Chapter 7
“Should we really be here?” Tango muttered in a quiet tone of voice as he followed Snow Heart down the street. The couple were in one of the main shopping districts of Manehattan. It had been the mare’s idea to go out for a little bit, forget their current work-related troubles and just enjoy a day out in the city.
Snow Heart didn’t respond right away. She was glancing around, almost as if she feared ponies would recognize her. To the unicorn’s relief, they were completely ignored by others that passed them by. She still kept her hooded cloak on and as tight as possible.
“I figured a change of scenery would do us good,” she finally responded. It wasn’t like they could really shop that much, but at least it was something different from the dreary streets of Hoofington.
Tango didn’t really have a response to that. He just sighed and nodded. They continued down the street and would occasionally stop in front of shops that caught the mare’s interest and look at the displays in the windows. The stallion’s mind wasn’t really on window shopping. He hadn’t told Snow Heart, but he was thinking about the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
Why were they in Hoofington? Did they really get lost? he couldn’t help but wonder.
Tango wasn’t sure he cared for this reminder of Ponyville. It was from a life he felt he no longer could return to. Even though he exchanged letters with Time Turner and Mulberry and his former police partner had come visiting once, the stallion was really just beginning to want to forget it.
Snow Heart thinks I don’t know, but I know it’s upsetting her to be reminded of that place. The memory of having hired Silver Axe still haunts her. He glanced at the mare who was smiling a little as she examined some clothes on display in the window of a fashion boutique.
I messed up a lot during my probation, the least I could do was offer her a home when she was finally allowed on parole and they couldn’t find any place for her to stay. Tango smiled a little himself, but it was a very weak and broken one.
Barricade hadn’t cared as long as he kept paying his debt and rent. Tango was also advised to stay away from certain topics with her by her therapist. The stallion had followed all instructions to the letter.
He hadn’t really intended to get into a relationship with her. Even if the stallion had feelings for the mare, he had never been sure if Snow Heart really returned them. She had manipulated him into helping her with the foalnapping in Ponyville, playing on his feelings for her - a deed he had long since forgiven her for, but Tango had never been sure how she really felt about him.
However, during the first few weeks, Tango found himself often having to reassure and comfort the mare. She had very bad nightmares, suffered nervous breakdowns and would often freak out if foals came close to her. It took a few months before she started to again resemble the mare he had once known.
During one such breakdown, Tango had her in his arms trying to calm her. It was then when Snow Heart had asked him something that almost caused his heart to stop.
“Who is Vanilla Cream?”
“W-why do you ask?” Tango had asked nervously.
“The mare that Barricade lives with, Barbell. She was arguing with one of those thugs that hang around. She said something like ‘you want another Vanilla Cream incident’ and that shut him up. I don’t know what they were arguing about,” Snow Heart had told him, but then noticed how shaken Tango had become.
Their roles reversed and suddenly it was Snow Heart who had to comfort Tango when the stallion began to explain to her about Vanilla Cream. He had started crying and just couldn’t stop.
After that, Snow Heart’s tune had changed quite a bit. He could have sworn she became more protective of him. She started to once again show her old confidence and mannerisms. Soon enough they were dating, though they couldn’t go out that much on what little money they did have and now Tango’s old bedroom was a hobby room.
Then the shocker happened - Snow Heart became pregnant. Tango personally wasn’t sure if he was worthy of being a father, he was though more concerned over Snow Heart, who he knew was scared to death.
Tango was shaken out of his reminiscing when seeing that Snow Heart was ready to continue their walk, having looked at everything in the window.
“Are you alright?” he asked quietly, noticing that her breathing was a little more labored.
“I’m…” Snow Heart stopped and looked back at him, peering from underneath the hood of her cloak. “I guess I should sit down soon.”
“We could find a café or a diner,” Tango suggested, glancing around.
Snow Heart nodded, liking that idea. She felt she needed tea and maybe a small bite to eat. The mare wished this was something they could do more often. She could already see that Tango looked much better at the change of pace from their usual routine.
He does so much and asks so little. He should have just forgotten me and taken up with that mare he met during his probation. She would probably have been a much better companion to him than a monster like me. Snow sighed slightly and cringed when feeling she definitely needed to sit down. Fortunately there was a bench close by and she waddled straight to it while Tango looked around for a café.
The mare hung her head, glancing down at her swollen belly. Lifting one hoof, she started to gently caress it, a sad smile on her muzzle. She was off parole, there were no government officials breathing down her neck, yet the mare couldn’t help but worry that she wouldn’t be allowed to keep the foal. Right now Snow Heart just couldn’t believe anyone would allow her to raise a child.
Ugh, it’s so warm, Snow Heart thought and carefully glanced around. There weren’t many ponies around, so she partly undid her cloak and took down the hood.
“Miss Snow Heart? Is that really you?” a foreign-accented voice suddenly addressed her. Snow Heart glanced over and blinked in surprise when seeing the brown stallion standing nearby.
“Doctor Caballeron?” she asked, confused. The stallion laughed, walked closer and grabbed her hoof with his.
“Please, you need not be so formal with me, my dear,” he said, lifting the white hoof of the mare to his mouth to kiss it. “You know you can just call me Caballeron.”
“I… of course.” Snow Heart wasn’t sure what to say. She then noticed that Tango was returning and that the usual thugs that followed the doctor were already eyeing him with dangerous glares. “This is my coltfriend, Tango.”
Doctor Caballeron had noticed Tango approaching them and narrowed his eyes, but his expression eased, much to Snow Heart’s relief, when hearing the mare’s introduction. Instead he just put a hoof on his chest, the friendly smile returning to his lips.
“Ah my dear, any friend of yours is a friend of mine,” the doctor declared, his lackeys taking it as a sign to back off. Tango, however, kept glancing at the four ponies, unsure what to think.
“Tango, this is Doctor Caballeron, I worked for him a few years ago,” the mare looked at the earth stallion who arched his brow.
“She was quite an asset to my little team back then, I was sad to see her go, but I can personally appreciate wanting payback against your enemies, so I wasn’t about to stand in her way,” the doctor said, not noticing that Snow Heart cringed a little.
Tango said nothing. He knew criminals when he saw them and he definitely recognized a crime boss. In fact, the way Caballeron spoke reminded him a lot of Barricade before the unicorn started changing. Years ago, Tango would have firmly asked the doctor and his lackeys to leave and evict Snow Heart out of the area, now however, he just stood and watched, unsure what to do.
“So… Caballeron, what brings you to Manehattan?” Snow Heart ventured to ask.
“Personal business. An old business associate lives in the city and you could say I’m catching up,” the doctor told her, then looked at Tango. “There is a quaint little diner nearby. I insist on treating you to lunch.”
Every warning bell in his mind was telling Tango to refuse the offer, but then he looked at Snow Heart and saw that she didn’t seem too bothered by the doctor, even if he had reminded her of the Ponyville foalnapping. He even dared to think she was rather glad to meet him again, even if she had been taken by surprise that he was there.
“Careful now, ah, I see you are expecting. Congratulations. I assume Tango is the lucky father?” Caballeron remarked as he helped Snow Heart down from the bench. He gave Tango a knowing wink when the mare nodded to confirm it.
It can’t hurt having one lunch with him, he thought and walked closer to stand by Snow Heart. Caballeron stood on her other side and Tango wasn’t surprised that the thugs followed them from behind.
As they walked, Tango did a brief double take when seeing one of the boutiques and the name the big sign displayed. Neither Snow Heart or Caballeron noticed and kept going. Tango shook his head and quickly resumed walking before the thugs walked into him.
It’s just a name, he thought as they walked past the boutique in question. The sign read ‘Rarity for you’ and as the group walked past, four little heads peeked carefully from behind the entrance door and covertly watched them.
The diner wasn’t too far away, thankfully for Snow Heart who really wanted to sit down by now. They went inside and found themselves a booth to sit in. Snow Heart and Tango sat together while Caballeron sat in front of them. His lackeys got seated separately in a different booth nearby.
“So, how is your usual business going?” Snow Heart asked, being careful not to say exactly what it was the doctor did.
“I’m taking a brief break from it. I’ve been unable to locate my ‘reluctant associate’. She’s being careful and elusive right now,” Caballeron told her. Tango frowned a little at the way he said associate. Snow Heart seemed to understand however and just nodded.
“So I’ve been trying to contact my other old associate instead who lives in the city. I don’t believe you met him when you worked for me,” the doctor continued and rubbed his muzzle a little. “Then again perhaps you did. His name is Barricade.”
Both Tango and Snow Heart were unable to contain their surprise when hearing the name. It didn’t escape the attention of Doctor Caballeron either who arched his brow a little. “I take it you are familiar with him?”
“We… well, we rent an apartment in the building he runs,” Snow Heart said.
“Oh really,” her old friend seemed to be all ears now, smiling even wider. Tango wasn’t sure he liked that.
“How do you know, Barricade?” Tango decided to ask in turn.
“I took him in when he was still just a teenager. He was a rampageous colt, full of energy and very independent. His parents, well they meant well, sent him to a military school in Canterlot, hoping it would instill some discipline into him. He resented it greatly and though he finished it, he never returned home to them. We met in Baltimare where he was staying with two friends of his,” Caballeron started explaining casually, but fell silent when the waiter came to take their orders.
“He agreed to work for me and I would send him assignments when I had something for him to do. However, a while ago he suddenly stopped, refused to do anything more. I let it slide, but I wouldn’t mind engaging him again. I have some interest in a few things I know he would be the best pony to help me acquire,” the doctor continued once the waiter was gone.
Tango already noted that Caballeron never said one word of what exactly he did or what kind of jobs Barricade had done for him. He also noticed that Snow Heart didn’t seem lost at all in the stallion’s vague talk.
“If you will excuse me, I think I’m going to use the restroom before our lunch arrives,” Caballeron excused himself and left the booth.
Tango sighed a little, wondering why he kept meeting criminals these days. He looked at Snow Heart. So far bringing up her past had usually caused quite the severe reaction from her, yet Caballeron had not even caused her to frown.
“I hope you don’t mind, Tango. I realize it’s obvious that Dr. Caballeron is not the most ethical pony nor are his activities, but I don’t have many friends and he’s never judged me and I know he won’t judge me either for… the foalnapping. You and he are probably the only ponies I know who don’t care who I am,” the mare looked at Tango, smiling weakly.
Can’t say I blame her and it is doing wonders for her mood, Tango thought and did his best to smile back. “Of course. It’s quite alright.”
Caballeron returned just as their food arrived on the table. While they ate, the doctor began telling them about his various travels. As Tango listened, he thought he could at least pinpoint what field the doctor was in. It sounded a lot like archeological work. Now the stallion started to piece more things together, wondering if Caballeron stole and fenced valuable artifacts.
But how does Barricade fit into this? he couldn’t help but wonder. Barricade looked more like a pony Caballeron would use as a lackey, like the thugs in the other booth.
Once they were done eating, it was Snow Heart’s turn to go to the restroom. Both Tango and Caballeron watched her waddle away. Once she had disappeared out of sight, the doctor turned back to the former officer with a smirk on his muzzle.
“You are a very lucky pony, Mister Tango. Snow Heart is quite a catch. I still half-regret not having convinced her to stay on in my operation,” Caballeron addressed him.
Tango slowly turned his attention back to the other stallion. The doctor was taking a sip from his drink, but never took his eyes off him.
“Luck is probably not the best way to describe my life right now,” Tango muttered and looked away. He didn’t react to the chortle coming from the pony in front of him.
“Probably not no. It must be difficult to get back on your hooves after being caught committing a crime and serving your time. Nopony trusts you, everypony wondering what you might be up to all the time, judge you even before they meet you,” Caballeron said.
Tango winched slightly. The doctor had been right on the mark. The former officer sighed and could only nod to confirm it. Caballeron’s smirk turned a bit more devious.
“Living near Barricade can’t be too easy either,” he added.
“At first no, it was hell,” Tango snorted. “Barricade and his thugs bullied everypony they could get away with, including me. He even forced me to start paying him money because I had once stopped him from harassing ponies I knew.”
“However…” he frowned a little as he recalled the last few months. “Lately he’s…been different. He cancelled my debt to him. Snow Heart did have hoof in that though, but he’s been cancelling debts with others, too.”
Caballeron listened intently to what Tango had to say about the unicorn. The former officer continued to talk about Barricade’s different behavior and attitude. Personally, Tango was just glad that the unicorn was off his list of what he needed to worry about. Still, he wouldn’t mind living far away from him.
“Nopony knows what happened?” Caballeron asked, nodding when Tango shook his head.
“What is your current occupation, Tango?” the doctor then asked, smiling even wider when seeing the hesitation come over the stallion in front of him.
“I… I recently lost my job. They said they didn’t need me anymore… Snow Heart has been unable to find a job herself,” Tango sighed.
“What would you say if I offered you a position on my little team? It would take you away from Manehattan for a period of time, but I pay well. I take good care of those who work for me,” Caballeron silently chuckled when seeing the apprehensive look come over the former officer’s face.
He can’t be serious, Tango thought and had a half a mind to absolutely refuse the offer right then and there. He already had a good idea of what Caballeron did and if Barricade was any indication, working for him would be no better than when he had helped with the foalnapping.
Before he could really respond, Snow Heart returned. The mare immediately noticed the conflict in the stallion. Then she looked at Caballeron who had not dropped his smirk.
“Is there something wrong?” Snow asked as she sat down.
“Caballeron just offered me a job,” Tango said and was not surprised that the mare’s eyes widened in shock when hearing that.
“Why don’t you think it over and get back to me,” Caballeron said and drew out a card. He put it on the table and pushed it towards Tango. “I’m staying at this hotel.”
Tango stared at the card, almost as if he hoped it would burn if he just stared at it long enough. He didn’t even notice that Caballeron was saying his goodbyes and soon enough he and Snow Heart were alone in their booth.
“How badly does that guy take rejection?” Tango whispered. He felt a little ill that his situation was so bad that criminals were offering him jobs.
“Not very well. He has a very big ego. Then again, he very seldom gives ponies time to think about his offers.” Snow Heart frowned a little, struggling to use the magic from her broken horn. She picked up the card to look at it more closely.
“I take it that you didn’t just wander far north after you first left Ponyville, hmm?” This question caused the mare to drop the card. For a long time she stared at the table before hesitantly glancing at Tango.
“That part… is true, Tango. What I never told about were the years inbetween,” the mare struggled to hold her emotions in check as she thought back.
“After I sulked for a week…in the cabin Silver Axe lived in, I went to Manehattan. It’s there I met Caballeron. He gave me a job while I… while I planned…you know…” Snow Heart turned her head to look out the window.
“I actually considered canceling the whole thing, just continue to work for him… but in the end I was just too stubborn, too full of myself. I hired poor Paul… and then remembered Silver Axe. Went to hire him and… you know the rest…” she fell silent.
“Sorry… I didn’t mean to bring this up,” Tango winced, realizing he had accidentally brought up the very topics he wasn’t supposed to bring up. Fortunately though, it seemed Snow Heart’s therapy was working. She hadn’t broken down, but it was clear the whole thing still bothered her.
There was silence now in the booth, Snow Heart just kept staring out of the window though her mind was far, far away, deep in the past. Tango was staring down at his empty plate, feeling guilty for upsetting her.
“Hi Tango. Hi Snow Heart!” suddenly three voices broke the silence, causing both ponies to jump a little and look over. Standing there were Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Babs Seed. Behind them was Applejack, looking half-annoyed at the fillies and half-apologetic to the couple.
“W-what are you doing here?” Tango asked, glancing concerned at Snow Heart, who watched everyone warily.
“Sorry about that, but the girls really do want to talk with you, Mr. Tango.” Applejack sighed a little.
End chapter 7