Both Frigid Gale and Tessa sat alone at a table in a small pub just east of town square. The place wasn't rundown, but it wasn't exactly high class either. In Gale's opinion, it was just perfect, and the fact that there weren't too many rambunctious patrons milling about was a plus in her book.
Frigid Gale hated rowdy bars.
True to her word, the thestral had done an admirable job in maintaining her lucidity, despite being on her third glass of the infamous Peckenshire whiskey. There was barely a tinge of red in her cheeks and her speech hadn't suffered in the slightest. The pleasant buzz however, was soured somewhat by the pitying look, Tessa gave her upon finishing her tragic tale.
"For buck's sake, Tess, I didn't tell you that story so you could look at me like that," Frigid Gale grumbled into her glass, "I just wanted to keep you in the loop. Up to date, y'know?"
She'd told Tessa much of what had happened to her family and the village, but chose to hide Celestia's involvement, telling her friend that the destruction of her home and kin was the work of some corrupt Dark Mage that had escaped the Solar Princess's notice.
"Well, how could I not worry, Frigid Gale?" Tessa argued, frowning at the mare, "what you had to go through? No one should've had to endure something like that, let alone a child!"
"Would you keep it down?" Frigid Gale groaned, slamming her glass back down on the table, "it was a long time ago, and I'm... well..." the thestral mare faltered a moment before turning away and giving a weak shrug, "I'm coping, alright?"
Tessa eyed Frigid Gale for a good long minute—long enough for one of Gale's tufted ears to twitch in irritation. After another second, Tessa's frown deepened and she leaned in across the table, eyebrow raised and tone skeptical as she spoke.
"Are you, Gale? Because I'm not so sure," the retriever leaned back again and crossed her arms, "I can see it in your eyes, you're still bitter—dangerously so. In fact, I'm worried you're going to get into something way over your head somewhere down the line, if you haven't already."
She's got you there.
"No one asked you!" Gale growled before realizing she'd spoken aloud. She glanced over to a hurt looking Tessa and winced before turning away again with a sigh, "sorry, Tess, I know you're just worried about me, and I appreciate it—really, I do," she took another swig of whiskey before fully turning to face the diamond dog across from her, a small frown on her face, "but you don't need to. I've got my life under control right now, I've got things to keep me busy, and I'm dealing with what happened in my own way."
"And what is it that's keeping you busy nowadays?" Tess replied, changing tack. She took a small sip of her cocktail and watched Frigid Gale over her own glass, "what have you been up to since you left Ancient Scroll? It couldn't have been easy, living on your own at your age back then."
"You're right about that, it wasn't easy on my own—far from it," Gale replied with a world weary sigh. The thestral was more than willing to go along with the subject change, "but I managed to scrape by. Got some help here and there, had to do some things I'm not proud of, but nothing too extreme. Mostly, it was just a lot of growing up and learning to pick my battles," she winced, "...sometimes, the hard way."
There were some lies and understatements mixed in—particularly where picking her battles was concerned—but as a whole, Frigid Gale spoke the truth. It had been a rough seventeen years for the mare, but she'd survived and was far stronger for the struggles she faced. As much as she hated to admit it, Nightmare Moon had played a very large part in keeping Gale safe and sane.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that she owed Nightmare her life, not that she'd ever admit it openly. Besides that, she knew she didn't need to admit it openly, because Nightmare Moon no doubt already knew her true feelings on the matter anyway.
Do you really think now is a good time to be reminiscing like this, Gale?
Frigid Gale returned her attention to Tessa and found that the retriever was indeed watching her with some concern. Somewhere behind the concern, Gale could see that same calculating look, like the thestral was a puzzle to be solved, or a mystery to be unraveled.
Frigid Gale wanted to be angry, but really, she couldn't blame Tessa. Gale was indeed a mystery, but this was a mystery she wouldn't allow to be solved so easily—friend or not.
"Sorry, just thinking back to days long since past, don't worry about it," Frigid Gale finally replied with a dismissive wave, "in any case, I haven't been doing too much lately. I settled down in a small little village, not too different from this one, actually."
"Oh, really?" Tessa asked, both eyebrows raising in surprise, "I wasn't aware there were any villages like ours in Equestria," she leaned forward with a small, intrigued smile crossing her face, "do tell."
"Well, it's more the atmosphere than the diversity," Gale amended, "it's a town mostly consisting of earth ponies, and a lot of the produce that makes its way to Canterlot come from there," she looked around the pub, taking in the interior and the few patrons scattered here and there, "though this place is way farther out in the sticks, the town where I live now is somehow way more rustic."
"Hm, that's interesting," Tessa replied, taking another sip of her cocktail, "for some reason I didn't peg you as a country mare. I thought you'd be living up somewhere like Manehattan or Detrot."
"With these looks?" Gale asked, spreading her leathery wings and giving Tessa an incredulous look, "no, I don't think so. I'm lucky enough to be treated like any other pony here and in the place I moved to," she slowly shook her head, "fact of the matter is, no one's seen a creature like me, and my more... unique traits tend to put ponies off."
"Ah, I suppose that makes sense," Tessa replied with a knowing nod, "I've heard that in certain places in Equestria, ponies can be a bit... xenophobic. I'm glad you were able to find a town that accepts you for who you are."
Frigid Gale matched Tessa's smile with a chuckle of her own, but it rang as hollow as the lie she'd told her friend. The fact of the matter was that the ponies of Ponyville, didn't trust her in the slightest. They certainly tried to hide their fear and distrust on the rare occasions that Frigid Gale wandered into the village, but it was plain for the thestral to see all the same.
"By the way," came the diamond dog's curious voice, "what was the name of that town? I couldn't help but notice you left that little detail out."
"Hm? Oh, it's a little village south of Canterlot called Ponyville," Gale answered with a small shrug, "I arranged to have a small little cottage on the outskirts of town."
Frigid Gale...
If there was someone listening in you would've told me, and as far as Tess is concerned, she has no reason to suspect anything and wouldn't leave the village anyway.
If you'd let me finish, I was about to tell you that someone is listening in.
The only outward indication Frigid Gale gave that anything was wrong was a slight twitch of her lips, which she hid behind her glass as she took another drink.
Who?
An old griffon, black feathers, brown fur, sitting alone at a table to your left near the back. He isn't looking this way, but I can tell he's hanging on our every word.
Frigid Gale continued to tell Tess what she knew of Ponyville as she metally conversed with the Nightmare.
An old griffon? Why would—
It's you, Frigid Gale. I'm not sure what he means to gain, but he's taken an interest in you.
The thestral nearly choked on her whiskey.
Excuse me?!
Oh, calm down. It's less like he's looking for a romantic partner, and more like he's found a priceless treasure he's looking to sell for a hefty profit.
Frigid Gale frowned at that.
A slaver? Here?
Possibly, give me a moment and I will find out for certain...
The presence in Gale's mind vanished and she returned her full attention to Tessa.
"Well it's nice to hear that you're getting along well, Frigid Gale," the diamond dog was saying, "I was worried for you, and I still am, but the fact that you've found a place to call your own after all these years warms my heart."
"Yeah well, it hasn't exactly been all sunshine and roses, but I get by well enough," Gale replied, before finishing off her glass of whiskey. The buzz was still there, but Nightmare's discovery had muted it somewhat, "enough about me though, how's Ancient Scroll been doing? Have you seen him lately?"
Frigid Gale had decided It was about time to get some answers of her own. At her inquiry, Tessa gave a long wistful sigh and shook her head.
"I'm afraid I haven't seen him in quite some time," she replied sadly, "he was here for the Spring Festival, along with some adorable fillies he picked up at some point, and he sent some help my way, but I never actually saw him myself."
Gale's eyebrows rose in surprise, a look she quickly hid behind a mask of mild intrigue.
"Fillies?"
"Oh, yes," Tess replied, with a small chuckle, "I didn't get to see them myself, and I'm not sure where or how Ancient Scroll picked them up, but I heard about the little darlings from a few of the folks that saw them around town during the festival. Oh, I wish you could've been there, Gale. I was busy with so many tourists coming into town, but I still managed to have fun when I could."
Frigid was just about to probe further when the familiar presence of Nightmare Moon returned.
I've probed the griffon's mind, and from what I've found, it might be worth keeping an eye on this one. I've found out some very interesting things you may want to know about.
It seems I'm hitting all kinds of pay dirt right now, lucky me. Let me know if he leaves. I think I might be onto something here with Tess.
Pah, ordering the Queen of the Night about like some sort of lackey. You're lucky I've taken a liking to you, whelp, else your demands would be met with harsh retribution.
I'm quaking in my horseshoes.
A sudden and painful pressure on her mind caused the thestral to grunt and double over, her teeth grit against the momentary agony Nightmare Moon was putting her through.
Don't test me, foal. My physical presence may be trapped within my Moon, but the night of my return draws ever closer, and with it, my power grows. Do not think I cannot put you in your place.
Alright, alright, buck! I get it! You're an almighty alicorn Goddess and I'm the lowly peon! No more backtalk, just... chill the buck out!
The pressure gradually lessened before vanish altogther a moment later, much to Frigid Gale's relief.
So long as you understand. I will admit that I've grown somewhat... attached to you, Frigid Gale, but make no mistake, I am still far above what you will ever be, and you would do well to remember that.
Yeah, I got the message loud and clear, thanks.
"Frigid Gale, are you okay?"
Gale looked up to see that Tess has stood up and was leaning over the table towards her, a worried look on her face. Gale straightened up in her chair and rubbed her temples a moment before answering.
"Yeah, I'm fine... just..." Gale grimaced, "I think I might've had too much to drink after all. Feel a little lightheaded," she took a deep breath and waved away Tessa's concerns, "never mind that though. Tell me more about Ancient Scroll and these fillies."
"Right, well..." Tessa continued to eye the mare with a small frown of worry, but pressed on nonetheless, "this is all hearsay, but from what I've been told, he arrived in town with three adorable fillies. From the way they acted, I think they might've been sisters."
"Sisters, huh?" Frigid Gale mused, "interesting."
She was fairly sure one of those fillies had been Twilight, and was also certain that whoever those other two fillies were, weren't sisters. Still, the fact that Ancient Scroll had taken in not one, or even two, but three other foals irritated her for some reason.
I get how Twilight might've ended up near Ancient Scroll's house by chance, given how she escaped Canterlot, but how did that old stallion manage to stumble upon the other two fillies out where he lives?
Feeling replaced? Jealous, perhaps? Like you've been tossed to the side like so much unwanted trash?
"Do you know their names?" Frigid Gale asked, pointedly ignoring the mocking voice in her head, "if they were that adorable, I'm sure word would've spread."
"Oh, it certainly did," Tess replied with a light chuckle, "I believe their names were... Twilight Sparkle, Trixie..." she frowned slightly, "huh, I don't think anyone actually mentioned whether or not she had a secondary name," she shook her head, "in any case, the last filly was... I think her name was Sunset Glimmer?" she snapped her paws, "Shimmer! Her name was Sunset Shimmer. I hear she had a rather striking mane, that one."
"Very interesting," Gale replied with a small chuckle of her own, "I bet the old geezer has his hooves full."
She'd been right all along, but it didn't surprise her all that much, given how strong her suspicions were. Still, she actually had to find the stallion before she could start celebrating.
And then there's Sunset Shimmer.
What about her?
Frigid Gale frowned slightly.
I'm pretty sure I've heard her name somewhere before, but I can't remember where...
Nightmare Moon gave a long suffering sigh.
Then I suppose it is a blessing that you have me to remind you. You were informed that Celestia had taken on a protege, and Sunset Shimmer happened to be that very filly.
Ah, that's right! Yeah, she bucked off and fled Canterlot a little over year ago now, if I remember right. Guess Celestia just doesn't have a way with foals like that old stallion does it seems. Smart filly to get out when she did, I say.
Well if I remember correctly—and I do, you were planning to foalnap her and pry everything you could out of her about Celestia, were you not?
Yeesh, you make it sound like I was gonna torture the poor filly. You're right though, I was planning on taking her under my own wing after she told me what she could, but then we found out about Twilight and Sunset became much less of a priority. Besides, we'd lost her trail by then, and I wasn't willing to waste resources picking it back up at the time.
A foolish decision, I might add. She would've made a great pawn—a brilliant pawn even, if those reports were anything to go by.
"Um... Frigid Gale?"
The thestral mare in question blinked and turned to Tessa, who was watching her warily.
"Oh, uh, sorry," Gale coughed awkwardly, "I kinda space out from time to time. It's a habit I picked up from back when I was on the road a lot. What were you saying?"
"You shouldn't lose focus like that, Gale. You don't know what could happen while you're out of it," Tessa admonished. She shook her head and her pleasant smile returned a moment later, "anyway, I was trying to tell you that I ran into an interesting mare the other day."
"Yeah?" Frigid Gale replied with a raise of her brow.
"Yes, she was... hmm..." the retriever frowned thoughtfully as she looked at Frigid Gale, "looking back on it, she kind of reminds me of you, or how you are now anyway."
"Really?" Gale answered evenly, a sudden nameless, yet gnawing suspicion forming in the back of her mind, "do tell."
"Well, she was—"
Gale, the griffon is on the move.
Frigid Gale's eyes flickered over to the wrinkly old black and brown griffon discreetly making his way out of the pub. The griffon gave one last inconspicuous look over his shoulder as if to make sure he wasn't being followed, then quickly stepped out into the night. Frigid Gale had caught the look and frowned in annoyance, both at being interrupted and at the lack of subtlety on the griffon's part.
Dammit, I felt like I was gonna get another lead. Ah, well, I've gotten plenty of info for now, and that griffon might give me something else to work with, assuming my luck keeps up like it has been.
"Oh, leaving so soon?" Tessa asked as she watched Frigid Gale rise from her seat, "it feels like we only just sat down."
"Yeah, well," Gale grunted, popping a few joints in her neck, "I've got some other business to attend to before the night is out," she trotted around the table to give her friend one last hug, "seriously though, it was great to talk to you again after all these years, Tess."
"Likewise, it was a real treat to see how much you've grown since I last saw you," Tessa replied, squeezing the thestral tightly before pulling away, "will you be staying in town for much longer? I can put you up in the inn no charge if you like."
"Thanks, but I'll be shoving off here after I've met with a... ah, friend of mine," Gale replied, making her way towards the exit, "he and I have some real important things to discuss."
"Oh? What's this?" Tess asked, crossing her arms and giving Frigid Gale a playful smirk, "out to meet some stallion for a midnight tryst, are we?"
Frigid Gale paused just before reaching the door and turned back to her friend, a fang filled smile on her face and a dangerous glint in her icy blue eyes.
"Yeah, something like that."