//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10. Strange assistance. 
// Story: In old Manehattan 
// by Askre 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 10

Applejack didn’t even bother with the subway - she kept on running towards Hoofington. As she listened to Paper, things had just started to click in her mind. It was quite obvious to her now what was going on and as much as she disliked Barricade, the apple farmer wasn’t about to let a child be endangered if she could help it.

Adding together what the Crusaders had witnessed, then when meeting Snow Heart and Tango again and confirming that Caballeron was in fact in Manehattan, it was quite obvious now that the amoral archeologist was going to use Barricade’s daughter against him.

And if Barricade is really turning around, based on what Paper told me, then that is not what he needs in his life right now, Applejack thought. She recalled how helpful Barricade had been. No question at all - he had helped her and Sunflower find the Crusaders. There was no sign of the jerk she had met a long time ago in Ponyville. It definitely supported what Paper Scribbler had told them.

She finally arrived at the first Hoofington street, sighing when seeing it was Junction. That meant she still had some ways to go. She also remembered what she had been told about this particular area. It was best not to dawdle here for too long.

There were no ponies around and the sun was starting to set, but Applejack wasn’t worried. Considering the kind of ponies she had dealt with in the past, a few low-life criminals were the least of her worries. As she continued onwards, the mare couldn’t shake of the feeling that she was being watched.

Suddenly a huge pegasus landed in front of her. Applejack gasped when seeing the brown pony with the silver-colored mane and hooves. His eyes were glowing green.

Heavens to Betsy, it’s Silver Axe! Applejack cringed when remembering the mute stallion her brother had fought to a standstill back in Ponyville during the foalnapping incident.

“What are you doin’ here?” she asked, preparing for anything. She knew this particular pony was much stronger than her, considering even Big Mac had barely beaten him in a fight. There was also the fact that he was mad. This was a serial killer with many murders on his hooves. And what’s up with your eyes?

Applejack hoofed her face as the mare realized she had just asked a mute pony for an explanation. And unfortunately there was nothing around to write with and she didn’t understand hoof signals.

“Barricade is not at his home. He is in Lane right now, seeking Trail. He suspects treachery. He is not wrong.”

The mare blinked when hearing the unearthly voice coming from Silver Axe. His mouth wasn’t moving, yet the voice had come from him. It was like someone was speaking through him.

“What, now wait just a minute. You...speak?” Applejack couldn’t believe her ears. She jumped a little when the pegasus stomped a hoof down.

“There is no time for idle prattle. Caballeron has murder on his mind. He will force Barricade to cooperate no matter the cost.”

Once again the voice spoke even though there were no mouth movements from Silver Axe. Before Applejack could say anything further, the large pegasus spread his wings and flew off. In few swift wingbeats he had disappeared above the tall buildings around the mare.

Okay that just happened. Applejack wondered for a moment if she should run to the police with the news about Silver Axe. However, it seemed clear that the pegasus or whoever was speaking through him was warning her and even told her where Barricade was.

“I’ll find Barricade, then I’ll worry about Silver Axe,” she figured and started off again, hoping against hope she wasn’t making a mistake.





Barricade sighed, wondering if he should just give up. He and the members of his gang had been scouring through Hoofington in search of Trail, but had so far come away with nothing. Barbell and Blue were with him and occasionally a gang member would come to report in before being sent to another location to search.

His mind wasn’t really on the search either. It was on his past. Everything he had been doing up to this point, when he worked for Caballeron, stealing artifacts for him from his own parents, losing count how many times his brother Private and his friends had stopped him.

Then I moved here, hoping to set up my own little thing, getting a gang going and… ugh it all just seems so pointless, he thought. Considering the threats Equestria has faced, Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis… what does it amount to to being just another thug they would just crush under their hooves if they had managed to take over?

He was right. I’m pathetic, a dreamer trying to be big. When compared to him and the others, I’m barely even a footnote in the history books. Barricade looked over at Barbell, remembering all the mares he had been with during this period.

Cara’s mom, Fuzzy Cloud, Junebug, Lyra back when I was in that military school, Foxy… sweet Celestia, Foxy… I swear I still can’t stop thinking about you… Derpy… Tartarus I treated you bad, just used you to get over my anger for being driven away from Foxy and then dumped you the moment you gave birth. I don’t deserve to have Barbell and Goldie now - how are they putting up with me? The stallion sighed. Barbell noticed and looked at him.

“Everything alright?” she asked, noting that Barricade looked almost remorseful.

“I… just thinking,” the unicorn muttered and looked away. “I don’t think we’ll be finding Trail. If the stupid snot is smart enough, he’s staying far away from Hoofington right now.”

Barbell raised her brow, but said nothing. She was pretty sure that was not what Barricade was thinking. However, she didn’t get a chance to inquire about it as something large landed in front of them. The three ponies blinked when seeing the huge brown pegasus blocking their path.

“Hey, that’s the pegasus Rain Storm and I saw the other day,” Barricade remarked. “Who are you and what do you want?”

“You are looking for Trail,” a dark voice came from the pegasus even if the mouth didn’t move. “He’s nearer than you think, moving into position for a trap for you, set up by Caballeron. Turn at the next street and you will find him.”

Before Barbell or Blue could really say anything more, the pegasus spread his wings and flew off into the darkness. The siblings looked at each other then looked at Barricade who was frozen solid, eyes wide open.

“Barricade?” the earth mare stepped up to her bedmate and put a hoof on his back. “Barricade, are you okay?”

“T-that… t-that voice…” Barricade whispered. Now his mind was on frozen peaks, a cruel, dark voice echoing through them. He saw green and red glowing eyes leering over him, under them a cruel smile on a dark gray muzzle.

“Boss?” Blue came closer as well. Barricade was shaking. The big earth pony looked at his sister who was just as lost as to what was wrong with the unicorn.

“BARRICADE!” Barbell finally decided to shout right into his ear. That seemed to snap him out of his shock. Barricade jumped a bit and looked at the mare, looking more like he had just woken up from a dream.

“Boss, that pegasus said Trail is right around the corner,” Blue informed him, Barricade snapped his head towards him with a scowl.

“Then let’s go get him!” the unicorn growled and ran off, forcing the earth pony siblings to gallop after him.

They hadn’t gone too far when seeing the teenage colt in question, heading right in their direction in a mad dash. Barricade sneered and as they got closer, he activated his magic and snatched up the boy, slamming him against a nearby wall.

“What? But you were behind me!” Trail shouted. He had looked utterly terrified, but now looked really confused.

“I don’t know what in Tartarus you’re yapping about, but now that I have you, you are going to tell me what Caballeron is up to,” Barricade snarled as he, Blue and Barbell walked closer to the colt.

Trail clamped his mouth shut. The colt had shaken his confusion away since that wasn’t really important right now. Barricade had him pinned and the colt knew all too well how the unicorn dealt with those he didn’t like.

“The pegasus said something about a trap,” Barbell mentioned. The three adults immediately noticed Trail’s eyes open wide in surprise.

Barricade snarled and got right into the colt’s face, the teenager trembled a bit at the glare and was picturing a long hospital stay in his very near future.

“What trap?” Barricade asked in dangerous tone of voice. “What is Caballeron planning?”

If I tell, Caballeron will kill me. Need to waste their time while he gets Cara, Trail thought and summoned just enough willpower to attempt to return the glare. It paled in comparison to the stallion pinning him with magic.

“You better watch out, Barricade, your time is over, there is a bigger player around now and he has a surprise in store for you,” Trail said, trying to sound mocking, but it came out more like a frightened squeak.

Trail blinked when Barricade started laughing, even Barbell and Blue looked at the unicorn unsure. It wasn’t a mocking laughter, it was a mad one. Barricade even took a step back as he continued to laugh like a hyena.

“Uh, Barricade?” Barbell was about to place a hoof on his back, when Barricade suddenly stopped laughing, slammed Trail a second time against the wall and was now looking at him with a strange, mad glint in his eyes.

“You think Caballeron is a big player? You honestly think he is anything? You think he can do anything worth anything?!” Barricade shouted, his eyes open wide and the pony looking like he had gone insane.

“You know what’s out there, Trail? You know what lies and waits for our precious Princesses to drop their guards? You know nothing! We are nothing! We are two-bit thieves and thugs, merrily going on about our lives, knowing NOTHING about the nightmares that lie outside this city,” the unicorn continued to roar at the bewildered colt.

“There are things out there that eat guys like Caballeron for breakfast and the rest for dessert! Everything we do, everything we make, it’s nothing for those things! They can tear apart your mind simply by looking into your eyes. They will strip you apart and lay your fears bare with powers that are beyond our feeble minds!” Barricade was livid, shaking Trail in his magic as he ranted.

“They will possess your loved ones and use their bodies to kick you around. They can tear into your head and turn you into an automated servant that will attack anything, even those who are coming to your aid. They can drain the life and sanity from a bar full of ponies. Death means nothing to them. They have power to come back again and again and make your life a living nightmare until you reach a point where you can’t even look at a shadow without trembling in fear!” Barricade threw Trail away, sending the colt flying across the street. The unicorn was starting to cry, tears just streamed uncontrollably down his cheeks.

“He made me helpless. I couldn’t help my brother. He was torturing him, tormenting him and I could do NOTHING!” Barricade crumbled down to the ground, where he continued to cry.

Trail groaned and tried to roll back to his hooves, but something stopped him. He looked up weakly and saw an orange pony wearing a Stetson. She gave him a sign to stay put, before looking over where Barbell and Blue were now standing over Barricade.

“Is he alright?” Applejack asked the two earth ponies.

“I honestly don’t know,” Barbell could only say as she stroke Barricade’s back, the unicorn had stopped ranting but was now sobbing into his forelegs.

Ah really need to ask Twilight for more details about that Crystal Empire incident she told us about, the farm-pony thought.

“Uh wait, what are you doing here?” Blue then finally realized who had just arrived. Both he and Barbell looked at Applejack questionably.





Tango glanced to his side when he noticed Snow Heart come waddling into the kitchen, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

“That girl takes after her father,” the stallion chuckled and turned to put cups on the table.

Snow Heart made no comment, just snorted as she sat down. Cara had been left in the living room where she had been stewing ever since her father had brought her to the apartment. The mare had been attempting a conversation, but judging from Snow’s expression, it hadn’t gone too well.

“I’m starting to wonder if Barricade is punishing us for something,” Snow finally spoke as she struggled to lift a cup of tea with her magic.

“Just keep an eye on the price. One month without rent, you would almost think things are looking up for us,” Tango said and got seated by the table. Even Snow Heart couldn’t but chuckle at the weak joke.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to send Parasol a telegram. I think it’s time I stopped wallowing in self-pity,” the mare said.

Tango arched his brow. He hadn’t even expected to hear this. Before he could even comment on it, Snow Heart looked up at him. The fire was back in her heart.

“As I was telling you before Barricade dropped her daughter here. I almost ignored a hint that I might have a slim chance of connecting again with my old friends in Ponyville. I’m going to take the chance. Even after all this time, Scootaloo still referred to me as her mother’s friend.” She said and looked down at her belly. “If worse come to worse, I can at least say a proper goodbye.”

Tango nodded, then he glanced towards the entrance of the kitchen. There was still no sign of Cara leaving the living room. He rose up and started towards the door, glancing back at Snow Heart.

“I’m going to check if Cara wants something, I mean we can’t be starving our landlord’s daughter, now can we?” he chuckled before leaving the kitchen.

“Good luck,” Snow Heart called after him, recalling already the stubborn silence she had been met with.

The stallion made his way to the living room, half expecting a teenage pegasus filly to be on the couch, he was already opening his mouth to ask her when his eyes were greeted with nothing. Tango frowned and looked around but saw not a single feather.

Wondering if Cara had gone to the bathroom, Tango went there intending to knock on the door to see if she was inside. But the door to the bathroom was wide open with no sign of anyone having been there recently.

Tango hurried to the kitchen, but a dreadful thought was already entering his mind. There was no way for Cara to get to the bathroom without passing the kitchen, and she couldn’t have gone from the living room to there without passing him first.

Oh no, Tango cringed when seeing that as he suspected, only Snow Heart was in the kitchen. The mare’s brow rose when seeing his expression.

“Something wrong?” she asked.

“Cara is gone,” Tango whispered, already picturing Barricade bashing his head up against a wall for losing his daughter.

End chapter 10