//------------------------------// // Chapter 13: Wind Whistler's Gamble // Story: Little Ponies Lost // by Al-1701 //------------------------------//           Once again there was a gathering at the meeting hall.  This time it was Wind Whistler on the platform ready to explain her plan.  At least, she hoped she was ready.  She was constantly thinking about things.  When her mind was idle, math problems would come into her head such as creating relationships between sums and products and how there was a pattern for different numbers multiplied by perfect squares.  When active, she could formulate, challenge, and adjust plans over and over again.  Actually articulating the plan, especially so others understood her logic was another matter.  However, there was no time like the present to start.           Truly came in without Majesty and took her seat.           “Where’s Majesty?” Cherries Jubilee asked.           “Sleeping soundly,” Truly answered.  She yawned.  “Like we all should be.”           The 36 ponies and six juvenile dragons took their seats and stared forward.  The few conversations died down, yielding to eager silence.  Wind Whistler felt the hairs on her back stand on end with so much attention on her.           “All right, Wind Whistler,” Magic Star said sternly, “we gave the harpies the locket.  What are you getting at?”           Wind Whistler assembled her thoughts as best she could and put them to words she hoped they would understand.  “There is an old saying that if you cannot go to the mountain, you bring the mountain to you.  We failed to save the girl by fighting the harpies in their own territory, so my new strategy is luring them into a trap.”           “Trap?” Truly asked.  “They have the locket and are headed to the north.  What’s even up there?”           “The last component of the Bifröst,” Wind Whistler answered.  “As the message Paradise translated said, it is hidden in a secret vault only the Valkyrie Queen’s descendent can find.  Since we already unlocked the Bifröst, it is telling Megan where to go next.”           “Ah still don’t know how this is a trap,” Truly stated.           Wind Whistler heaved a sigh as she formulated more of her explanation.  “A vault suggests an enclosed space.  Such a location would neutralize the harpies’ greatest advantages of flight and ranged weapons.”           She took a step forward.  “We now know the vault is located on an island off the northern coast.  We can reach it instantly, while the harpies are traveling.  We will lie in wait until they arrive and box them in.”           Murmurs came from the crowd.  Wind Whistler swallowed, hoping she had gotten through to them.           “You only faced a portion of the harpies when you attacked their stronghold,” Magic Star said.  “This time you will be facing all of them.”           “There’s also the male to contend with.”  North Star shivered.           “We’ll fight telepathy with telepathy.”  Wind Whistler looked to Ribbon.           Ribbon sat there for a second before responding.  “I don’t know.”  She scratched at the back of her head.  “He’s extremely powerful, but I guess I have the best chance against him.”           “The same team that attacked their stronghold as well as Ribbon will be our strike team,” Wind Whistler said.  “We need more volunteers if there are any.”           “I’ll come!” Fizzy announced.  A pink aura surrounded her horn which seemed to bubble and fizz.  Bubbles formed in the air around her and floated for a few seconds.  “I can send bubbles into their eyes or something.”           “I have sleep magic,” Moondancer offered.  “If they hold still long enough, I can put them out for a while.”           “Since flight is going to be less of a factor, earth ponies would also be viable in combat,” Wind Whistler said.  “Who are our best jumpers?”           Bow-Tie and Sundance raised their hooves.           “You should probably also take a nurse along,” Truly said.  “Besides, I want to see those harpies get what’s coming to them after trying to bake me.”           Fiery jumped to his feet.  “I’m coming too!”  He belched a blue fireball that quickly faded.  “I want to get those harpies back for what they did to our mother!”           Wind Whistler was not sure if a small dragon bent on revenge was the best choice for this mission, but she was not about to argue with him.           She looked to Shady instead.  “Shady, will you come?”           Shady pointed to herself.  “Me?  Why would you want me to come along?”           “Because your sunglasses’ powers could be of use in this situation,” Wind Whistler answered.  “Also, I believe you as a pony could be invaluable.”           “Well, okay.”  Shady slouched in her seat.  “I’ll do what I can.”           “Any other volunteers?” Magic Star asked.           The rest remained silent.  A few scratched at the back of their heads or cleared their throats.  However, they said nothing.           “Well, you have your team,” Magic Star said.  “When do you plan to head out?”           “We will go shortly before the harpies are going to arrive,” Wind Whistler answered.  “Twilight Mist has been able to track their progress.”           “Since the locket and girl have been brought together, she shows up on the map,” Twilight Mist explained.  “They’re making a beeline for the island even through the night, periodically sending out that rainbow thing.  I figure they’ll arrive sometime about twenty-one hundred tomorrow evening given their present speed and don’t stop to rest.”           “We’ll leave an hour before,” Wind Whistler said.  “That should give us enough time to find a hiding place to wait for them.”           “Well, then get some rest,” Magic Star said.  “I want everyone ready to go tomorrow evening.  You’re all dismissed.”           The ponies got up and went to leave.  Wind Whistler headed for the door, but Magic Star stopped her.  “This is a big gamble, Wind Whistler.  I wish you had told me more before we gave them the locket.”           “I wish I could have divulged more of the plan before that action as well.  However, I had to withhold so much information so Heart Throb would not be informed of our true intentions,” Wind Whistler said.  “Regardless, the die has been cast.” * * *           The elevator came to a stop and the door opened.  Wind Whistler stretched as she stepped out.  It took a while for her mind to settle enough to get to sleep, and it was surprisingly late by the time she awoke.  However, it was this evening that they needed to be concerned with.           She felt rested and refreshed, but still apprehensive.  Not only would the harpies be closed in, but so would they.  They had made it out of their various encounters by evading their arrows and talons.  Close quarters could make that strategy more difficult.  Even if grounded, the harpies still had reach.           She stepped up to Twilight Mist’s seat and looked to the map.  The dot representing the girl and the harpies was about midway across the main landmass of Boreas.  “They’ve been on the move all night?”           “Yes,” Twilight Mist answered.  “I’m actually surprised they’ve been able to stay in the air this long.”           “Their wings might restrict their tight maneuvers and climb,” Wind Whistler said, “but they are far superior to any pegasus with regards to gliding and long-term flight.  Fortunately, we have the Bifröst.”           “You have to wonder why they didn’t stop to rest overnight,” Twilight Mist said.  “What’s their hurry?”           Wind Whistler searched all the information she had absorbed about this.  She had all the pieces to the puzzle and had been assembling them to get the bigger picture.  However, that particular piece was evading her.  “Is there anything of note about today?”           “Galaxy said Luna Minor is new tonight,” Twilight Mist said.  “That’s all I can think of.”           The mention of a new moon led into the memory of what Daniel had said.  Megan was turning thirteen on the night Mani the Younger was new.  He must have been talking about the smaller moon which had been getting thinner and closer to the sun.  She also remembered what the message said.  Once a descendent entered her fourteenth year, which was a fancy way to saying they were turning thirteen, they could use the locket as a weapon.           Wind Whistler tapped the back of the chair.  “They need to get to the vault before sunset.  That’s when Megan turns thirteen and could use the locket against them.  That’s why they’re in such a rush.”           “How does that help us?” Twilight Mist asked.           “They’ll arrive at the vault around twenty-one hundred,” Wind Whistler explained.  “I doubt the sun would set much later than that.  If we can hold them at bay until then, Megan could use the locket’s abilities as a weapon and provide us another advantage.”           “Assuming they don’t kill her as soon as they reach it,” Twilight Mist said.           “I suspect there are measures they will need her alive to bring down,” Wind Whistler said.           “What do you plan to do with the harpies?” Twilight Mist asked.           “What do you mean?” Wind Whistler responded with a question of her own.           “Are you going to kill all of them?” Twilight Mist asked.  “We’re not in Equestria to turn them in to the authorities, and we don’t have the means to hold them prisoner.  You know even if we succeed here, they’ll be after us as long as they’re able.”           Wind Whistler stopped and thought.  She had not considered of that in all of this.  The harpies would likely not take a defeat gracefully.  They certainly would not see the error of the ways and reform.  They would need to be neutralized permanently if she and the other ponies were to live in peace in this world.           “That is an overpass we will have to transverse when we encounter it,” Wind Whistler said.           “Meaning you don’t know or don’t like the answer,” Twilight Mist said with a smirk.           “I’m not a killer,” Wind Whistler said.  “It’s kind of hard to conceptualize ending the life of another sapient being.  The mechanics of doing so are chillingly easily, but me entering the state of mind to actually go through it is more difficult to picture.”           “Well, you better get the idea by this evening,” Twilight Mist stated.  “Because once you walk through that portal—” she pointed to the tunnel “—only one side is walking out of there alive.”           Wind Whistler looked up to the monitor.  The dot representing the girl and therefore the harpies was following the line, slowly but definitely headed for its end.  She swallowed a lump forming in her throat as she thought of what lie ahead. * * *           Gusty knocked on Shady’s door.  She waited for a few seconds, enough time to wonder if she should have just left.  The door opened and Shady poked her head out.           “Hello, Shady,” Gusty said.  “Can we talk for a bit?”           “Um…I guess.”  Shady pulled her head in.  “You can come in.”           Gusty stepped into Shady’s room which was a carbon copy of all the other servants’ quarters.  There was nothing to personalize any of them, and the ponies were brought here with literally just what they were wearing and these mysterious ribbons for their tails.           “I wanted to say I’m sorry for yesterday,” Gusty said.  “I had no right going after you the way I did.”           Shady sat at the desk.  “Thanks.”           Gusty could see a bit of a tremble to her body.  “How are you holding up?” Gusty asked.           “About as fine as can be expected,” Shady said.  “I don’t know why Wind Whistler thinks I’ll be needed for this.  I’m not a really good jumper, and I’m not brave at all.”           “You’re brave enough to admit you’re afraid,” Gusty replied.  “That takes some real guts.”  She knew from personal experience.  Even though she knew admitting her fear of heights would probably help, she was too afraid to actually do it.           “I wish I was a pegasus so I could fly or a unicorn so I had some kind of magic for this,” Shady said.  “Earth ponies are supposed to have strength and stamina, but I’m pathetic at both.  I always came in last at sports, and no one wanted me on my team.”  She paused.  “Well, until now.”           “Maybe strength isn’t what’s needed,” Gusty said.  “We hit them with all we had, and they basically shrugged it off.  I guess we need to win this with smarts, and even though Wind Whistler seems to be in another world some of the time, I’ll always pick her in a battle of wits.  She thinks you can contribute something, so maybe you should just trust her.  I mean, she’s your friend, right?”           Shady sat there for a few seconds.  “She is.  I’m still scared out of mind by this.”           “For once, I can relate to that,” Gusty replied. * * *           Wind Whistler watched the vortex form in the tunnel.  North Star and Paradise flew out with Danny and Molly on their backs respectively.  Daniel and a woman stepped out of the vortex and walked down the ramp.           North Star and Paradise flew up and landed on the platform.  Danny and Molly had hold of their necks until their hooves touched the ground.  “That was the best thing ever,” Danny said as he dismounted.  “Though, you could use a saddle and bridle.”           “I can agree on that,” North Star said.  “Carrying a human is something I will have to get use to.”           Daniel and the woman walked up the stairs onto the platform.  The woman wore a pale tan coat made of an animal skin and fur that almost reached the ground.  The front was open, so her overalls and blouse were visible underneath.  Her red hair was tied into thick braids, and a hat with a wide brim sat on top of her head.           The woman looked to Wind Whistler and Twilight Mist and smiled.  “Hey there.”           “Hello,” Wind Whistler replied.           “I would like you to meet my older sister, Charlotte,” Daniel said.           “So, you’re the third pony who saved my little brother,” Charlotte said, holding out her hand.           “Yes,” Wind Whistler replied, allowing Charlotte to take her hoof and give it a firm shake, “I’m Wind Whistler.”           “I thought Daniel was pulling my leg about talking ponies and rainbow portals.”  Charlotte looked around.  “Needless to say I’m surprised it’s all true, but pleasantly so.”           She looked to the monitors.  “So, you’re planning to save my niece from those Epona-foresaken harpies?”           “Yes,” Wind Whistler answered.  “However, we won’t be making our move until this evening.”           Twilight Mist pointed to the dot on the map.  “The harpies and your niece are there.”           “Thank Epona she’s still alive,” Charlotte exhaled.           “They need her for the moment,” Twilight Mist said.  “Did those two tell you what we learned?”           “Yup,” Charlotte answered.  She nudged Daniel.  “Married a secret princess.  You certainly know how to pick ‘em, Little Brother.”           “I can assure you it never came up,” Daniel said.           They boarded the elevator, and Charlotte flinched when it began to rise.  “This is a new experience.”           “Aside from being Mr. William’s older sister,” Paradise said, “tell us a bit about yourself.  You’re the only one we saw wearing a coat like that.”           “That’s because I’m my band’s Puma,” Charlotte said.  “I’m the leader”—she held up the side of her coat—“and this coat is proof of it.  It’s even where the name of the title comes from since this is puma hide.”           “As in a mountain lion?” North Star asked.           Charlotte nodded.  “Nasty critters.  They wait in the edge of woods near herds until a wayward foal gets too far from the others and too close to the woods.  Then—” she clapped hands loudly, startling Wind Whistler and the others.  “It’s considered a rite of passage to bring one of those things down and save a foal.  We skin it and make a coat from it for the leader.”           She nudged Daniel again.  “You don’t have to worry about that since you settled into Borean life and have a nice fence to keep your herd in.”           “I’m not even sure if I have home or herd anymore,” Daniel said.  His expression sank into a frown along with Danny and Molly’s.           “Sorry about that,” Charlotte said.  “We’ll help you rebuild what those overgrown feather dusters took from you.”           “I know, Sis,” Daniel said in a quiet voice.           The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open.  They stepped out into the hall and Charlotte once again took in her surroundings.  “I have never seen the like.  I’ve been invited to the castle of our fjord earl when he needs new horses for his cavalry, but their fortresses don’t hold a candle to this.”           She looked at a sconce.  “Or solei quartz as the case maybe.  There must be a very rich diamond dog out there to light this place.”           Paradise hopped ahead of them.  “I can take you to our library.”           “That’s very kind,” Charlotte replied as she followed her.  “I may not look it, but I’m a bit of a bookworm.  There’s a lot of time to read when you’re watching over your herd.  The first thing I do when I roll into town is check the local library and bookstore.  You can tell a lot about a people from the stories they tell.”           “I wholeheartedly agree,” Paradise said.           Wind Whistler turned away from the group and headed towards the dining hall. * * *           Dinner was light after more generous meals earlier in the day.  They needed to be light on their hooves and wings for confronting the harpies.  There was not a cookie to be found, just grass dried to a crunch and some fruit.           Fizzy swallowed.  “Are you ready for this?”           Wind Whistler chewed her grass a couple times before swallowing and looking up at Fizzy.  She remembered she was a few years younger than her, arguably still a filly.  Yet, she would be facing the harpies with them.  Wind Whistler remembered what Twilight Mist had said.  They would have to kill these harpies, and—as hard as it was for her to imagine taking a life—Wind Whistler could not see Fizzy killing anyone.           “As ready as I’ll ever be,” Wind Whistler said.           Fizzy smiled lifted her glass and fork with her magic.  She tapped the fork to the side of her glass, and the room fell silent as all attention came on her.           “I propose a toast,” Fizzy said.  “To whatever brought us here.”           The room was dead silent.  Wind Whistler felt her skin prickle as she tried to imagine what was going through the minds of the others.           Bow-Tie picked up her glass and held it up.  “I second that sentiment.”           She looked to the crowd.  “Except, I’d call it what brought us together.  When we first appeared here four days ago, we were all strangers from all over Equestria.  We came from Los Pegasus to Fillydelphia and from Mareami to the Crystal Empire.  We were scared and confused.  Ice falling out of the sky terrified us within an hour of showing up here.           “However, we’ve shown the real power of ponykind.  It’s not unicorn magic or pegasus flight or earth pony strength.  It’s not even superweapons like the Elements of Harmony or Starswirl the Bearded’s spells.  It’s our ability to form communities.  Even a bunch of strangers seemingly marooned in an alien world can band together and make a whole greater than the sum of its parts.           “I mean, look at us.  We’re about to take on the biggest bully on the block for a second round.”  She smirked.  “And hopefully come out ahead this time.”           Some low chuckles came from the crowd.           “I think that’s something we’ve forgotten during the current Pax Equestria,” Bow-Tie continued.  “The communities have already been formed.  It’s good to see we haven’t lost that.           “Also, we seem to compartmentalize ourselves.  Which has been rather bad for a lot of us here.”  That statement got a few nods, including from Wind Whistler.  “We’re some of the few who don’t neatly fit into the pigeonhole we’re supposed to go in.           “I remember back in school when my teacher gave us the lessons on symbols, or ‘cutie marks’ as the traditionalist old nag insisted on calling them, and special talents.  We treat our special talents like the be all and end all of our existence.  We have to get jobs related to them.           “Yet, we are more than that one talent and an emblem..  It might be what makes us unique, but it is not all of what we are.  Here, removed from the centuries of tradition and the way of doing things because it’s how we’ve always done them, maybe we can rediscover not just what it means to build a community, but be an individual as well.”           Bow-Tie pointed to herself.  “Take me.  My special talent is related to ribbons and accessories.  However, do you think I’m going after those harpies because I want to tie bows in their hair?  No!  I intend to kick their sorry butts.”  She jumped onto the table.  “Who’s with me?!”           The other ponies and dragon going lifted their glasses and gave a cheer.           “That’s what I thought.”  Bow-Tie hopped and held up her glass again.  “So, to whatever brought us and together.  And to the harpies making a very satisfying thud when they come crashing back to earth.”           “Cheers,” everyone said and drank from their glasses.           Fizzy set down her glass.  “I almost don’t want to go back to the Crystal Empire.  Because then I’d never see you again, Wind Whistler.”           “I suppose we could find each other if we ever manage to return,” Wind Whistler replied.  “We could arrange reunions.”  She pictured them signing up for reservations as the ‘Ponies Who Mysteriously Appeared in Another World Reunion’.           “It would just not be the same,” Fizzy said.  “Here, we can be together.”           Wind Whistler contemplated that.  Fizzy was becoming the closest friend she ever had.  It would be a shame for them to be separated.           An electronic chime sounded.  Wind Whistler looked to the clock showing it was getting close to eight.           “Attention ponies, dragons, and humans,” Twilight Mist’s voice came from the speakers.  “The balloon’s going up.  Everyone headed to the Great White North report to the Bifröst Chamber on the double.”           “We have more important things to worry about at the moment,” Wind Whistler said. * * *           Wind Whistler had gotten use to the pack slung across her back.  Skyflier and Sundance were also being fitted with them this time to make sure someone had a working radio when things got harry.  She had tried to picture how bipeds would wear these things and figured they went around their waists.           Truly also had bulging bags of first aid supplies tied around her.  While Wind Whistler understood intention and desire, she wondered if it was practical.  If a harpy managed to land the blow, it would almost certain by fatal.           Wind Whistler looked at the map.  The harpies were getting close but still well removed from the island.  “I guess this is it,” Wind Whistler said, steeling herself for the task ahead.           “It looks that way,” Twilight Mist said.           “Oh, with multiple radios, the knob on your pack changes the channel to different receivers.”  She pointed to the black knob next to the power switch.           Wind Whistler worked her pastern around it and managed to make it turn until it clicked and then back.           “I noticed Magic Star isn’t down here,” Wind Whistler said, looking at the few ponies who came to see them off.  The Williams’ and Charlotte had come to welcome Megan immediately with all went well; but Heart Throb, Paradise, Glory, and Lickety-Split, and Seashell were the only ponies not going here besides Twilight Mist.           “She said it must have been bad luck for her to see you off last time,” Twilight Mist replied.  She coughed a laugh.  “Like her presence here had any bearing on what happened four hundred kilometers away.”           “So says the pony who preaches the power of wishes,” Wind Whistler replied with a grin.           Twilight Mist shot Wind Whistler a glare so sharp she could almost feel it pierce her skin.  “Just get down there!” she snapped.           Wind Whistler glided down to the others.  The rings lit up the vortex formed and filled the tunnel.           “No catch phrase this time?” Skyflier asked Gusty.           Gusty furrowed her brow.  “Uh…let’s hit the beach!”           Skyflier shrugged.  “Works for me.”           They ran through the vortex and emerged onto a rocky beach.  The air was noticeably cooler with a heavy scent of salt to it.  Waves capped by white foam rolled in rhythmically, crashing against the rocks and retreating back.  Another rocky island sat on the other side of a narrow channel to the west of them.           “Hey!”  Surprise pointed to the south.  “Look at the rings!”           The rings were in the southern sky, but much lower.  They also appeared to be not as wide while more opaque.           “What happened to them?” Surprise asked.           “Nothing,” Wind Whistler answered.  “We are at a significantly higher latitude on a spherical body, so our perspective of them has changed.”           “Oh,” Surprise said.           “Is that why the sun is still so high in the sky?”  North Star pointed to the northwest.           The sun was still low, but it was just about to set at Dream Castle.  Wind Whistler figured it would take another eighty minutes or so for the sun to set here.  She thought of some things Galaxy had been talking about.  One of them is the axis of the rotation and the noontime position of the sun did not form a right angle, rather an acute one.  “I think it’s because this world is a sphere spinning on an axis of rotation titled relative to its sun so this hemisphere facing the sun more directly at this point in its orbit.  At this higher latitude, the shadow of the sphere covers less of a given parallel.  Come autumn and winter, the opposite will be true as higher latitudes will have less daylight than the lower ones.”           “Enough astronomy lessons!” Gusty snapped.  She stopped her, and relaxed her expression.  “Where’s this vault, Wind Whistler?”           A flash came low on the southern horizon.  A beam shot forward and hit the face of the island on the other side of the channel.           “What was that?” Skyflier asked.           “That was the rainbow from the locket,” Wind Whistler said.  “It’s pointing to the vault”—she smacked her hoof on her forehead—“on the other island.”           She tapped the button on her microphone.  “Twilight Mist, come in.” “Twilight Mist here,” Twilight Mist’s voice came into her earpieces.           “We’ve run into a slight conundrum here,” Wind Whistler said.  “We’re on the wrong island.  The beam is striking the one immediately west of us.” “I’ve already told you, the farther we go out, the less accurate the destination,” Twilight Mist replied sternly.  “Just feel lucky you came out on dry land.”           There was a bit of a pause and groan.  “You’re so far out the whole island we want is between minutes of arc,” Twilight Mist said.  “Besides, it would take too long to bring you back and send you again anyway.”           “We’ll think of something,” Wind Whistler said.  “Wind Whistler out.”           “What do we do?” Lofty asked.  “The pegasi can fly across, but what about the others?”           “Yeah,” Fizzy said.  “It’s too far to wink to.”           “I can make us light enough to carry,” Skyflier suggested.           Firefly looked at the waves warily.  “Why did it have to be water?”           “I’m with you,” Fiery said, a slight quiver to his voice.  “Dragons and water don’t mix.”           “Shoo be doo, shoop, shoop be doo,” several voices sang in perfect harmony.           Six pony heads popped out of the water, rising to show the seahorse-like bodies they were attached to.           “Sea ponies?” North Star asked.           “That’s right,” the blue sea pony with a yellow ribbon tied in her purple mane answered.  “So, land ponies were brought here too.  Equestrians?”           “Yes,” Wind Whistler answered.  “Are you Northern Ocean sea ponies?”           The sea ponies had thick manes or hair, a sign of them coming from the colder northern oceans along with their dense coats of hair, and thicker bodies and smaller fins than the aquatic forms the hippogriffs assumed.  Also, their signature singing of ‘Shoo be doo, shoop, shoop be doo’ was how Northern Ocean sea ponies said hello and goodbye.           “That we are,” the blue sea pony said.  “I’m Sea Winkle.”           “Wavedancer,” the pink sea pony with a light pink ribbon in her blue mane said.           “Sealight.”  The sea pony with a purple coat and pink mane decorated with a yellow ribbon followed.           “Sand Dollar.”  The sea pony with a pink coat and vibrant yellow mane held by a dark pink ribbon.           “Whitecap,” the white sea pony with a white ribbon in her dark purple mane streak with bright blue said.           “And I’m Sea Mist,” the other white sea pony finished their introductions.  She had a red mane streaked with light pink and held by a pink ribbon.           “Well, I’m Wind Whistler,” Wind Whistler said.  She looked back at the other eighteen ponies and juvenile dragon.  “Perhaps we can save the full introductions for later.”           “So, you want to get to the other island?” Sea Winkle asked.  “We can help you with that.”           “You can?” Firefly asked.           “Sure.”  Whitecap disappeared into the water along with the others.  After several seconds, three giant clam shells popped up onto the surface followed by the sea ponies holding sea weed tied around them.           “Hop aboard,” Sealight said.           They pushed the clam shells on to the shore to allow the earth ponies and unicorns and step on board.  They pulled on the seaweed and dragged the shells back into the water and across the waves.           Wind Whistler flew low close to Sea Winkle.  “What happened?  How did you end up here?”           “We’re not entirely sure,” Sea Winkle answered.  “We just woke up in a strange ocean.  When we breached, we saw the rings and the two moons.  It was definitely a shock.”           “It was to us as well,” Wind Whistler replied.  “What are the oceans of this world like?”           “We’ve only really been in this channel,” Sealight said.  “We’re not sure if we want to go into the open ocean.”           “Though, it’s cold even for our tastes,” Sea Winkle said.  “We could stand to be at little further south.  Where did you appear?”           “We appeared in a fjord on the south shore of this landmass,” Wind Whistler answered.  “I would welcome you to our home, even though the surface of our inlet is brackish at best.”           “That’s no problem for Northern Ocean sea ponies,” Sea Winkle said with a smirk.  “Salt water, fresh water, brackish water—we can live in it all just fine.  My older sister made her home in a lake near the Crystal Empire.”           “If you came from the south, how did you end up on that island?” Sealight asked.           “It’s rather complicated,” Wind Whistler replied, realizing that was the understatement of the century.  “We used a device that lets us travel great distances, but it put us on the wrong island.”           “Then I guess it’s a good thing we’ve been hanging out in this channel since we got here,” Sea Winkle said.           “You wouldn’t know what that beam that keeps coming from the south is, would you?” Sand Dollar asked.           “That would be the harpies,” Gusty answered.  “We came here to set a trap for them.”           Sand Dollar swallowed.  “Why’s that?”           “They’ve kidnapped a local and are looking for a component of the device we used to reach here,” Wind Whistler explained.  “We have had several encounters with them since we arrived here.”           “What happened?” Sand Dollar asked, her voice wavering.           “We’ve survived by tricks and blind luck,” Lofty said plainly before Wind Whistler could say anything.           The sea ponies looked back to them.  “And you’re going after them on purpose?” Sealight asked.           “They’re extremely powerful creatures,” Wind Whistler said.  “However, we believe that island will provide an environment in which we will have the advantage.”           “Well, good luck,” Sea Winkle said.           They reached the shore, and the pegasi helped the sea ponies push the shells onto the shore for the others to hop off.  The island was much like the other with a rocky beach surrounding a rock in the center.           “All right, Wind Whistler,” Gusty said, “where’s this vault.”           “No doubt its entrance has been concealed,” Wind Whistler said.  “When the harpies arrive, they will use the locket to find it and unlock it.”           A clacking sounding echoed off the rock.  Surprise wiggled her ears and flew around a large rock.  Wind Whistler followed her, listening intently to the sound.  As they circled the rock, a large humanoid came into view driving a pickaxe into the ground.  As they got closer, Wind Whistler could see just how large it was with sharp, boxy features.  It wore a black curiass and greaves over its body which looked like it was made of red clay.  A helmet with a guard over the nose covered most of its head.           The creature continued to drive the pickaxe into the ground and pulling out stones from the hole it was gouging.  Wind Whistler landed alongside Surprise.  Apparently, their touching down somehow alerted the creature to their presence.  It stopped immediately and turned to look at them.  Its eyes were completely blank, even more so than those of the horses they met.  There was some sense of alertness in the horses’ eyes to their world around them in though they were not as attentive to detail as the eyes of a sapient.  However, this creature had eyes that gave absolutely no sense of focus.           It held up its pickaxe and walked towards them.  Although its posture seemed neutral, Wind Whistler felt threatened by its approach.  It was much taller than a human man with thicker features.  She backed up as it drew near.           “Leave them alone, Emmett,” a voice said gently.           The creature stopped and lowered its arms.  It turned back to an outcropping.           A small man walked out into the open with a pickaxe resting on his shoulder.  He was much shorter than Daniel, perhaps even shorter than Danny.  The trunk of his torso was wide for his height, but he was not ball-shaped like Wantall.  He had a thick, light gray beard and massive mustache.  His clothing was varying shades of green and brown, a wide belt separating his shirt and pants under a long coat and his pointed ears sticking out of his green hat.           “Please forgive Emmett here,” the man said.  “I told him to defend our claim, and he obeys—sometimes a little too well.”  He lowered his brow and pointed at them.  “You better not be claim jumpers!”           “What’s going on, you two!” Truly called out as she and the others came running.           “You really better not be claim jumpers,” the man added, though not as forcefully.           “We’re fine,” Wind Whistler said as the others surrounded them.  “We just met these two.”           “And who might you be?” Truly asked.           The man took off his hat, revealing he had normal human ears on the sides of his balding head and the pointed ears were sewn onto his hat.  “The name is Terrannce, but most knew me as the Magnificent Moochic in my prime.”  He replaced his hat on his head, straightening it so the ears were even.  “Though, you can call me Mr. Moochic.  Most everyone calls me that nowadays.”           Firefly pointed up the large creature.  “What is that?”           The Moochic looked up at it.  “This is Emmett, my golem.  He is my manservant, body guard, and traveling companion.”           Surprise took to the air and flew around him.  “He’s certainly weird-looking.”           Emmet suddenly grabbed her by the neck and slid his eyes to the side in her general direction.           “And has a really good grip,” Surprise choked.           “Let her go, Emmett,” the Moochic instructed.           Emmet opened his hand and Surprise dropped to the ground.           “What kind of life form is a golem?” Wind Whistler asked.           “Life form?”  The Moochic chuckled.  “He’s not alive like you and me.  He’s a body of clay I animated with an incantation.”           He pointed at Wind Whistler.  “A better question is what matter of creature are you, and what are you doing on this island?”           “That’s actually two questions,” Wind Whistler said.  “However, we are ponies, and we’ve come to this island seeking a hidden vault.”           “So, you not here to take my claim?” the Moochic asked.  He stroked his beard.  “Though, if there is a vault here, I should have gotten the salvage rights as well as the mineral rights.”           “What are you digging for?” Lofty asked, looking in the hole Emmett had been digging.  “Silver and gold?”           “Silver and gold?” the Moochic asked in a huff.  “Please.  I’m not some money-grubbing digger.”           “Then what minerals are mining for?” Wind Whistler asked.           “Manganese,” the Moochic answered.  “I’m an earth mage, and manganese has many scientific and magical properties important to my work.”           “Found any?” Firefly asked.           The Moochic set down his pickaxe on its head and rested his elbow on the butt of the handle.  “No, sadly.”  He heaved a sigh.  “I guess old Mr. Moochic really is washed up.”  He kicked a stone.  “Wouldn’t surprise me if the island didn’t have a speck of it.” “Wind Whistler, come in,” Twilight Mist’s voice into Wind Whistler’s earpiece.           Wind Whistler pressed the button on her microphone.  “Wind Whistler here.” “I see you reached the other island,” Twilight Mist said.           “We met some sea ponies,” Wind Whistler replied. “Well, the harpies are less than thirty kilometers from you,” Twilight Mist said.  “If you haven’t found cover, you should do it now before they get over the horizon.”           “We’ll head for cover now,” Wind Whistler said.           “Cover from what?” the Moochic asked.           “Harpies are coming,” Wind Whistler answered.  “We were expecting them.”           “Harpies?!” the Moochic blurted.  “Oh dear, I hope you know what kind of fire you’re playing with.”           “You wouldn’t happen to know where we could hide, would you?” Lofty asked.           “Actually, have you noticed the beams striking this island?” Wind Whistler asked.           “I certainly have?” the Moochic answered.  “Are the harpies behind them?”           “Yes,” Wind Whistler said.           The Moochic pointed to the face of the rock behind them.  “It’s always hitting there.”           “Is their anywhere we could hide near it?” Wind Whistler asked.           The Moochic looked to the west where the sun was getting lower along with Luna Minor only unseen.  He then looked to the east where the almost full Luna Major was just coming above the horizon.  “We’re close to the maximum ebb of a super spring tide, so a sea cave nearby might be exposed.”           “Take us to it, quickly,” Wind Whistler said.           The Moochic was surprisingly fast given his small body and apparent age.  He navigated the uneven and loose rocks even more adeptly than Wind Whistler could.  They reached the beach where the sea ponies were bobbing in the water.           “What’s going on?” Sealight asked.           “The harpies are almost here,” Wind Whistler answered.  “We’re going to take cover and wait for them.”           “We’ll hide underwater,” Sea Winkle said.           “Good idea,” Lofty said.           “What about their telepath?” Ribbon asked.  “If he picks on their minds, our cover will be blown.  We should take them with us so I can hide their minds.”           “Good point,” Wind Whistler replied.           The unicorns levitated the sea ponies out of the water and onto their backs.  The Moochic led them to a cave right at the water.  They entered the cave and retreated deep inside.           Wind Whistler motioned to Shady to join her behind a rock and peeked out from behind it.  A beam came from the south and streaked overhead.  “Use your glasses to watch for the harpies.”           Shady dropped her glasses over her eyes.  She squinted and looked to the south.  “I don’t see them.  They must still be behind the horizon.”           Wind Whistler felt something cold around her hooves.  She looked down and saw water lapping into the cave.  She looked at the walls of the cave which were encrusted with barnacles, suggesting water filled the cave on a regular basis.           Truly picked up her hoof as the water approached.  “Why’s water coming in?”           “The tide has started to flow again,” the Moochic said.  “Mani the Elder is going to set and the water will flood much of the island by midnight.”           He picked up four rocks, holding the largest in one hand and arranged the three smaller ones with the largest among them in the center in the other so they formed a line with the largest.  “Mani the Younger is new and Mani the Elder is just about full.  Together with the sun”—he bobbed his hand holding the largest rock—“They’re all pulling along the same line, adding their influence on the ocean together make it rise and fall to its extremes.”           “We’ve noticed the tides have been getting more extreme each day,” Sand Dollar said.  “We didn’t realize why until now.”           The Moochic looked down at the water which was already a few centimeters deep.  “Hopefully the harpies will come soon, because this cave can fill up real quick now that tide is flowing.”  He stopped and thought.  “What am I saying?  I want harpies to get here quickly?”           Firefly hovered above the water and Fiery jumped onto her back.  “This trip just keeps getting better and better,” Firefly grumbled.           Wind Whistler turned back to Shady.  “See anything?”           “No, not—” Shady said but stopped.  “Wait, I see them!  They’re just coming over the horizon!” * * *           Alecta ground her teeth as she heard Frona yawn.  She was tired as well after being on the wing for an entire day and not sleeping in almost two days.  However, she was not about to let fatigue deny her the prize before her.  They could sleep once the Bifröst was secure.  The sun was already getting low in the sky, lower than she had planned.  They needed to find it quickly and unlock it quickly so they could get rid of the girl before the sun was gone.           They were also running out of land.  They had crossed over the coast to the ocean, and two islands were rising above the horizon in front of her.  “Gergo, send out the key again.”           “We just sent it out,” Frona said.           “Just do it!” Alecta snapped.           Gergo took hold of the girl’s hand and placed the locket in it.  The rainbow shot out and hit the island to the west.  Alecta concentrated to make sure it was actually hitting the giant rock jutting out of the sea.  Yes, it was hitting the island.           Alecta smirked.  “Finally.”  She turned back to the others with bags and dark circles under their bloodshot eyes.  “Head for the west island quickly.”  She faced forward at the seemingly unassuming rock.  “The Bifröst is within my grasp.”