The Ironridge that greeted Starlight's vision looked not a lot different from the one she had left behind... yet, there were differences. While the eastern valley was still a blasted moonscape of gouged bedrock, the water level to the north had fallen considerably, revealing much of the flooded remains of Sosa. Many buildings were gone, leaving foundations or less still hidden beneath the water, but as they looked further to the west more and more monuments stood. Shells of buildings, everything but their walls stripped away, some with roofs sagging inward or missing entirely due to crumbled supports. The dam was still a blown-out ruin, and a trickle of water still flowed from the remains of the reservoir.
Theirs was the only airship to grace the skies, as a contrast to the city's usually-buzzing trade lines. A lonely breeze swept through the air as they climbed high enough to see the Sky District, Skyfreeze still standing proud and needlelike next to the cracked dome of the skyport's main atrium. The snow hadn't returned in force above the mountain line, and Starlight could see several ships moored there on the rocks, likely inbound vessels that could no longer refuel to leave.
Amber and Willow saw them too. "Do you think that's where we're going to land?"
Gerardo nodded, gazing over the edge as the Earth District started to come into view. "I imagine we'll have to. The Earth District is protected by a barrier of wind that airships can't safely fly through, and while our present vessel has displayed weather-resistant qualities before, I'm quite sure Shinespark wouldn't want to risk it for such a minor convenience."
"Maybe you should ask Arambai where to land?" Starlight shrugged. "You have that sound stone, and all."
"Ah, yes!" Gerardo snapped his talons. "A brilliant idea, though I wouldn't be surprised if Shinespark has already beaten us to it. We should..." He trailed off, staring worriedly over the edge. "I say, is that a flock of pegasi coming our way?"
"Yo, what?" Valey appeared out of nowhere, suddenly standing at his side and shading her eyes with a wing. "Looks like some dudes... Not getting any bad tinglies from them, though. Maybe they're nice?"
Starlight looked too. A wing of pegasi were indeed making their way over. Four of them, it looked like... one a bit bigger than the others.
In no time, the pegasi arrived, their pale coats blending together like a flurry of snow on a dark evening. Three mares and one stallion, they landed in formation on the deck, taking a proud but nonaggressive stance. "Greetings," the lead stallion said, adding, "We're friends."
Gerardo appraised them thoughtfully. "I know you. You're members of the mercenary company with which I nearly froze to death in the skyport. Let me see... Blackwind, perhaps?"
"Yeah," Valey grunted, looking unhappily at the quartet of pegasi. "And the ones from the tunnels..."
"Darkwind," the leader corrected. "And I hope we made this clear in the skyport, but our contract is done and our leader is gone. We're not hunting anyone any more."
"Harshwater," a mare next to him added in a high, nasally voice that could grow annoying if overused. "In case you forgot."
The smallest of the group nodded formally. "And I'm Rainstorm."
"Bourbon," said the last, her coat looking shinier yet less fluffy than the others'. "I wasn't in the tunnels. Instead I found you after the flood and helped fix you up." She looked apologetically at Valey, then Starlight. "I hope there's not bad blood between us."
"Well met, I suppose," Gerardo replied, instinctively taking charge. "I, in case you've forgotten, am Gerardo Guillaume, griffon adventurer extraordinaire. To what do we owe this-"
The bridge door blew open, and Shinespark strode out, eyes narrow. "Why are there pegasi on my ship?" she asked, frowning with a mix of worry and readiness to fight despite the clunking cast on her hind leg. "You're not Defense Force, are you?"
Darkwind opened his mouth to reply, but Gerardo spoke first. "As a matter of fact, we just finished introductions," he plainly announced. "These are formerly Herman's mercenary company who turned face and assisted us in the skyport during the finale, and I have no reason to assume they mean us ill."
Shinespark looked sideways at them. "I'm not sure if I remember..."
"You were either recovering or grieving in your room, at the time, if I recall," Gerardo helpfully informed her, earning a pained look.
"As to whether we're Defense Force," Darkwind said, finally getting in a word edgewise. "Now that our employment and airship base are gone, we've come into the employ of Ironridge proper. Arambai gave us the old Defense Force's moniker and resources, though it's no longer a volunteer organization. He decided that after everything that had happened, it would be useful for Ironridge to have an official, professional fighting force, and working together was mutually beneficial."
Harshwater nodded lazily. "Also, we were never Herman's mercenaries. That yak was rude and only Kero knows why we were working for him. Kero was our real leader..." She sighed dreamily, holding her cheeks with the tips of her wings. "Ahhh, Kero..." Then she snapped back to reality. "But he's gone. Haven't seen him since before the battle. Left us sad and alone in Ironridge with only our huge band and a billion city ponies to keep us company..."
"Noted." Gerardo drummed a talon. "I suppose you're our welcome wagon, then?"
"Yes." Rainstorm nodded primly back. "Arambai specifically chose the four of us because we'd had the most interaction with you before. You had a hard time during the battle and the days before, so he asked us to be your escort as much as you need, and help if there's any trouble."
"Even so, there are ponies I haven't met," Bourbon added, looking between Amber and Willow. "We introduced ourselves. Might you?"
Valey held out a wing for her to pause. "Okay, we've got a few more downstairs. If any of you lemon bags don't know who I am, I absolutely quit, so I'll go get them. 'Kay?"
"Wonderful!" Bourbon gave a happy smile.
As she did a little dance, Gerardo gave the departing Valey a grimace. "Hard to believe these are the same ponies who took my adventure-honed dueling skills and used them like a mop," he whispered under his breath.
Harshwater's ears swiveled, and she leaned toward him eagerly. "What was that, Mister Bird?"
"Oh, I, erm..." Gerardo took a step back, everyone suddenly looking at him. "Was just complimenting your exceptional fighting skills?"
Harshwater grinned. "I remember you, Mister Bird. You lost to me one-on-one on that lift platform, didn't you?"
"That was you?" Gerardo swallowed, paling.
"Harshwater." Darkwind settled a wing over her back. "Remember, that job is behind us."
"Ugh! You're not my coltfriend!" She ducked out from under the wing, shuddering. "And he's the one who brought it up. All I wanted was to offer him a rematch!" She winked at Gerardo. "Restore your honor, and all that. Got anypony you're trying to impress, Mister Bird?"
"Any... pony..." Gerardo eyed her with surprise, and a slight far-away look in his eyes.
Valey jumped to his defense. "Nah, Birdo's all about his own ego," she smugly proclaimed, strutting with her eyes closed and her chin in the air. "Now, if you're talking rematches, me, on the other hoof..." She opened one eye and looked barely at the deck, tapping it idly. "I kinda recall me getting cheated out of whupping all of you by this giant whachamahoozit, or something..."
Starlight frowned at her. "Weren't you getting Maple?"
"Eh, I work fast. She's coming." Valey shrugged, careless.
"Rematch you?" Harshwater backed away, shivering, and Rainstorm joined her. Darkwind looked vaguely haunted, and Bourbon gave the three of them a pitying look. "Uhhhh... Thanks, but no thanks! You're terrifying. No offense."
Valey grinned. "Yeah, I get that a lot. So where are we landing this thing?"
"That would be good to know," Shinespark added, standing on the sidelines. "Right now, we're just hovering in place. Where does Arambai want us to land?"
"Arambai is in Skyfreeze," Darkwind cordially replied, bowing his head. "There's a landing area that has been cleared out, if you need it. Follow us."