Chapter 9: A Mothers' Wrath
The silence was stretching so long even Captain Echo was feeling uncomfortable. Her eyes darted from Luna to the three guards still encased in crystal. A slight twitch in her ears was the only thing to give away her nervousness.
Luna broke the silence after the seeming eternity. "Who is to blame?"
Echo licked her lips. Ordinarily she'd give some sort of smart mouthed quip. She had a sneaking suspicion it wouldn't be appreciated here. "I am, ma'am. Clearly my orders weren't clear enough." Her soldiers weren't fooled by the words. All three knew they were going to catch hell from their commanding officer.
"Mm." Luna glanced to the young stallion who'd started this, the jacket he was previously wrapped in now serving as a pillow. "The answer is I am to blame, of course. I was unclear in my orders."
"No, Princess it was our squad who-"
Luna cut the thestral mare in the crystal off with a raised hoof. "You see you were ordered to observe the subject and report her location to me not because she was a dangerous fugitive, but because she was out of sorts and in extreme emotional duress. I wished to approach my niece in person so that I may soothe that duress."
Echo's ear twitched again. "I'm sorry Princess I must have misheard, niece?"
"Yes. Your squad assaulted Celestia's daughter."
Another long silence stretched. "Like uh... how y'know... Twilight Sparkle or Sunset Shimmer..."
"No, Captain Echo. As in my sister carried her to term then gave birth to her, then she was torn from her hooves before two days had passed. She was here to meet with Celestia this evening, but her nerves caused her to flee. I thought my guard capable of tracking her, and reporting her locale to me. Instead they assaulted her. You have assaulted a member of the royal family. In olden times such an offense would be considered treason. I however am more merciful and shall instead think of a punishment as public and humiliating as possible. Then, if I am satisfied I may allow you to remain in Equestria and not send your sorry hides screaming down into the Shades, am I clear?!"
Luna took wing before they could reply, leaving them still trapped in the black crystal. Echo looked to the cadet then at her soldiers. "He'll live, when he wakes up he'll wish he hadn't. You'll all think the Shades are a walk in the clouds compared to what I'm going to do to you lot." She sucked in a sharp breath and exhaled it just as quickly. A keening wail coming from her mouth as the crystal shivered then shattered dropping the trio to the ground. "Get him to a medic then sit in the corners of the barracks like school foals until I return."
None of them argued with her.
== Twilight's Castle ==
Luna arrived to find Sombra with an ice pack against the back of his head, Sunset Shimmer with one on her face. "I take it Harmony is not here then?"
Sunset hastily averted her eyes while Sombra grimaced. "She is not. The spawn of Sirine clubbed the pair of us then opened the gateway, I assume with bardic magic."
Luna glanced around the room to the circle of rune stones, with one clearly missing. "Where. Is. The. Keystone?"
"I expect the siren took it with her to prevent your following them."
Luna closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. "Where is Twilight Sparkle?" She got out through gritted teeth.
"Panicking in her library." Luna turned her attention to Sunset as she finally spoke up. "I think she might be desperate enough for time travel."
"I will speak with her and calm her down. This is not beyond salvaging."
"I am not so sure." Sombra nodded toward a window, where the sky outside was brightening.
Luna didn't need to see the sky to know what was happening. She could feel the moon being forced aside as Celestia's sun blazed up into its place in the sky, though it was burning hotter than it should be. "Oh no."
A streak of golden light zipped through the window, racing about the room and settling above the circle of stones. Seconds later the temperature in the room spiked as Celestia herself appeared. Even Sombra took a nervous step back at the sight of her. Celestia mane and tail were whipping and roiling faster than ever, her eyes wide and more than a touch wild. Small embers flicking about her hooves as she whipped her head left and right.
"Where is she?! You will not keep her from me! Not again!"
Luna hastily stepped between her sister and the others. "Celestia... calm yourself, please. I am handling this. I assure you we will find her and reunite you in moments."
Celestia stared at Luna, blinking slowly for, as a long moment of silence stretched. "Calm myself?" She took a step forward, but Luna held her ground. "Calm myself? Is that what I should do Luna? Should I take a deep breath and calm down?"
It was taking all of Luna's control to keep her composure. "Y--yes." She cleared her throat. "Yes. Yes, sister I know this is-"
"You know nothing! You can't know, Luna! Don't even pretend! Where is she?!"
Sombra was nearer the window and the chill winter air so he wasn't as uncomfortable as the other two. Sunset Shimmer wasn't so lucky, the heat was becoming unbearable as sweat beaded all over her coat. She gasped as the air grew difficult to breathe, and she stumbled toward the doors. They nearly smacked her in the face as they flew open and Twilight Sparkle hurried in. "Princess, please! Don't be mad at them this was my fault!"
For just a moment Celestia's anger calmed, not much... but just enough. "Explain, Twilight Sparkle."
"I just..." Twilight gulped heavily. "Spike and I found your hidden room in the old castle and I read the journals! I'm so sorry but we know so little about you and I was curious-"
"Explain quicker."
Twilight gulped again. "I read about Harmony and knew I had to do something. I gathered the brightest minds in magic and we searched for her. It was Starlight who had the idea of looking through timeand dimensions, that was the key. Starswirl sent her not just to another world but another time as well."
Celestia blinked slowly, processing this. It made sense. "Keep going."
"We found her, alive and well! We were looking for... um, a body. Just something for you to have some closure but we found her! We sent two top agents of S.M.I.L.E. to investigate and confirmed it."
"This just happened moments ago I presume?"
Twilight was momentarily confused. "I... moments? No four days, Princess."
Luna winced. There was a right answer to Celestia's question and that was not it. Celestia took a step toward Twilight. "...four days?"
"Um, yes Princess."
"My daughter has been here, in this crystalline monstrosity for four days and you did not inform me because..."
"I..." It was now that she realized maybe she should have been listening to everypony who was telling her this was a stupid idea. "...I wanted to... present her to you as a... Hearthswarming surprise..."
Celestia's eyebrows rose and she took a step back. "Well. Consider me surprised, Twilight Sparkle. Consider me very surprised. Where is my Harmony now?"
"Fled, back to her own world."
Celestia rounded on Sombra as he answered. "How? Why?"
"I was star gazing on the veranda when I spotted her running across the snow. She's a very easy figure to pick out. She was being assaulted by several of your sister's guards, I intervened. She requested that I send her home. I planned to oblige but Sunset Shimmer disagreed. While we debated Sonata Dusk bashed us both unconscious and the two of them left."
Celestia whirled back to Luna, eyes dangerous wild. "Assaulted?!"
"Against my orders! I wanted her found and her location given to me that is all!"
"Given to you? Given to you?! I am surrounded by idiots! All of you! Out!" It wasn't a requested. Her horn burned brightly as her magic swept the three mares from the castle, painfully and abruptly.
Sombra stared impassively, though inwardly he winced for them. "I am not among that number?"
"They keystone is missing, I need your blood to reopen the gate without it."
"Ah, of course." He didn't complain or question it, simply levitated a letter opener from the writing desk nearby and used it to nick the bottom of his hoof, allowing some of the blood to drop onto the ground. Celestia imperiously thrust one of her own hooves at him, and he obliged creating a small cut. Her own blood falling and mingling with his.
"You know I've always been curious about blood magic."
"If I return I'll teach you anything you like about it." Eyes closed Celestia focused on the blood as the small puddles shivered and expanded, growing into a oval shaped gate.
"If?"
"If." She stepped through, and it closed behind her.
== Outside Jerry's Bar ==
As she landed on her feet, Celestia began to connect the dots. A human world. The human in Equestria Luna was corresponding with. This was her. Some rational part of her knew Luna couldn't have known at the time, she'd have brought this to her. The irrational part said she'd make her pay for deceiving her later.
She rose to her full height and flexed her hands. It'd been a very long time since she felt this sensation. There were a pair of confused human youths in the midst of painting a wall with some sort of silver cans were staring at her, mouths agape nearby but she dismissed them. If the blood gate didn't bring her to Harmony directly it brought her to someplace very dear to her.
She looked up at the establishment in front of her. "A tavern." She tried the door but found it locked. She could have unlocked it with a spell, instead she turned the knob hard enough to break the lock, allowing herself inside.
The inside of the tavern had powerful aromas, mostly humans but the drinks behind the bar and food in the kitchens were also strong. A portly human male was staring in shock. He looked like he was in the middle of preparing to leave out a back door when Celestia entered.
She was an imposing figure in Equestria, and no less on Earth. A few inches taller than Harmony herself, her body clothed in a gauzy white gown that clung tightly. Her thick hair still wafted in an unseen breeze. "Holy shit, yer hair aint'cha?"
"Her?"
"Yeah... you gotta be. Harm's ma, right?"
That name, Harm. It struck a sudden chord with her. "Harm..." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Ignoring the male she approached a set of wooden stairs, taking them two at a time she followed the scent of the mare she'd met in Berry Punch's own tavern.
The room was a pig sty. Clothes strewn about the floor, odd figurines mingled with empty food and beverage containers. It smelled horribly... it smelled like Harm. Like Harmony. Her Harmony. "I talked to her. I shared a drink with her. I shared a cell with her..." Celestia walked into the room fully, taking it in.
"That sounds like Harm."
Celestia didn't turn to look at the human. "You know her well?"
"Oh sure, her whole life almost. Her old man and I met on a fishing trip up north."
"Her old man. Her father? She has a father?"
"Uh... doesn't everyone."
Celestia inhaled sharply. She fought her temper down. She was not this man's Princess, she was a stranger here. "Indulge me... please."
"...well you got Harm's temper. Sorry. Uh, yeah. Yeah look I'm happy ta talk all night about Harm with ya if ya want, but wasn't she goin' ta meetcha?"
"Evidently something happened that scared her off." Celestia ran her fingers along her daughters possessions, before staring down at the bed. "This is where she lives? This... room?"
"Uh, yup. Yeah. I rent it to her." Jerry chuckled nervously. "Well I guess rent it to her implies she pays rent huh? She stays here."
This tiny room wasn't the size of her closet back home. "She is in your employ then, Mr...?"
"Oh uh, Jerry. Jerry Hodgins. Yeah, I guess. She's a bouncer here."
"Yes... of course." Her daughter was a tavern wench. Things were beginning to click into place. The poor woman spent four days in Equestria no doubt hearing how great she was from everypony she spoke to. No wonder she fled. "Where is she?"
"Uh, yeah I dunno I thought she was with you. If ya don't mind my askin'... are you like, an alien?"
"Yes."
"...oh. Well... oh. I mean I kinda always figured they way her an Armie are but uh..."
"Armie... is her father?"
Jerry ran a hand over his head. "Hoo. Man I don't do well with this sorta thing. I'm kinda fallin' apart here, sorry lady. Yeah, yeah Armie's her pop. Guessin' if you don't know that, he ain't the real dad."
Celestia frowned slightly. She was intimidating this human to the point of uselessness. She offered him a patient smile. "I apologize if I am making you uncomfortable, I have not seen my daughter since she was taken from me. It has been... a very long time. To my deep shame I admit I gave up on ever seeing her again. So now that I am so close I am both curious and over eager to reunite."
Her tone and words seemed to go a long way toward easing his tension. "It's alright. I'm guessin' it didn't go so hot then?"
"It did not. I'm afraid she grew intimidated about who and what I am, and left before we could meet properly."
"You must be somethin' else. Harm and intimidate don't really go together unless she's doin' the intimidatin'."
"Yes, I expect that's true." She picked up one of the toys, turning it gently in her hands before setting it back down. "You're sure you have no idea where she is?"
"Yeah. I didn't hear her bike or nothin', so she didn't go far I guess? I dunno, the kid's usually pretty reliable y'know? Doesn't wander off without sayin' anything to me."
"You must mean a great deal to her."
"Oh. Uh, I dunno about that. Hey, you wanna come down? Have a drink. I got some wings I could drop in the fryer for ya. If Harm's uh... around, she'll be home soon."
Home. Celestia flinched slightly when he said that. This washer home. Harm's home, not Harmony she reminded herself. Her Harmony who wasn't a filly, but a grown mare. A foul mouthed hard fighting, hard drinking mare. Who lived in squalor above a filthy tavern. Celestia fought the rising anger back down again. "Her father... do you know where he is?"
"Yeah. Yeah I do uh, they got visitin' hours and such y'know?"
"Visiting hours? Is he imprisoned?"
"Hah! Armie in prison? Nah, never met a guy that straight laced. Nah he's sick, in a convalescence home. They only allow family in late."
"I am not concerned with that. If I could beg your assistance would you be willing to escort me to where he is? I would very much like to meet the man who raised my daughter."
Jerry wasn't sure what it was, but this woman had an edge of danger about her and he didn't like it. On the other hand she could probably fold him in two as easily as Harm could, and he had no way of getting ahold of her. Making a mental promise to buy her a cell phone he swallowed his nerves and offered his best smile. "Sure, we can take my truck."
== Cherrywood Nursing Home ==
Celestia stepped out of Jerry's truck, cracking her stiff neck from having it cocked at an odd angle for so long. "I will not be long, would you be willing to wait for me, Jerry?"
"Yeah, sure. S'just uh, two in the morning but sure."
"Thank you." Celestia ignored his obvious sarcasm, looking up at the large building. She was familiar with such homes in Equestria, and cared little for them. One's elders should be cared for by family not strangers. Still this wasn't her land, and not her place to critique. Some needed care their families simply couldn't provide after all.
With a small sigh she stepped to the front doors, taking a step back in surprise as they hissed upon of their own accord. "Hm." Quick stepping through them she was less startled when they closed on their own.
A human woman about Jerry's age was behind the desk, staring at her openly. She was wearing a pale pink set of scrubs, while a pair of thick glasses hung from a chain around her neck. "You uh... friends with Harm?"
Celestia quirked a curious brow. "You know Harmony?"
"Heh, I know her well enough not to call her that, that's for sure. Figured the uh... size of you, and the hair color... and it's floating, why is it floating?"
"Magic. I'm here to speak with Harm's father."
"Oh well uh, how are you related?"
"I am Harmony's mother."
"Oh. Oh wow you look really good for a kid that age huh? I meant how are you related to Armie? Guessing not wife since you've never come up."
Celestia's patience was wearing thinner and thinner. With a twist of her fingers she cast a simple charm spell over the woman. "I would be very grateful if you would tell me where I may find Armie?"
The humans concern melted away into a wide smile. "Of course dear, room 307. Have a lovely visit."
Celestia didn't return the smile as she strode briskly away down the hall. Everything here made her uncomfortable, from the powerful scents to the bright false lightning and artificial floor and ceilings. She'd seen elevators in Manehattan but the ones here were very... shiny. She rode one up to the third floor, exiting and following the signs to room 307.
The door was unlocked, and she showed herself inside. The room was sparse, a bed and an old radio mostly. A large human male was sleeping restlessly in the bed, his padded leather cuffs at his ankles and wrists holding him secure. She could tell he'd once been a giant of a man, though the years had been unkind to him. The skin hung slack on his muscles, rough lines creased his face.
She approached slowly. Something about him was familiar. She took a step back as his eyes snapped open and focused on her. "Princess? Princess Celestia?"
"That voice... Captain Armor? Mythril Armor... you? You were complicit in this!?"
He thumped back in the pillows, arm jerking in the restraints. "Knight Captain Mythril Armor reporting for duty, ma'am!"
"Are you trying to salute me? Are you mockingme, Captain? How dareyou after..." Celestia trailed off. The old man wasn't looking at her anymore. He stared unfocused at the ceiling, humming softly to himself. "...what is wrong with you..."
She moved closer, studying him intently. "Of course... Harmony grew up here. Her magic adapted to this world but you... you were starved for Equestrian magic weren't you?" She was going to get her answers. Lips pursed in frustration she held her hands out, releasing some of her personal stored magic and feeding it into the Captain slowly.
It had the desired effect, his eyes cleared and his humming stopped. He gazed about the room blinking slowly, before focusing on Celestia. "Princess... you're here. You're finally here." Tears formed in the old man's eyes.
Eyes narrowed in confusion Celestia moved to his side, looming over him. "You were expecting me, Captain?"
If her cold tone worried the Captain it didn't show. "Of course. Well, not you ma'am. Starswirl said he'd be along for us when it was safe. I'm glad to see you're alright."
Celestia's thoughts raced as she worked to process everything. "Safe from what, Knight Captain?"
Now it was the Captain's turn to look confused. "The assassins? The changelings who'd infiltrated the castle coming for Harm."
"Harmony."
"As you say, ma'am. She prefers Harm. Starswirl came to me, thrust the foal in my hooves and charged me with protecting her. Then he sent us here."
Starswirl the bearded. Celestia ground her teeth, fists clenched tightly at her sides. Not only had he stolen her foal but he deprived her nation of one of its finest military mind at the same time. "I... see."
Mythrial Armor's brow furrowed. "Ma'am? I'm confused. I know she's not... she's not what you'd have done with her but I did my best. I was never good with foals. I had no idea what I was doing but... I tried."
Celestia didn't miss the desperation in his voice. "...yes, I know. You did a fine job, Knight Captain. I think it's time you got home."
"Ahh..." A smile finally found its way to his face. "How's Equestria? It's been so long, no trouble from the griffons anymore I hope."
"The griffons..." Celestia trailed off when she realized the Knight Captain had lost everything that night as well. He'd been gone just over fifteen hundred years. His wife, his sons, everypony he knew was gone. Except herself and Luna, which she expected would be little comfort.
Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and collected her thoughts. "Captain I... we will talk at length soon. I'm going to send you home."
"Finally. Is Harm waiting there?"
"Not yet, I intend to find her soon."
"Find her? What do you mean, find her? Where is she? She's not with you?" He attempted to sit up, grunting at the restraints.
Celestia removed them with a wave of her hand. "She is not. We'll be back in Equestria soon enough, Knight Captain."
"Princess with all due respect I'm not going anywhere knowing my girl is missing."
Nostrils flared as Celestia stared down at the seated man. "...your girl, Knight Captain?"
"I..." He faltered. "...I apologize, Princess. Your filly of course I just... I raised her. From a foal. I'm... attached."
He was a victim as much as Harmony and herself, she had to remind herself. Getting angry with him would solve nothing. "The land is unhealthy, you will return to Equestria and debrief with Luna, am I clear?"
While clearly unhappy, he wasn't going to argue with her. "Yes... Princess."
"Very good, Knight Captain Armor." She didn't spare anymore words on him, she pricked her finger and opened the blood portal, gently nudging him through to the other side. She briefly saw her sisters concerned face before slamming it shut again.
A few deep breaths later she left the nursing home, returning to Jerry and his truck. The man was speaking into a little device in his hand, finishing his conversation as she arrived. "I know where Harm is."
"You do? Where is she? Please!"
"She's in the hospital."