//------------------------------// // 3: Choices // Story: Emberfall // by The Fluffy Ninja //------------------------------// The fading sunlight danced across the ripples of the Inner Harbor. Small fishing boats drifted into port after a long day out on the water. Dockhands and sailors alike left behind their posts and made their way towards the nearest bars. Small shops and stalls were winding down to a close. The stall owners and merchants collected their daily earnings before retiring to their homes. The city guards rounded up and down the streets as they lit the gaslight lamps, also making sure to keep a careful eye on the beggars and pickpockets that lined the sidewalks. It was the same routine as any other day. But tonight, things were going to change. Mr. Frost leaned against the railing that ran the length of the harbor, his tall figure cutting a shadow into the dusky sky. He watched with mild amusement as the day died down, the people of Baltimore absently milling about on the docks. Digging into the pocket of his blackened leather duster, the man retrieved a pack of slightly crumpled cigarettes. When he popped open the pack, he was disappointed to find only three smokes left. Shame. It was hard to find a good pack these days. He kicked back and lifted a paper cylinder to the corner of his mouth. It dangled there as he rummaged through his pockets for a matchbook. Behind him, he heard light footfalls tap against the pavement. “Ms. Nalia, nice of you to finally join me,” he stated as he flicked the match head against his sleeve. The match sparked, and he lifted the tiny flame to the end of his cigarette. “You certainly took your sweet time. Decided to take an evening stroll without me?” He inhaled, making the ember of his cigarette burn bright. Mr. Frost pivoted around to face Nalia. A pair of burning, bronze circles met his gaze. “I had some difficulty evading the guards. They’ve doubled their numbers on the wall due to the recent Hollow attacks. All of them are on edge. They could present a problem.” All of this was relayed in a professional tone, her face unyielding as stone. Mr. Frost flicked away the ashes from the end of his bud. He smirked. “Don’t tell me a few bumpkins with rifles got you all scared. If we’re good enough, they won’t even notice were here. Discretion is our best asset. Anyways, is there any news on our mutual friend?” Never breaking eye contact, she answered, “I believe so. A unicorn matching the description of the target entered the city gates not too long ago. However, she lacked the mark you described.” Nalia looked down to inspect the cuffs of her leather vambraces. The tips of her sharpened ears paled. “Also, she wasn’t alone. A pair guards were with her, but they departed shortly after. Only two others remained with her. I couldn’t identify them,” she finished snapily. Mr. Frost tugged down the brim of his hat as his icy blue eyes narrowed in on her. “Show me,” he ordered. In one swift motion, Nalia dug into her satchel and tossed a coin into the air. The coin reflected the orange glow of the sun before being snatched out of the sky by a gloved hand. Upon examination, it was a simple brass circle with an open eye displayed on its side. The man delicately traced a single finger along the curves of the etching. Wherever his finger touched, a trail of blue shimmering light followed. Strands of luminous magic shot up from the light trail, and each thread snaked around each other, furnishing itself into a chaotic knot. The air around the eye hissed and glowed until a misty image formed above it, mixing in with the smoke of tobacco. The Darkwatch has some interesting toys, Mr. Frost mused. Smoky tendrils rolled down from the corners of Mr. Frost’s mouth as he saw a familiar face in the ghostly mirage. A spectral, violet unicorn with a white saddlebag clinging to her side. Twilight Sparkle. Mr. Frost could feel a sense of excitement well up inside of him. She wasn’t dull like the others. No, she was smart. She was clever. She was special. Twilight’s trail had gone cold a week ago, but alas, here she was again, marching right back into his hands. However, Mr. Frost chomped down on the end of his smoke stick. Apprehending her and the package would not be so easy this time. This time, she would be ready for him. Twilight was learning to cover her back, evidenced by concealing her cutie mark. Probably using some sort of magical charm. It also seemed that she had made a few friends. Smart, but could very well be her undoing. People tend to be reckless and untrustful these days. He glanced at one of the figures that stood near Twilight, a teenage elf girl with long, blood orange curls that bobbed at her shoulders. She seemed familiar, but the image was particularly hazy around her. He stole a quick glance at Nalia and wondered if the dark elf knew anything about the little one. She had seemed apprehensive in her response when she had mentioned Twilight’s companions. Mr. Frost made a mental note to keep a watchful eye on Nalia. His fellow associate was showing signs of restlessness. He would have to remind her that she doesn’t get the girl until he gets what he wants. That was the deal, and backing out of a deal with him was very costly. Mr. Frost focused his attention onto the other stranger, and when his eyes fell upon the other figure, a thin, crooked smile split his lips. Twilight Sparkle and a Nightingale in the same place? he pondered. This little job was becoming more intriguing by the second. “What is it? What do you see?” Nalia questioned. “A face from the past.” Mr. Frost stole one last breath from his cigarette before dropping it onto the ground. He snuffed the bud with his boot. His hand swiped at the vision, and the cloud dissipated into flickering sparks. “Looks like I’m going to have a chat with this one.” “And how do you plan to persuade him to help you? It seems he is assisting the Twilight girl.” His crooked smile stretched even wider. “Everyone wants something in this life Nalia, and I’m going to give him just that. Tell me, do you still have access to the Darkwatch databases?” Nalia responded with a quick nod. “Good, I want you to pull up everything they have on both Thomas and Daniel Nightingale.” Mr. Frost stepped away from Nalia and looked out at the bay. He watched as small ripples expanded into larger ones, each one clawing out to the edges of the harbor. “Oh Thomas, old friend,” Mr. Frost whispered. “It seems you still have a few secrets left.” *** “Y’know, you don’t have to do this,” insisted Ceilia as she twiddled her thumbs. “It isn’t like I haven’t been on my own before.” “I already told you, don’t worry about it,” Daniel said. He tugged at Ulysses to stay close. “You just need a roof over your head for at least one night. After that, we’ll go our separate ways. This is the least we can do for helping us out earlier today.” “Are you sure your friend would be willing take in all three of us?” “Of course, Geary’s a real nice guy. Besides, he loves company.” The group travelled down the streets of Baltimore as a gust of sweet, autumn wind swept past them. The dilapidated apartment complexes were smushed together as narrow streets knifed their way around the structures. The bright orange glow of the sun painted the walls. Twilight half-listened to Daniel and Ceilia’s conversation, but her mind had wandered somewhere else. She watched as bystanders strolled up and down the streets, eager to return to their families. She watched as children and foals alike played in the streets, savoring the last light of the day. This was the first time Twilight had seen other equines in this world. Of course, all of them were blank flanks. They ran and squealed and giggled until their parents called them home. Twilight’s thoughts wandered back to simpler days in her home city, Canterlot. It was a wondrous time, a time before Nightmare Moon, before the Elements, before… before she ruined everything. She remembered the days of Canterlot Park, when she and her brother would play together. It was always a struggle, of course. Everything involving siblings is. While all she wanted to do was read in peace and enjoy the sunshine, Shining always pestered her to leave behind her books and have fun like other fillies her age did. “You can always read at home, Twily,” he would say. “How about you stop reading about adventures and have a real one?” And many adventures they did have, some like the books she read as a child. As seafaring pirates, they scoured the Emerald Gulf in search of treasure and the fabled empire of the Sea Ponies. As soldiers in Celestia’s Royal Army, they turned the tide of battle at Fort Sunflower against the Shadow Pony’s legion of monsters. As daredevil adventurers, they explored the dark and mysterious corners of the ancient Maple Tree Forest. From sunrise to sunset, they were the heroes of Canterlot Park, that is until Mom and Dad called them home. Twilight wondered if Shining would remember those days of adventure. She wondered if he smiled just like her when he thought of all the good old days, and she wondered if he would still call her Twily, his little sister. Nonetheless, Twilight knew in the back of her mind that her big brother didn’t care for those times now. Those adventure were long gone. Another hopeless memory that piled on with the others. He was glad that she’s gone now, lost to another world. To him, she was no longer his little sister, just another problem that was swept away in the wind. “Hey, hey Twilight! You still with us?” Twilight snapped out of her nostalgic trance. “Wh-What?” Before she could react, Twilight grazed something against her shoulder. A string of unpleasant curses followed behind her. Twilight went to apologize before she realized that whoever she had bumped into was already out of earshot. She saw that Ceilia was giving her a small smirk. “What are you smiling about?” Twilight asked in agitation. Ceilia turned away and twirled a lock of her hair. “Oh nothing, just watching you daydream.” Twilight huffed. “I wasn’t daydreaming,” she grumbled. “Really? ‘Cause it seemed like you were, staring out into the distance with that big deep-in-thought look on your face. Tell me, was it about a boy?” “What?! No, that’s just preposterous!” “Fine, so was it a girl instead? It’s okay, I don’t judge,” Ceilia teased as she batted her eyelashes. Twilight just rolled her eyes and opted to ignore the child. It was useless to argue against her. She had better chances converting a tiger to veganism. Still, a part of her was silently grateful that Ceilia had interrupted her daydream. She thought of the past enough as it was. They continued on deeper into the city. Soon, Daniel came to halt in front of an old auto repair shop. Two grimy, metal garage doors stood adjacent from each other while a flashing neon sign hung over the doors. The sign said Geary’s Workshop in bright green letters. A metal-searing, hissing noise could be heard coming from inside the building. “Okay, so a word of warning,” Daniel said as he parked his horse at the front of the shop. He gave Ulysses a light pat on the muzzle. “Geary’s pretty nice to strangers, but he’s also a bit... different. He can be a little eccentric sometimes, so don’t freak out.” Twilight’s head tilted slightly to the side. “What do you mean by ‘different’?” “You’ll just have to see for yourself.” Daniel approached the closest garage door and gave it a good rattle. A moment passed and nothing happened. He knocked again, harder than the last time. “Shop’s closed,” a hoarse voice grunted from the other side. “Beg somewhere else, you bunch of leech lickers.” “Thought you said he enjoyed company?” Ceilia deadpanned to Daniel. He ignored her. “Open up! It’s me, Daniel!” The hissing sound ceased immediately. Silence hung in the air before it was followed by the loud scraping of the garage doors. On the other side of the doors stood a stout earth pony with a scratched welding mask over his face. His pale green coat was matted with grease spots, and his tail was singed black at the tip. The pony’s sea blue mane was slick with sweat. Twilight noted, once again, that he did not have a cutie mark. The pony lifted the metal mask and revealed a beaming smile. “Daniel,” Geary whispered in an awestruck tone. Then, the earth pony suddenly rushed up to his old friend and scooped him up in a massive bear hug. “By the beard of a dragon, it is you!” he laughed as he paraded Daniel around the front of the shop. The sight of a chubby earth pony tossing around a fully-grown man was too much for poor Ceilia. She was on the verge of tears, and her face was beet red from laughter. Even Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle along with her. “Geary,” Daniel rasped red-faced. “Please... put me down!” Geary promptly did as Daniel asked, dropping him like a sack of stones. Unfortunately, Daniel gracelessly fell on his bum, warranting a not-so-elegant yelp from him, and Ceilia began another wave of chuckles. Daniel stood up, shooting a death glare at Ceilia while rubbing his sore bum. She responded with quieted snickers. Daniel turned away and smiled at his old friend. “Goodness Geary, how long has it been? Must have been a while ‘cause you seem to have put on a few pounds.” Geary gave a proud slap on his stomach. “A diet of beans and beer will do that to anypony. Speaking of anypony…” He offered a hoof towards Twilight. “Salutations ma’am. Name’s Gear Head, but everybody calls me Geary.” “It’s nice to meet you, my name is- GAH!” Twilight leaped back in surprise as a straight, blue flame shot up between her and Geary. Her cheeks burned red as a roll of heat rushed over her head. The blaze soon sputtered and died, and Twilight could see Geary rubbing the back of his neck embarrassed. “Oops, sorry. Wrong hand. It was set to blowtorch mode.” Before Twilight could ask what in the world he was talking about, she looked down. She had expected to see a pale, bluish-green hoof. But instead, a long metal device had taken its place. The contraption was surrounded by a mass of grease-stained gears and steel scraps that extended to his shoulder. Twilight soon realized that this alien, metallic device was Geary’s hoof. Geary pressed one of the many gears with his one, real hoof. The metal appendage leaped into action, the various metal parts whirring and spinning. The blowtorch vanished under a blur of steel until the clanking of the device came to a still. What had taken the place of the blowtorch was a metal claw. “Sorry, let’s try that again,” Geary proposed with his claw extended. Still feeling a bit wary, Twilight accepted the claw with a timid hoof. “Well, you managed to avoid giving me second degree burns on my face, so there’s a start,” Twilight remarked half-jokingly. “My name’s Twilight Sparkle, if you were still wondering.” “And I’m Ceilia.” She approached the two as they were greeting each other. She glanced at Geary’s metal claw. “Cool hand, but you’re not going try to set me on fire as well, are you?” “Of course not!” he laughed heartily. “That’s a onetime deal, not gonna happen again.” “Is there any other settings other than ‘burn strangers I just met’ on that thing?” “Oh, more than you know. Hell, more than I know.” Geary took a step back and looked between the two of them. “I didn’t realize you travelled with strangers, Danny.” “Yeah, a few things have changed, but Ceilia is only going to stay with us for one night. Me and Twilight are going to be sticking together a little bit longer.” “And when you mean staying with us, you mean sleeping in my house, correct?” Daniel nodded. “If that’s not too much trouble.” “Not at all.” Geary gave Daniel a light punch on the shoulder. “C’mon inside and make yourselves comfortable. Just don’t touch anything that looks like it can bite. Or explode. Or both.” Twilight and Ceilia exchanged glances. Although Ceilia was eager to see what awaited them inside, Twilight did not share the same level of enthusiasm. Regardless, she was tired and would be glad to finally have somewhere to rest and recuperate. All four of them disappeared into the workshop as the sun made its final descent. The last trickles of sunlight began to fade into darkness. As the garage doors closed shut behind them, a pair of cold, blue eyes watched from the encroaching shadows. *** Everything was packed and ready to go. Medical supplies, food, some clothing, and ammunition were all crammed into a travel pack. Ulysses sported his weathered saddle proudly, ready to hit the open road. Everything was ready except for one thing: Daniel. The rain came down in steady streams. Daniel closed his eyes and listened to the plinking and plonking as raindrops spattered against the tin roof over him. He breathed in deep the musty air and exhaled. He wanted to leave, to go out into the world and finish the job he had yet to begun. Still, a tightness in his chest stayed his feet, keeping him from taking that first vital step. The screen door banged behind him. Daniel snapped his eyes back. The feeble figure that stood before him brought a lump to his throat. “Susie, what are you doing out here?” A stiff breeze could push her over. Her arms, thin and bony, swayed at her side. Her long, auburn hair was a frazzled, greying mess. Her cheekbones stretched from under her face, and dark bags hung under her dim eyes. Her skin used to be a rich olive tan, something she had inherited from their mom, but now, all that color had faded away, leaving nothing but a shell of the old Susan. She coughed. “Can’t I say goodbye to my little brother?” She smiled tiredly. It took a lot out of her just to do that. Daniel shook his head. “You need to go back inside, you could catch a cold or something! Here, I’ll help you get back to be-” Susan clamped her hand over his mouth. She glared at him, an eyebrow cocked. “Daniel, seriously, hush. I swear, you’re just as bad as mom was.” When she removed her hand, Daniel mumbled, “Well, one of us needs to be.” Susan sat at the edge of the porch, her legs dangling from the side. She patted the empty spot next to her. Reluctantly, Daniel took his spot next to his sister. He wasn’t sure why, but when he looked over at Susan, all he could think of was that she was still a head taller than him. Even after all these years of growing up, she was still the bigger of the two. Some things never change. “So, I take it you're just gonna run off on your little adventure? Not even tell us goodbye?” Daniel sighed. “It’s not that I didn't want to say goodbye, it's just that I… I….” The words stuck to the side of his throat. When he swallowed, it was like swallowing boulders. “I don’t know, guess I figured it would be easier for everyone if I just went ahead and leave.” Daniel waited for a response, but all he got was a snort. He turned to see a smirk on his sister’s face, a cocky smile he always hated growing up. For the first time ever, he was actually happy to see it. “Danny, you need to lighten up. Melodrama really doesn’t suit you.” "Come on, I'm trying to be serious." "So am I," she said. The smirk dissolved into a flat line. It was Susan’s turn now to sigh. “But do you really have to go? I mean, that lady could have been a complete whacko. How do you know she isn’t going to lead you on some wild goosechase? What if she was trying to drag you into something that is way over your head?” Way over my head, huh? Daniel thought to himself. Maybe there was some truth to that. Maybe that was the reason why he hadn’t took the first step. “I have to go, you know this. Look at you, this has been the best you’ve been in months. After what she was able to do for you, that lady must’ve been telling the truth.” “And maybe I’ll be able to pull through this, you don’t know for sure. Please, just give it a few more weeks,” she pleaded. “No, I can’t wait a few weeks,” Daniel replied. “If I'm going to do something, I gotta do it now. You’ve got a husband and a daughter to look after. You’ve got a family that needs you, and I’m not going to risk losing you.” “And what about you? You're my family too, what if I lose you?” Daniel felt as Susan’s frail fingers wrapped around his arm, holding him back. She squeezed, but her grip was so weak. He gingerly lifted her hand away. “You’re not gonna lose me. I will make it back home.” Daniel wasn’t so sure he believed himself. Daniel stood up from his spot and looked into his sister’s eyes. They shined with a sadness that he had only seen once before. “All these years, you’ve been taking care of me, of mom, and your family. Now, it’s my turn to take care of you, and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get you better. That’s my choice, and there’s no changing that.” Susan sat in silence, staring out into the rain. Finally, she stood up with a defeated cough. “No talking you out of this one, huh? You’re so thick headed.” She reached over and pulled Daniel into a warm embrace. Susan held on, hoping he wouldn't leave her. Her little brother wasn't ready for the big world yet. “Don’t do anything stupid, you hear? Don’t trust anyone, and don’t play hero. You worry about yourself first, and you get back home safe. Otherwise…” She took a step back, her face smiling tiredly. However, she could not conceal the worry that hid behind her eyes. “...I’ll have to hunt you down and kick your ass.” Daniel returned the same sad smile to her. “Yeah, I know." He scooped up his backpack and slipped the straps over his shoulder. Stepping over to Ulysses, he heaved himself onto the saddle. He looked back at Susan. There was one last thing that needed to be said. “Do me a favor and tell Natalie I’m sorry that I didn’t finish our book. Tell her I promise to finish reading it when I get back.” “I will, and I’ll hold you to that promise.” He winked at her. “I know you will.” Then, Daniel spurred Ulysses into a gallop. The horse reared back and then darted down the road. Hooves dug into the ground and threw bits of the earth into the air. Daniel chanced a final glance back, and he saw as his home shrank away into the distance, and on the porch, Susan stood alone as she waved her last goodbyes. And then, it all vanished into the rain. *** Something pressed against his cheek, something uncomfortable that clung to the side of his face. His eyes still closed, Daniel shifted his head upright. Suddenly, his left arm felt like it was being pricked on all sides by a thousand needles. A numbness ran from his forearm to his fingertips. Daniel opened his eyes, and then immediately shut them. Too bright. Too blurry. A shot of pain crept to the front of his skull. Daniel massaged the side of his temples. Wasn't naps supposed to help with headaches, not make them worse? His arm rested on a smooth surface, a table he guessed. His memory was feeling hazy, so it was difficult to think straight. Daniel reached out with his hand as it searched his surroundings. It brushed against some sort of ceramic object that slid slightly at his touch. He dared not to push it any further. He moved on, and finally, his hand rested on a familiar, wiry object. He lifted the object up from the table and held it in front of him. Clicking open the legs, he rested the glasses on tops of his ears. Once his glasses were back in their rightful spot, he tried to blink. This time, no light hurt his vision, only the burning of sleep at the edges of his eyes. Ah, much better. He saw that he was indeed at a table, and that the porcelain object he felt earlier was a coffee cup. Besides a small superficial crack that ran down from the brim to the bottom, the mug was in good condition, brandishing #1 Dad on the side. Daniel peered into the cup, and a puddle of black liquid awaited him. No steam crawled up from the fluid. Coffee is coffee, hot or cold, he thought to himself as he brought the mug up to his lips. A river of cold bitterness dashed down his throat. Daniel lowered the empty cup onto the table. “You think you got enough sleep there, Rip Van Winkle?” Daniel saw Geary leaning against a wall at the back of the room, his foreleg and metallic claw crossed over his chest. “Not enough if you’re still here,” Daniel joked. Geary stepped down on all threes and trotted over to the table. “Very funny, they should make you a comedian,” he sneered as he took a seat across from Daniel. “So, how’s the coffee?” Daniel traced his finger along the rim of the cup. “Well, it was just about as cold as I remembered it was.” “Oh please, this is coming from the guy who burnt oatmeal, oatmeal. Seriously, how do you manage that?” Daniel grinned. “It takes talent, my dear Geary, talent,” he said as he took another sip. “I didn’t realize being a horrible cook was considered a talent. I swear, if you were a pony, that’d be your special talent.” “Hey, at least I would probably get a cutie mark.” Daniel cringed at his own words when they slipped out from his lips. You and your big, stupid mouth. Way to go you jerk. “Hey man, I’m sorry, I was just joking. That was real stupid of me, I didn’t mean to-” “Daniel, it’s fine,” Geary said, but his face said otherwise. The disheartened pony couldn't bring himself to meet Daniel's gaze, only able to stare down at his claw. “Me and every other pony have the same problem, it’s nothing new.” But that doesn’t make it okay, Daniel quietly berated himself. For over a thousand years and countless generations, every single pony that has ever lived has been denied their birthright, their destiny. And here I am, cracking jokes like its nothing. Some friend I am. The two avoided eye contact with each other, only taking interest in the dusty floor tiles or the corner covered with cobwebs. Geary tapped his claw to a slow, measured beat as time dragged on. Eager to alleviate the mood, Geary spoke up. “So, I was talking to your two friends. Told me ‘bout the trouble you ran into on the road.” “Really?” “Mmhm, and how your marefriend ended up saving all of your flanks.” Geary leaned back in his chair, yawning as he stretched his limbs. “Or more like that elf girl told me. That unicorn was pretty tight-lipped.” "Yeah, she doesn't seem to be the talking type," Daniel said as he walked over to the counter, coffee mug in hand. The countertop was crowded with an assortment of metal doo-hickies and doo-dads, the playthings of the tinkerer earth pony. Geary watched as Daniel fruitlessly searched the counter. “If you're looking for the coffee pot, it's to the left of the counter and behind the toaster.” Daniel stepped to the left of the counter and saw the cannibalized corpse of some piece of machinery. Behind it sat the coffee pot. “This thing was a toaster?” “Eh, I got bored one day.” The earth pony looked over to the right side of the counter and something wrapped in rags caught his eye. Was he forgetting something? “So tell me,” Geary continued, pushing the wrapped object to the back of his mind. “What exactly is the deal with your marefriend?” “Would you stop calling her that?” Daniel waved a pot of cold coffee. “She's not my marefriend.” “Then what is she to you?” Daniel tipped the pot and black coffee flowed into his mug. He grimaced. “She's my job,” he answered plainly. “Your job? And what the hell do you mean by that?” “My job is to escort her north, someplace called Port Concord.” Geary's eyes lit up like lightbulbs. “North?! Daniel, have you lost what little marbles you had left? That place is a frozen hellhole, no job is worth going up there for.” Daniel took his seat at the table, staring at the swirl of bubbles in his coffee. “This one is.” Daniel stared up at Geary, a glint of desperation in his eyes. “I'm doing this for Susie.” Geary's shocked expression softened after that. “Oh,” he managed. “And that's part of the reason I came to you. I know you have some maps stored away and hoped you could help us.” Geary looked over at the rag shrouded object again, scratching the underside of his chin with his claw. “Well, I'll have to think about it. First, tell me more about this Twilight person. Why is she so important that you have to be her personal bodyguard?” Daniel shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know, but there's definitely something up about her. She's got this crazy powerful magic, I mean you've never seen anything like it!” “You're talking about that little thunderstorm trick she did?” “Yeah, and trust me, it's anything but little.” Daniel took a sip as he struggled to remember everything. There was something he was forgetting... “She also holds onto to this white saddlebag constantly. Never leaves it out of her sight.” Geary raised his claw in the air. “So what? It's probably just a bunch of her personal crap.” Daniel shook his head. “No. No, it's more than that. When we were out on the road, we'd been attacked by some Hollows. In the middle of the fight, one of the biters grabbed the saddlebag. Rather than letting it go, she held on. I had to step in and get them off of her, otherwise she would've been pulled into the horde. What's so important in that bag that she would risk her own life for?” Geary whistled. “Damn, are you sure that you're protecting her, or whatever's in that bag?” Daniel’s reply never left his mouth, for his answer came knocking at the door. KNOCK! KNOCK! Geary raised a confused eyebrow. “Strange, no one ever comes by here this late. Why don’t you think that question over while I go see who it is.” Geary sat up and left the room, leaving Daniel alone with his thoughts. All he could think about was Twilight, and a lot of questions seemed to surround the mysterious mare. Like, how could she possibly not know what a Hollow is? Anyone that has ever lived out in the wastes has either seen one or heard stories about the creatures. And where did she learn how to use such powerful magic? Sure, Daniel had seen basic spells like telekinesis or simple light spells, but has never seen anyone manipulate a storm before. However, the biggest question that stuck out in Daniel’s mind was what exactly was in Twilight’s bag, and why is it so important? Was it an artifact of some kind? Was it a weapon? Did she steal it from someone? Did she kill someone for it? Many unanswered questions buzzed around Daniel’s head like a cloud of angry wasps. When Daniel had learned that he would be escorting a pony rather than a package, he was hesitant to take the job. If someone needed protection, it was usually because that someone angered the wrong people. Anyone that was after Twilight must surely be after what was in her bag as well. It didn’t matter though, Daniel still had to take the job no matter how skeptical he was. This was his only option, his last option, to save his sister, and there was no backing out of it. Daniel buried his head in his hands. So many questions. So many uncertainties. What have I gotten myself into? Daniel could hear the chair across the table shift against the floor. “Geary, I don’t know what I’m gonna do. I’ve been thinking about Twilight and this job, and there’s just so many questions that-” Daniel looked up, and his heart skipped a beat. His mouth, a dry sand pit. It wasn’t Geary that sat across from him, but a man; a black clad stranger he had never seen before. “Hello Mr. Nightingale,” the stranger said with a tip of his hat. Daniel just stared back, too shocked to say anything. The stranger leaned back in his seat, a relaxed smile on his face. “You seem to be at a disadvantage, Daniel. I know so much about you, yet you know nothing about me.” The stranger offered a friendly hand towards Daniel. “You can call me Mr. Frost.” Daniel's eyes flicked between the hand that hovered in front of him and Mr. Frost. “Where's Geary?” he questioned. Mr. Frost took back his hand as his friendly smile shrinked into a thin line. “I politely asked Mr. Gear Head to remain in the other room while we had this chat. It's essential that we have this conversation one-on-one.” Mr. Frost propped his arms onto the table, his hands clasped into a single fist. Daniel watched every movement with extreme caution. “How do you know my name?” “You could say I'm a friend of the family, your father in particular. You and him practically have the same face. Did Thomas ever speak much of me?” Daniel shook his head. “I never talked to him much. Sorry.” Mr. Frost sighed as he dug around in his pockets. He pulled out a single cigarette and a matchbook. “That’s a shame. Me and Thomas knew each other very well. Mind if I smoke? I'd hate to be rude, but it helps me think straight.” “I’d prefer you didn’t. This is Geary’s house, not mine. You need his permission if you want to do that.” “Fair enough,” Mr. Frost said as he pocketed his cigarette and matchbook. Mr. Frost then took out a rusted brass coin out from his pocket. He lightly thumbed the sides of it, and Daniel could clearly see the open eye on its side. “You know what this is, Mr. Nightingale?” Daniel nodded. “Yeah, you part of the Darkwatch?” Mr. Frost chuckled like Daniel’s question was a joke. “Heavens no. I’m afraid my employer is not too keen on relations with that group, but I happen to have a few connections there. For example, this little toy here has helped me keep a very careful eye on both you and your unicorn companion.” Mr. Frost noticed Daniel’s shoulders tense up at the mention of “unicorn”. “What are you talking about? What unicor-” “Don’t try to play dumb with me, Daniel,” he hissed. “I’ve been at this game far longer than you have. I know when someone is trying to lie to me. You could say it’s part of my job; to root out the liars. And it seems your friend is one of them.” Mr. Frost brushed himself off as he stood up from his seat and began to pace back and forth near the table. His eyes scanned the graveyard of machinery that was laid out on the countertop. This didn’t help with Daniel’s nerves. “Mr. Nightingale, I’m no fool. I know for a fact that you are working for Twilight Sparkle, and I know the exact reason why you took the job. Do you realize who you have gotten yourself involved with?” “Listen, all I know is that Twilight hired me for a job. She needed an escort and that is it.” Mr. Frost chuckled again which elicited a curious look from Daniel. “So, does this job require you to die for her?” Daniel could feel the weight of stones crush against his chest. “Excuse me?” “Because, as I’m sure you already know, she’ll kill you whenever this is all over.” Daniel couldn’t believe it. This was absurd. No, there was no way that the same unicorn that risked her own life would ever harm him. “No, Twilight would never do that. She’d never try to hurt someone.” “Daniel, how long have you known her? A week? A day? How can you trust her? I’ve known her for much longer, and I know just how far she’s willing to go to get what she wants. I’m sure you’ve seen the saddlebag she carries with her at all times, never letting it out of sight, always keeping it close.” Mr. Frost stepped over close to Daniel. He beamed down unflinchingly at him with crossed arms. Daniel refused to look back. “Do you know what Twilight did for what’s in that bag? She lied right to the faces of her friends. She betrayed her entire family. Hell, she nearly killed her own brother just to save her own hide. How long do you think you'll last before she throws you to the hounds as well?” Daniel refused to accept this. He started to feel an anger spark inside, but whether it was directed at this stranger or Twilight, he could not tell. “You have no proof,” he growled. “I already have all the proof I need. Has she shown you what’s in that bag? Has she told you that you will die for whatever's inside it? You won’t be able to protect your family when you're dead, Daniel.” Daniel took in a deep breath to calm himself. This was becoming too much for him. He wanted to silence his ears and hear no more. “Why are you here? What do you want?” he demanded. “I’m here to collect a debt, and help you.” Mr. Frost took back his seat across from Daniel. A long silence fell in the room as neither of the two moved an inch. Each sat in silence. Daniel left his coffee untouched. Mr. Frost never let up his unrelenting gaze. Nothing but deafening silence. “Twilight Sparkle cheated both me and my employer in a deal we had. I want what rightfully belongs to us. In exchange for your help, we will cure your sister’s ailment.” Suddenly, the feeling of crushed stones was lifted from his chest. His sister, healthy again? The thought was too good. His sister, no longer sick. No more coughs in the night. No more scavenging for medicine. No more “I’m sorry” from the doctors. “Can you actually help her? You can cure Susie?” “Of course. My employer has plenty of resources at his disposal. A word from him, and all your problems will vanish. All you need to do is help us.” Daniel removed his glasses and buried his forehead into his hand. “I don’t know. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” Mr. Frost stared down at the boy with his icy blue eyes. “Daniel, you're a smart man. A reasonable man. You have two options: you can either help a fugitive who betrayed her own family, or you can help those who really matter to you: your family.” Mr. Frost leaned closer. “I think the answer is very clear here, but which one is it going to be?” *** Twilight was sound asleep in her cot. Strands of her violet mane flowed over her feathery, white pillow. The hills of bundled sheets rose and fell with her every breath. The end of her nose twitched ever so slightly as she softly snored. Daniel could see her slumbering face, and it was the most at peace he had ever seen her. This mare had changed so much for Daniel already, and he had only known her for one day. She was the mare that he was sworn to protect. She was the mare that had saved his life. She was the mare that he had held in his arms. And she was the mare that he was going to betray. How could everything go so wrong so fast? Countless doubts swam around in his head, but Daniel always found himself falling back to where he started: was he going to help this stranger or his sister? It was a question that didn’t need an answer. He could see the white saddlebag resting next to Twilight on the nightstand. Just sitting there. Waiting to be stolen. It would be so easy to just take it and go, but why was it so hard to just reach for? Daniel steeled himself. He knew that what he was doing was wrong, but he was doing it for the right reasons. He couldn’t worry anymore about Twilight. He couldn’t worry about what was in the bag. He had to focus on getting back home. Fighting back the sinking feeling inside him, he stretched his arm out towards the waiting bag. Suddenly, he heard the cot creak next to him. His hand froze as his fingers were just a breath away from the straps. He bit on the bottom of his lip to silence the yelp in his throat. The sleepy mare sat up from her cot and stretched her limbs as far as she could. Daniel’s heartbeat thundered like a steam engine. Twilight let out a relaxed yawn as she laid back down on her bed. She shifted her slim body and swiveled her back to Daniel. She muttered something under her breath before everything was silent once again. He didn’t move an inch until he was sure that Twilight had fallen back to sleep. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, Daniel wrapped his hand around the straps. Slipping the strap on to his shoulder, the bag came to rest against his side. From where the bag was touching him, a sense of warmth began to spread throughout Daniel’s being. The tingling sensation washed over Daniel’s skin, reminding him of a feeling he had long forgotten about: the warmth of home. He was reminded of the long, winter nights when he and Natalie would sit close to the crackling fireplace. Huddled in the comfort of the hearth fire, Daniel would clutch the pages of a book, reading aloud as little Natalie looked up at him with hazel eyes filled with wonder. Depending on the story, she would either giggle heartily, cry in sorrow, or gasp in awe. However, she would always fall asleep, and Daniel would always quietly cradle her in his arms. Once he tucked the little girl into bed, he would give her a light kiss on the forehead and say... Daniel shook himself out of the surreal trance. What was that? He stared down at the bag and rubbed the side of his head. He shuddered. The sooner he was done with the accursed thing, the better. He hurriedly stepped over to the door. Before he shut the door, he looked through the crack to glance at Twilight one more time. It was so strange to see her like this: peaceful. Like Daniel had never betrayed her trust and turned her life upside down mere minutes ago. He sighed. “I’m sorry.” He silently clicked the door shut. Once he had stepped out of the hallway, Daniel found Geary waiting for him in the next room. He sat on a beige sofa with bits of fluff sticking out of the cushions. His eyes whisked over to the saddlebag that hung from Daniel’s side. The earth pony’s sunken expression told Daniel that he already knew. “I guess you already heard everything, huh?” Geary nodded. “Yeah, was glad when that creep finally left, but you’re not really going to help him, right?” “I’m sorry, but I have to. I’ve got to help him, for my sister’s sake.” Geary’s sea green irises drifted towards Twilight’s room. “But that means-” “If there was a better way, I’d do it. But that’s just it; there isn’t a better way.” Geary stepped down from the couch. There was a rise in his voice. “Daniel, there’s always a better way. That guy seriously rubs me the wrong way, and I don’t think he exactly has your best intentions in mind. You can’t trust him.” “I can’t trust Twilight either. I don’t have a single clue about what she has done. All I know is that she isn’t above hurting her own family to get her way, so what if she betrays me? Then there’ll be no one left to help my family.” “You need to give her some more time. Maybe then she’ll open up more to you, and then you can learn the truth from her.” Daniel looked away. “Geary, time isn’t on my side. My mind is made up.” A dark cloud of uncertainties hung over them. Geary was quiet for a moment before he asked, “So, there’s no way to keep you from doing this?” Daniel stared down at his feet as he shook his head. Geary huffed. “Well, if you’re still stuck on meeting with that pale freak, you should at least arm yourself.” Before another word could leave Daniel’s mouth, Geary stepped out of the room. When he returned, he held an object wrapped in oil-stained rags. He handed it to Daniel. “What is-” “Just open it.” When all of the rags fell away, Daniel couldn’t fight back the small smile on his face. It had been such a long time since he had seen this. It was a slim, metal cylinder, a foot in length. Gray iron in color, two black rings topped each side. In the center was the etching of a pegasus with its wings outspread. Does it still work? Daniel asked himself. Daniel pressed his thumb against the pegasus, and two metal rods slid out of both sides with a satisfying shink! Grasping it in his hands, Daniel gave it a light twirl in his hands. The quarterstaff sang through the air as he swung it. Smiling, he pressed the button again and the two sides retracted. “You fixed it.” “Of course I did, don’t know why you sound so surprised.” “Thanks.” Geary responded with a curt nod. Daniel placed the quarterstaff in the pocket opposite of his handgun. As he walked over to the front door, Daniel stopped himself. “Geary, you know I’m just trying to look out for my own, right? I don’t have any other choice.” The pony’s ears drooped to the side of his face. “Daniel, you always have a choice. It’s just a matter of whether you see the other options before you or not.” Daniel opened his mouth to say something, but decided against it. There was nothing left to be said. In complete silence, Daniel turned and took his first steps into the night. *** Red on white. Something warm, something wet pools at her hooves. Blood pounding in her ears. Blood rushing away from her face. Blood everywhere. So much of it… Her skin, cold and clammy. She shivers. Salty tears trail down her cheek and rest on her lips. Her heart sinks, two boulders tied around her hooves. They’re shaking. She’s falling. She’s drowning. Nothing but red and darkness. She didn’t mean it. She didn’t want this. She just wants him to wake up. Wake up. Wake up… Twilight gasped for air like a fish out of water. She greedily sucked the air down her throat. She blinked, and little dots of light fade to black. She was in the dark, only the glow of the doorframe provided any light. Her fur was wet from chilled beads of sweat. As she shook herself awake, Twilight mustered enough mental strength to bury this nightmare in the darkest, most forgotten parts of her mind. She wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take. Twilight sat up as her cot creaked under her. She rested her hooves on the nightstand adjacent to her rapidly made bedding. These nightmares, they were starting become worse and worse with each passing night. She was finding it harder for herself to just fall asleep. Twilight began to wonder if she would fall into a deep nightmare one night, and never wake up again… Wait. Something wasn’t right. Something was out of place, wrong. Something very wrong… The saddlebag. Where was it? Panic shot up into her throat. Twilight leapt out of bed, and her horn conjured up a ball of light. Scanning the top of the nightstand, the saddlebag was nowhere to be seen. Where was it? In a flurry, Twilight frantically looked under the nightstand and under the cot. She flipped the mattress and the sheets from one side of the room to the other. She inspected every nook, cranny, and corner of the room, but the bag was in none of those places. Her ears began to drum. Where was it? Keep yourself together, Twilight. You can find it, you just need to look harder. Twilight dashed out of her room and down the hallway. She tore through the rooms like an unstoppable twister. She ripped open cabinets doors, turned over furniture, and ransacked the rooms in hopes of finding just a shred of where the bag could be. The bag eluded her, and the drumming was getting louder and louder. No, no, no! This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be… “Twilight, what are you doing?” Twilight snapped around. It was Geary, an expression of concern plastered on his face. He stood in the center of his overturned furniture. “Geary, you have to help me! When I came in today, I had a bag with me, a white saddle bag. But it’s gone! Please, I’m asking you for your help. It is important that I find that bag, or-” “Twilight,” Geary interrupted her. “I think you need to sit down. We...we need to talk.” Twilight’s bottom jaw hung down. “Bu-but why? That won’t help with finding my bag. We don’t have time to talk. We don’t have time to sit. We need to find my bag.” “I don’t think you understand, we need to talk so you can calm down.” “What’s all the ruckus for?” It was Ceilia who had just entered from the hallway. She yawned as she rubbed the remnants of sleep out of her eyes. “I can hear everything all the way at the end of the hallway.” Geary glanced over at the elf girl. “Ceilia, please go back to bed. This is hectic enough.” Wait. Something wasn’t right here either. Something else was out of place, missing… No, not something, someone. And then, everything clicked together, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Twilight turned towards the countertop piled high with metal pieces. “Where is Daniel?” Geary looked nervously over at Ceilia, his eyes pleading for help. He received none. “Twilight, I don’t think you should-” Twilight’s horn lit up into a brilliant light, and every last scrap of metal that had previously rested on the countertop was flung away. Metal shrapnel crashed into the wall, leaving behind craters and cracks. Glass shattered onto the floor, sending clear shards sliding off into the most far off corners. Debris littered the room. The storm of metal ringed in everyone’s ears long after it ended. Twilight directed her burning gaze at a shocked Geary. Through gritted teeth, she said in a low-tone, “When I ask a question, I expect an answer. Now, I’m only going to repeat myself once: Where. Is. Daniel?”