we’ve got a long walk ahead of us.” _____________________________________________________________ We dropped Driftly and his sister off at a neutral village. Poor kid kept trying to look brave in front of her. I hoped that whatever came about for them, they'd find happiness. Though, it reminded me I’d have something to ask of Snowflake and Red Sickle once all this was over. Driftly and some of the villagers pointed us in the general direction of the Yards. Apparently soldiers have been taking them far north. It must only be a couple miles away from the palace, now that I thought about it. As we walked I came beside Big Mac. The rest of the group was ahead and out of ear shot. I could tell by Big Mac’s expression that something was on his mind. I decided to poke around a little. “You okay, Big Mac?” I asked. His green eyes turned to me and he sighed, replying, “Ah’m fine, just thinkin' bout Shy, is all.” I smiled a little and assured him, “She’s fine, Big Mac. If Twilight made it out alright, then Fluttershy did too.” He smiled only a little bit, “Still, Private, ah reckon ah wasn’t too helpful back with that Sombra fella.” I looked at him sympathetically and said, “It wasn’t your fault, Sombra was after me." He sighed again and admitted, “Even still, Private, it doesn’t stop me from feelin' bad about it.” “Big Mac,” I said softly, “If you don’t mind me asking, what was that all about when Sombra entered you?” Big Mac’s pace slowed as his expression darkened, he said slowly, “All mah life Ah’ve been bigger then everypony else. So, everypony teased me as a result.” “Why would they pick on a big guy like you?” I asked, “In the school world, that’s like lighting a match in a gas filled chamber.” “Ah’m not a violent pony,” he stated firmly. “Ah don’t like tah hurt others. Ah didn’t pay the bullies no mind, but their words still cut. They called me a freak because Ah was bigger than they were. Everypony else was scared of me cause of mah size. Ah relate to Tyran in more ways than he realizes.” “It couldn’t have been easy when you got arrested,” I pointed out, recalling my first case in Ponyville. He shook his head and said, “Ah still haven’t repaid all the kindness ya showed me.,” “Big Mac, its no-“ “Horseapples, Private” he said sternly, looking at me with firm green eyes. “Ah’ll never repay the debt Ah owe ya. Ya saved mah farm, mah family, and everything that ah held important in mah life when Ah couldn’t.” He closed his green eyes and said, “Ya helped me get the courage tah talk tah Shy, too.” I smiled again and said, “You owe me nothing. I just do my job and that’s all. I don’t want ponies in my debt running around trying to please me.” Big Mac smiled for the first time in a while. “That kinda humility, is why we all follow ya anyway.” “Big Mac…” He looked forward and then back at me “Private, if Ah’m ever blessed with foals. You’d honor me, by being the Alicorent of one.” Alicorent? As in Big Mac wants me to become what Sapphire Shores is with me to one of his own foals? I felt a happiness grow in my heart and just stared at Big Mac. “On one condition, big guy,” I said after a while. “Anythin', Private” he said, eagerly awaiting my answer. I smirked and slapped the big stallion on the back “That you don’t have that foal, until after you've married Fluttershy.” Big Mac’s face turned even redder than usual. I gave a laugh at his expression he always gets whenever Fluttershy is in the conversation. Yep, they were meant for each other. “Hey guys!” I looked forward to see Raiden waving for us to catch up. Big Mac and I ran up to the top of the snow covered hill. I looked down at the Yards for the first time. The Yards was a lot smaller than I expected. It was only a few square miles, not very large by most standard bases. I saw several tents and ponies walking among them. The perimeter was covered with a metal fence with barbed wire at the top. We couldn’t scale them if we wanted to. I lifted the binoculars to my eyes and scanned the place below. I saw several soldiers, all heavily armed and dangerous looking. I caught my first glimpse of several colts and fillies being kept in the tents. I noticed about half of them were either rubbing their hooves together, or feeling their backs. “Looks heavily guarded,” I stated, looking at a guard who was standing in front of the gate. He kept looking around, his helmet obscuring his face. “Also, there are the captives.” I pointed to the tents which were sealed off. They contained the captives, all of various ages. “No way are we getting in while the hostages are still there.” I looked back and saw Swarm suddenly tensing. He started sniffing the air and then placed his nose to the snow. The changeling transformed into his true form and started digging away at the snow. “What’s up, Swarm?” Raiden asked, staring as the changeling kept digging. “I smell something, a hive is here!” He started digging more “They’re right under us!” “So, explain why we are digging towards them?” Applesnack said. “They are not part of Chrysalis’ hive. They are like me, they are free. They must be part of my old hive.” He sniffed the ground some more. “They have tunnels down here; we can use them to help the captives escape!” “Brilliant, Swarm!” I said, slapping the Changeling on the back. “You just go down there, dig up under where the captives are, and then they’ll escape.” “Why do I get the feeling we've gotta be the distraction?” Raiden said, rolling his eyes. “I guess I’m going to have to stand out …” He suddenly put on shades. “Till they notice me.” YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “Raiden Bolt, I am going to kill you!” I said as I started chasing a laughing Raiden through the snow. After I gained control over my murderous urges, we decided to set the plan into action. ______________________________________________________ I sat crouched behind a rock, White Tiger raised, watching the two guards at the front gate. Applesnack counted twelve guards inside. That was twelve too many. Raiden was hiding up in the clouds waiting for his moment to strike. The two guards looked at each other and one said, “Don’t seem right, keeping them here like this” “At least these ones get to go back into society,” his partner said, “You know the ones Red Hammer sent to the palace? They never come back.” “That’s creepy,” the first one said. “You think he's got them working on some sort of secret project?” “Who knows?” his partner said with a shrug. “It’s not our business.” “Shoot my friend! Play to kill!” “What the hell?” The guards looked up to see Raiden flying above them, blaring out rock music as the ground troops opened fire on him. Raiden laughed as he dodged the bullets deftly. Then he aimed his hooves down and fired lightning bolts into the camp, probably aiming at the soldiers shooting at him. I shook my head and facehoofed at my friend’s glorious idea of a distraction. Then I shot both guards with the tranquilizer darts from White Tiger. I ran to the front gate and Big Mac hopped out from his hiding spot beneath the snow. He ran to the door and bucked it, his strength enhancers glowing. The door flew back and slammed into two unsuspecting guards. Using my magic I levitated the door back and used it as a shield as two more guards came around. They opened fire on our metal door cover and I cursed under my breath for being careless. Just then something leaped over us, I looked up to see Applesnack, battle saddle on, charging at the guards. The guards were caught off guard they tried to aim their muzzles but found that Applesnack was already firing. His bullets fired at their legs, knocking one guard completely off them. As Applesnack got close, he slammed his head into the still standing guard. The helmet cracked under the force of the blow and the guard went down. The other guard tried to stand up but a swift buck, provided by the soldier silenced that attempt. Applesnack looked at the two guards, then at us, rolled his eyes and simply said, “Amateurs.” I looked over at the nearby prison area and saw that the prisoners were using the chaos to run into the tunnels provided by a transformed Swarm. The changeling led the prisoners out through them. I saw two more guards coming to intercept the prisoner’s and Big Mac tackled them like a Stormball linebacker. He knocked down one, and then proceeded to buck the other, sending him flying. The guard smashed into a nearby light pole and was knocked unconscious. Raiden, who'd been finishing up with the rest of the guards, flew over to the commander’s tent. He landed, ran inside, then came back and said, “Nopony here, looks like he's at Hammergrad.” I nodded and looked around; most of the guards were electrocuted, smashed, shot, or otherwise incapacitated. Suffice to say, they wouldn’t bother us as we explored the camp. I entered the commander’s tent and started sifting through the files on a table. Most of them were guard shifts, food supplies lists, and otherwise dull junk. Then I saw a rather thick file at the bottom of the pile, however. I pulled it out, making a mess on the floor, and read the title aloud. “Project Spring?” I said. I opened the file, inside was a boat load of statistics, comparisons between various unicorns and pegasi. It was like something a dog breeder would have, it showed genetic lines of unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies. Several numbers were circled or crossed out as some subjects got rejected or accepted. The question is, where did the ones who got accepted go? Raiden walked in with a smirk on his face. “A heroic rescue brought to you by yours truly.” Big Mac walked beside him and frowned “Was the heroic part before or after ya almost slammed intah the fence?” “The uh,” Raiden said, rubbing the back of his helmet, “sun was in my eyes.” Big Mac and I rolled our eyes as he went on, “So, we got all the prisoners out. What were they doing here anyway?” I looked down at the files and replied, “They were singling out unicorns and pegasi for some reason,” my face turned grave. “One of the guards said Red Hammer was taking some to the palace for some reason.” “What happened to them?” Raiden asked, crossing his forelegs. “I didn’t see any unicorns or pegasi among the prisoners.” “That’s because they aren’t unicorns or pegasi anymore.” All of us looked at the entrance to see Applesnack standing with another stallion. He had to have been in his late forties, with a short brown mane and a deep orange coat. His cutie mark was a pair of screwdrivers. He blinked yellow eyes at me and then sat in front of us; he looked like he was desperately trying not to rub his hooves. Finally he spoke, in the same local accent “I am Nuttam, I was a worker in the factories before I was taken as a colt.” “Dude, how long ago was that?” Raiden asked. “Twenty years ago,” Nuttam said somberly, putting his hooves together but not rubbing them. “When they brought us here, they examined all of the unicorns for their magical talent. Those that weren't especially talented had their…” Applesnack continued for him, “The reason we haven’t seen them, is because they had their horns and wings cut off if they didn’t measure up.” All of our eyes grew wide in shock. How could Red Hammer think this is right? What could possibly justify this? I asked, “Why did they do it?” Nuttam started slowly rubbing his hooves together as more memories came back. None of them were good judging by the look in his eyes “Red Hammer wanted a world where only Earth Ponies lived and worked. Red Hammer called my kind liars, and accused us of using our magic to cause the winter to never leave our home for years.” “Look, Ah’d be ticked too if somepony was hoarding food,” Big Mac said, “but it t’ain’t right to take away horns or wings.” “Can’t a horn grow back?” Raiden asked. I shook my head “A horn is like a cross between a hoof and a bone. A horn can grow back if you cut off like the tip of it or around the middle. But at a certain point, once it’s cut off, it will never grow back.” Nuttam began rubbing his hooves together; finally Big Mac asked, “What’cha doin there?” “Sorry,” Nuttam said, stopping the rubbing, “It’s a habit that we ex unicorns develop. Our horns give off vibrations whenever we use magic; this is our way of coping.” I nodded and said, “You go back with the other captives, and stick to the outskirt villages until everything has calmed down. Then you all can return to your families.” Nuttam nodded in understanding and walked out; Swarm came in when he left. Our group sat in a circle as I talked, “Alright, something went down in that palace that Red Hammer wanted the captives for. Raiden, Big Mac and I will go into the palace and investigate further.” “What about us?” Swarm said, gesturing to himself and Applesnack. “You two will gather Red Sickle and Snowflake,” I explained. “We have to get those two talking so that maybe we can find a peaceful solution.” “Are you sure that Snowflake will want to talk?” Applesnack asked. “There’s no telling what lies Rush has told her. It may take some convincing to win her over.” I nodded and spoke honestly, “I’m trusting you two; find some way to convince them to at least get away from the Black Boar Pub. Once you two are out, we’ll all meet up at the palace and then we’ll see if we can’t get Red Hammer to back down.” The soldier nodded in understanding, turned to Swarm and said, “Come on, we got some walking to do.” Swarm looked at me; a little nervous. “I hope everything goes right this time.” “I hope so too, Swarm, but you gotta convince Red Sickle. I got him half way there; you just gotta get him out of the rebel hideout.” I said, putting a hoof on his shoulder. Swarm looked at me for a long time. Finally he sighed and said, “I will do my best, it's what is needed.” I watched the pair leave and said to Big Mac and Raiden, “We’ll tie up the guards and destroy their weapons. That should keep them from chasing down the captives.” “Ah hope they make it to safety,” Big Mac said, his green eyes looking down. “T’ain’t right fer all this to be happenin'.’” “This is all just so messed up,” Raiden said, shaking his head. “I just can’t believe ponies can do things as insane as this.” I started walking out and simply said, “Welcome to my world.” ___________________________________________________ Perspective: Swarm Applesnack and I stood outside the pub. We could hear raucous celebrating inside. It was probably the rebels celebrating their victory, judging by the smell of joy and intoxication coming from inside. Applesnack looked at me and said, “If I were Rush I’d keep Red Sickle in the basement. Look there, and try not to be spotted.” I nodded and transformed into my normal unicorn self, but I altered my appearance by giving myself a shorter blue mane and a sea green coat. This way the rebels wouldn’t recognize me. Applesnack pulled a hood over his head from our old cloaks and we entered the building. I almost suffocated from the intoxicating aroma of joy; drunken joy is not dissimilar from a pony drinking alcohol in terms of effects on us Changelings. I’ve known changelings who transformed into several embarrassing forms because they spent too much time in bars. I mixed myself among the crowds in a corner of the room. I pulled the hood over my head and concentrated. I had to find a scent of despair, hopelessness… I spat as I took in that taste. However, it meant I knew now where Red Sickle is! He was in the cellar! I made my way towards the back, stealthily moving between drunken rebels. I managed to sneak my way into the back without anypony noticing me. I found the cellar door and slowly opened it with my magic, careful not to make any noise. I transformed into my true form to better blend into the darkness of the cellar. I closed the door behind me as quietly as my magic could allow and ventured downward. I heard a voice yelling as I made my way to the cellar floor. I hid behind a wood support to keep from being seen. “Tell us what Red Hammer is planning, you brat, or do I need to start cutting your legs till you talk?” Tablet said. “Please,” Red Sickle begged, the colt’s sadness entered me, causing me to taste its sour flavor. “I don’t know anything about my father’s plans! He never told me anything!” I heard a slap, and then more anger exuding from Tablet. “You lying brat! We don’t tolerate liars here!” “Father will save me,” Red Sickle cried, trying to fight back, defiance’s strong flavor coming from him. “He’ll stop you all! I know you attacked the ponies in Hammergrad! You claim that my father is a monster, but so far all you’ve shown that you’re no better!” Another slap. “Stupid brat! You’ll tell us what you know or I’ll cut you right here!” I peeked out and saw that Tablet was alone. He was rubbing his hooves furiously. Wait… rubbing hooves? Tablet glared down at Red Sickle who was tied to a chair, his face showing signs of abuse. Tablet growled, “Look, you’ll tell me everything you know, daddy will hand over his nation to us, and then we’ll all be happy.” “I’d never betray my father!” Red Sickle spat back, “Also, it doesn’t matter what you do to me! Private will find a way to stop you all!” Tablet was about to strike the colt again when I had enough. I leaped out of my hiding spot and bit the stallion in the leg. He let out a scream as I drew blood. Red Sickle was staring at me, just in awestruck as I wrapped my hooves around Tablet’s neck in a sleeper hold. After a few moments of struggling, the stallion finally gave in and fell to the ground with a grunt. I looked to Red Sickle who was sweating at the sight of me in my true form. “Wha, what are you?” He stammered. I walked over to Red Sickle and examined him, ignoring his question. “Are you alright?” I asked. "I'm fine," he replied. He looked down at Tablet and asked, “You saved me, why?” I smiled at the colt and said, “Private sent me to rescue you.” “He did?” he asked, his red eyes growing wide. “Does my father know where I am?” I shook my head and said, “I'm sorry, not yet, but we’ll get you to your father soon. Right now we need to get you out of here.” I untied the colt with my magic and he walked to me. “You didn’t answer my question from earlier” he said. “What are you?” I looked at the colt with my sectioned blue eyes and explained, “I am a Changeling. I have the power to shape shift into other ponies, that’s how I got in.” “You look like a weird bug, though,” he said, tilting his head. I smiled and before his very eyes I transformed into his father. He fell back in shock before I transformed back. I kept my smile and said, “Now you see I am not lying.” “That’s amazing!” he said, staring at me in wonder. “Now we can get outta here without them noticing!" I nodded and looked back at Tablet. Something was off about the way he was rubbing his hooves together. I walked to the unconscious stallion and felt his head. There was a small bump there hidden under his mane! He was a unicorn! That could only mean… Tablet was a unicorn that had been taken to the yards. Red Hammer must’ve placed him here! That’s how Red Hammer knew to target Statehood! He was a spy, spying on another spy. Ponies are very strange beings… I looked back at Red Sickle and smiled reassuringly. “Alright, I’m going to get you outta here,” I said. ________________________________________________________ Perspective: Private We walked the deserted halls of the palace, stirring up dust with our hooves as we moved. We had to walk by some old chandeliers that came off when the place was abandoned. I was leading the way, using the light from my horn to illuminate our path. Raiden looked around, his own helmet’s eyes providing light as he looked around at the walls. “Dude, talk about your fixer uppers. I don’t know why Red Hammer would want to come back here,” he said. “He was probably looking for something,” I deduced, “something that Frostwind was keeping hidden.” “Question is what could be so important that he’d ruin the lives of dozens of families to solve it,” Raiden replied, as we rounded a corner. “Hey fellas!” Raiden and I turned to see Big Mac standing before a wall. “Ah was walking nearby here, when Ah felt a draft. It's hollow,” he explained, tapping the wall with his hoof. Raiden’s helmet’s eyes glowed blue for a second as he looked at the wall. “Yep! There’s definitely some air coming from there.” I looked around and saw a nearby candle holder that was slightly crooked. I used my magic to twist it a little and suddenly a secret door opened in front of us. It showed stairs leading down into the darkness. I levitated out Blackbird and carefully ventured down into the darkness. _____________________________________________________________ Perspective: Swarm I smuggled Red Sickle out under my cloak. Most of the rebels were too drunk to even notice me walking out with a large bulge under my belly. Then again I was disguised as a mare, so I’m guessing anypony that did notice just thought I was pregnant. I managed to smuggle him outside and went to the drifts where I was supposed to meet up with Applesnack. I used the time waiting to explain the situation to Red Sickle as best I could. He glared at me as I accused his father for what happened at the yards. “If anything those unicorns and pegasi deserve it,” he said stubbornly. I closed my blue eyes and asked, “Why do you say that?” “They hoarded all the food while we earth ponies starved!” Red Sickle shouted. “Father said that’s why he rebelled! That’s why we should all-“ “Be earth ponies?” He blinked his red eyes as I looked at him in earnest. “Red Sickle, your father’s intentions may seem pure, but you have to understand, a society where everypony is the same isn’t the best idea.” “I don’t understand,” Red Sickle said, his anger cooling slightly. “Shouldn’t we all be treated the same? If we were all earth ponies, then nopony would pick on another for being different.” “Yes, but that won’t help in the long run,” I explained, looking at my hoof as I sat in my true form. “My race, we’re all the same, we all looked the same, acted the same, and obeyed the same orders.” Red Sickle just stared at me. “However, my people stagnated,” I continued. “Since we all thought the same, nopony was willing to come up with new ideas. I envy ponies; you all look different, act different, and think differently. That’s what makes everypony unique. We should all treat each other with decency, but if we don’t accept what makes us different then we will never grow as a people. We shouldn’t put down those that are different. We should respect that difference, and try and work with each other, not against each other.” Red Sickle took my words in and looked down at his hooves. Then he tracked a line in the snow and spoke softly, “Father just wanted everypony to be treated equally. Maybe he was wrong about how to do it. I want to help do the right thing, but this is all so complicated.” “It is less complicated then you think young one.” Red Sickle turned around to see Applesnack approach with Snowflake. The princess looked at the colt and the two stared at each other for a long moment. Snowflake lowered her head to meet his eyes and asked, “You are Red Hammer’s son?” “Yes, I am,” he answered, and then he looked up at the princess. “You must be Snowflake, right? The one that Private said I was supposed to help?” Snowflake looked at me, and then back at the colt. “I am," she replied. "Applesnack told me what Rush tried to do. I did not believe it myself until I have seen the bruises on your face with my own eyes.” She reached out and put a gentle hoof on his cheek. Red Sickle stiffened at her touch, and then gazed at her with his red eyes. “My father said that your father caused the winter to come on purpose.” Snowflake closed her blue eyes and said, “I have little memory of my parents. I was only a very young filly when all of that happened. Both of our fathers seem to have caused a great deal of harm, whether intentional or not. I am so sorry, Red Sickle. I am sorry that you got captured like you did. I cannot believe Rush would think that acceptable.” She said sadly, keeping her hoof on his cheek. Red Sickle kept his gaze on her and asked, incredulously, “You’re really sorry?” “Yes, child,” she replied, a small tear in her eye. “My people are fighting each other. A war is going on, and my friends almost got killed trying to help me. I feel a terrible guilt on my heart. I’m sorry, Red Sickle; you don’t deserve to grow up in a world such as this…” She trailed off as tears started flowing down her cheeks. Red Sickle walked towards her, and hugged her leg gently. I stared as Red Hammer’s son was holding Frostwind’s daughter in comfort. Red Sickle spoke softly after a minute of holding her. “I’m very sorry, for what my father did to yours. I saw the pain of everypony first hoof. We have to stop all this fighting. I know Father wouldn’t like me trusting an Alicorn, but I don’t want anypony else hurt, least of all a mare who’s also lost a parent.” Applesnack looked at me and explained “He lost his mother at a young age as well. I found out from one of the drunken guards.” Snowflake reached down and hugged the colt tightly. She stroked his black mane as they cried for their home together. The factions they belonged to may have declared them enemies, but all they can see in each other is a kindred spirit. I only hope that Red Hammer can see it that way… _________________________________________________________ Perspective: Private We reached the bottom of the stairs and saw piles on piles of gold, jewels, other valuables all piled up like a dragon’s hoard. Raiden looked on the gold and whistled, opening his helmet to get a better look at it. “Look at all this stuff, and it’s been buried under here for decades!” he exclaimed. Big Mac reached into the pile and pulled out an unopened package. “Look at the card, it says here that all this stuff was a present to Frostwind for bringing about spring for another year,” he informed us. “All of this stuff can’t have been from the royal treasury,” I said, picking up a sapphire. “That was already cleaned out.” “So, these were all gifts for making spring come?” Raiden asked, hovering over the pile. “Look at all of this stuff; he must have been getting gifts all through his reign.” I noticed a small book and levitated it up to eye level. I opened it and started reading it. “Says here, that Frostwind was causing winter to last longer on purpose!” I exclaimed. “Why the hay would he do that?” Big Mac asked, walking towards me. “His people suffer through the winter.” “Yes,” I said with a nod. “Which only made them all the more grateful when he finally did bring spring.” I looked at the piles with contempt and continued, “He was doing it to satisfy his own greed! That’s why he wanted to open the palace to all when the winter lasted too long! It was just a façade to keep the ponies relying on him!” “This is sick!” Big Mac said, bucking a treasure chest in sheer contempt. “How could he do this? Making innocent ponies who relied on him suffer so they’d give him gifts out of the kindness of their hearts!” “That still doesn’t explain why Red Hammer wanted to come back here,” I said, closing the diary. “What’s so important about this place?” “Dude, I think I know why” Big Mac and I followed Raiden’s voice around a pile of treasure. The black pegasus was standing near a large magical circle. It was blue, written in several magical runes and etches to showcase its extreme complexity. I bent down to examine the circle and said, “I remember seeing one of these in Twilight’s books. This is a spell circle, and a very powerful one at that.” “What kind of spell are we talking about?” Big Mac asked. I pointed out several different runes on the circle and explained, “Judging by the markings, I’d say this is a very powerful weather spell. This is why winter is still here, and why Red Hammer gathered the best unicorns! He wanted ponies that could crack the spell!” “What about the pegasi then?” Raiden pointed out. “Why would he take them?” “I’m guessing he wanted ponies who understood weather the best” I said, looking at the circle. “Since it’s still active, I doubt Red Hammer has had much success.” “Can you crack it?” Raiden asked. “I doubt it,” I said with a sigh. “Even a pony as gifted in magic as Twilight would have trouble cracking this baby. It’s so complex that anypony trying to break it could risk getting blown up.” “Then I see you have no further reason to be here,” a deep voice behind us said. We turned around to see Red Hammer, backed up by two body guards, walking towards us. I stared at the stallion and the feeling of contempt from before was gone. I had to put aside whatever personal feelings I had for him if I wanted everything to go well. “I was told you were instrumental in the capture of my son,” Red Hammer growled. “I demand his location!” “Look, dude,” Raiden spoke up. “We didn’t know we were kidnapping your son, Rush tricked us!” “Like I would believe the words of your kind,” Red Hammer spat, causing Raiden to bristle in anger. “Red Hammer, I know what you found out. I know what Frostwind did, but that still doesn’t excuse what you did at the yards,” I said firmly. Red Hammer closed his blue eyes and said, “You do not know what it is like. You have grown up with magic all your life. You can never understand what it is like, to be treated like nothing just because you were not born with wings or a horn!” I kept my face calm and said “And this is going to fix it?” Red Hammer just stared at me. “I saw Hammergrad; I saw all that happened there. I don’t follow the rebels anymore. I don’t think the world we want can come about through bloodshed like that. That is why I sent my top agent to retrieve your son from the rebels.” “You did what?” Red Hammer said, shock in his voice “My son?” “He should be safe soon,” I said, glad that I seemed to be making progress. “No deals, no rewards, nothing in return except your ear for a better world.” “I’m listening.” “I never asked to get born with a horn on my head. You’re right too; I can’t understand what you went through. That shouldn’t stop us from trying to make things better, though.” I said. “You’re an idealist, like I was at your age. I seem to have lost that part of me in my time as ruler,” Red Hammer said with a small smile. “You didn’t lose your son,” I said, a smile on my own face. “With him and Snowflake, you can start over. We can bring both sides together and true peace can be obtained.” “Snowflake? The tyrant’s daughter,” he scoffed. “That will be the day when I hear word from he-“ “She's my friend, father,” a young voice said from the bottom of the stairs. We all looked as Swarm, Applesnack, Snowflake, and Red Sickle entered. Red Hammer left his men and ran towards his son. The two embraced tightly. As Red Hammer held his son tenderly he apologized, “I’m sorry, Red Sickle. I should’ve been there to save you!” “It’s okay!” Red Sickle said, hugging his father back. “I’m fine. Swarm saved me and Snowflake healed me.” Red Hammer lifted his head to Snowflake’s face. The two stared at each other for a long moment and the ruler asked, “Why would you heal my son.” Snowflake answered, “While I will never condone the actions you took to lift my father’s curse from this land, I will never bring harm to a child or my people. I simply wish for the fighting to stop.” “What’s to stop me from simply taking you captive here?” Red Hammer asked, looking at Snowflake with steely eyes. “Father, please!” Sickle cried, stepping between his father and the princess. “She really wants to make everything better! I’ve heard what she has to say! She saw what happened at Hammergrad too! We just want everypony to stop killing each other!” Red Hammer’s expression slowly softened, as he looked at his son and smiled. “You speak with such conviction my son. Even when you stand against me” he said, fondly. “I just want to do what’s right for the ponies of our home,” Sickle said, looking into his father’s eyes. “Sure we’re all different, but isn’t that what starts countries like this? A bunch of ponies with different ideas coming together to make it work? That’s what Snowflake and I talked about. We’ll create a new way of running the nation, where all races have a say in government. All will have their ideas heard, and all will remain equal in difference.” “It is what we both want,” Snowflake said gently. “The words he speaks are from his very heart.” “I can see that,” Hammer said, lowering his head to his son’s level. “You believe that this is what’s right?” “I know it, father,” Sickle said, nuzzling him. “All you have to do is listen to Snowflake. She really wants to fix her father’s mistakes, as do I.” Hammer eyed Snowflake and after a long pause said, “The only reason I’m going along with this is because of my son’s belief that it's possible. I want you to carry that same belief if we are to work together.” Snowflake smiled and extended a hoof. “I shall aid you in trying to bring spring to this land. With the land renewed, we can rebuild this nation to something far greater than it ever was,” she said. Hammer reached with his hoof for hers. This was it! Peace was about to- BANG!!!!!