Upheaval: Journeys

by Visiden Visidane


Pinkie Pie 4: The True Earth Pony Clans

Upheaval: Journeys

Pinkie Pie 4: The True Earth Pony Clans

Even though the Clan Quartz burrows were still unfamiliar territory for Pinkie, she needed no guidance to reach the source of the commotion. The ley lines pulsed painfully raw, like the nerves of a frightened creature. She winced just sensing it with her periphery. This wasn’t right. She still considered herself a student in the use of ley energy, but she could tell by instinct that this was not how anypony should do it. She galloped past several true earth ponies also rushing to see what was happening while her friends followed her.

“Pinkie Pie,” Sablesteel said. She had taken to flying low and next to Pinkie. “What’s going over there? Are we under attack?”

“I don’t know!” Pinkie replied. “But we have to stop this anyway!”

They burst through the half opened doors that led to Clan Quartz’s reception chamber. Immediately, a wave of heat crashed into Pinkie’s face so intensely, she closed her eyes and looked away, afraid that her eyes would start boiling. Stumbled a few steps back, but Sablesteel’s hoof held her steady.

“This must be the Element of Joy,” somepony said in a rasping, soft voice, like that of an old mare. Pinkie managed to open her eyes through force of will, only to behold a reception chamber bathed in lurid, red-orange light. A pool of lava now dominated the chamber, raising the temperature to near-unbearable, and separating the ponies in the chamber to two distinct side. Pinkie stood with Elder Clearstone and a few masked channellers. At the opposite side stood the source of the sudden trauma to the ley lines.

This must be Elder Magma Flow, clan leader of Clan Basalt. The use of magma alone was a dead giveaway. She was nearly hairless, no mane at all, and with wrinkled, gray-brown skin showing off only a few, random tufts of red hair here and there. Her face and neck were tattooed in mottled, swirling brown and green patterns. It was her eyes, though. Enormous eyes, enough to put even an owl to shame, stared at Pinkie with pupils so wide that they appeared to suck the light into them. Pinkie swallowed a lump in her throat instinctively. She had heard some rumors here and there, and Copper Mane had mentioned the odd way that ponies from Clan Basalt looked. To actually see it up close though...it was like staring at some alien creature from the depths of the earth, an image of a pony that some creature thought up after only getting a vague description.

To further Pinkie’s discomfiture, Magma Flow stared back, those enormous eyes agleam with cunning. Under that stare, Pinkie felt more like a prize than a pony. Like Clearstone, she was flanked by masked channellers.

“You overstep your authority, Magma Flow,” Clearstone said. Ley energy swirled around his hooves. Reassuringly, his channeling seemed the normal sort. It was Magma Flow’s that had Pinkie worried. The ley lines around her gave off the feeling of open wounds.

“You overstepped first, Clearstone,” Magma Flow replied. “You dared to accept the gift of the Slaughtering Blade, a gift that the Element of Joy obviously intended to give to Clan Basalt. You tricked her, taking full advantage of her ignorance of True Earth Pony society and her first encounter being one of your channellers.” She glanced at Copper Mane, who flinched visibly. “He should have introduced her to me first, regardless of his clan. This has been noted.”

“The Blade’s return is Miss Pie’s gift to all true earth ponies,” Clearstone said. “Clan Quartz has as much right to house it as any other clan, including Basalt. And you will do nothing to Copper Mane.”

“The Blade was forged by my ancestor,” Magma Flow hissed. “Clan Basalt resources, Clan Basalt channeling, Clan Basalt craftsponyship. Your right to it is symbolic, and the only reason why we haven’t viewed this as outright theft , Clearstone. Our claim is material and bound by blood. Give us the Blade, it belongs with us.”

“Typical Basalt bullying,” Copper Mane muttered, his eyes on the floor.

“Hey, hold on!” Pinke called out. She stepped between Clearstone and Magma Flow. Beads of sweat ran down her face and neck, whether it was from the nervousness of having to deal with this tension or the really hot pool of molten rock in the room, she wasn’t sure. “I did give back that sword for the sake of all true earth ponies! There’s no need to fight over it!”

“Miss Pie, having relinquished the sword, you have no more say in the matter of its fate,” Magma Flow said.

“This is a matter between the clans now, Miss Pie,” Clearstone added.

“Is that so?” Pinkie asked. She walked over to the stone blade. “In that case, I’m taking this back! I wanted it to help relationships with the all of you, not make things worse!”

Nightcanter reached out to grab Pinkie by the shoulder. “Pinkie, that’s not—!”

Magma Flow raised a hoof, then brought it down with a heavy tap. Pinkie winced at the sudden lurch of ley energy. The magma pool in the room suddenly bubbled and heaved, splashing slightly towards her direction. On instinct, Pinkie waved a hoof as if to bat away the droplets of liquid rock that might be splashing her way. A flash of colors followed that motion, and not only did the droplets miss her, but a portion of the pool had reverted to harmless, ordinary rock, albeit rock lined with glowing veins.

“Impressive skill for one outside the clans,” Magma Flow said. “You would do well under Basalt tutelage, Miss Pie.”

“Your channeling is weird and wrong,” Pinkie replied, her lower lip sticking out. “I don’t want to learn that sort of stuff.”

Magma Flow’s thin lips slowly stretched into a smile, though one that looked more like a particularly large crease on really old parchment. For a moment, Pinkie was worried that her lips would cause the rest of her face to crack “You should not get ahead of yourself, Miss Pie. ‘My channeling’ is not so easily achieved. I was offering more along the lines of basic and intermediate training, the sort that our best channellers obtain.” She tapped the floor again, and the rock that Pinkie has converted from lava split into molten rock again.

“Very impressive,” Nightcanter chimed in, “but is this really your big recruiting strategy? Barge in here, show off, then expect Pinkie to be impressed enough to join?”

“No,” Magma Flow replied. “My task here is to claim the blade crafted by my ancestor. Seeing Miss Pie’s ability is an extra.” She reared up slightly and brought both front hooves to the ground. The entire chamber rumbled slightly, enough to make Pinkie wince again as power pulsed across the ley lines.”

“That is enough, Magma Flow!” Clearstone snapped. He stomped a hoof of his own, and a weaker pulse of ley energy steadied the rumbling. “Take the blade if you are this crazed about it.”

With another tap of her hoof, Magma Flow willed the pool of lava in the room to solidify completely, leaving not even a single crack. When she spoke again, her smile was gone, and her tone had taken a flat, if a bit imperious tone. “Tomorrow, we will convene a meeting of clan leaders to discuss the matter of the Element of Joy’s visit.” She flashed a quick, scathing glance at Sablesteel and Nightcanter. “She may bring her escorts if she insists.”

“Miss Pie has already decided to stay with Clan Quartz, Magma Flow,” Elder Clearstone said.

“We do not recognize this hasty decision,” Magma Flow replied. “It’s only fair that she should meet with every clan before deciding such things. If she had done so at the start, she would not have given you that blade. Clearstone, your tricks will not go unnoticed.” She turned towards Pinkie. “Miss Pie, you will be asked to speak before the clan leaders to explain the purpose of your visit.”

Pinkie swallowed a lump in her throat. Tomorrow? She had an idea of what she wanted to do, but knowing it and trying to explain it to a bunch of ponies were very different things.

With that, Magma Flow grasped the sword, causing glowing veins to appear across its stone blade. She hefted it across her shoulders with ease, before turning around and walking away. Her escorts followed suit.

“As unpleasantly arrogant as any coatl,” Sablesteel hissed softly.

“Please forgive this incident, Miss Pie,” Clearstone said. The other true earth ponies in the room channeled ley energies to repair the chamber. “Magma Flow has always been imperious, but she has been getting worse with age. She sometimes forgets that this is a union of clans, not Basalt’s little empire. Please return to your room, we will deal with this convention in the morning. Stay with them, Copper Mane.”

“Reminds me of the House Song matriarch,” Nightcanter said with a chuckle. “So used to being obeyed that she can’t be bothered to be subtle. What do you think, Pinkie? Want her to be your mentor?”

“Hold on—“ Copper Mane started, but Nightcanter put a hoof to his lips.

“No,” Pinkie said with a pout. At this, Copper Mane shoved Nightcanter’s hoof aside, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Don’t be so hasty,” Sablesteel said softly as they made their way back. “You are here to become more powerful, and that was a display of power.”

“What? Are you saying that I should learn under that...that, wrinkly hot-head?” Pinkie snapped. “No way! So she can make lava come out, big deal.”

“It is,” Sablesteel replied. “I’ve fought more than my share of true earth pony channellers, Pinkie Pie, including several elders. I’ve known Frenzy Heart, who was one of the most powerful of them all. Even he would admit that we’ve seen something powerful.”

“Frenzy Heart? You knew the Anathema?” Copper Mane asked incredulously. “That would make you hundreds of years old!”

“Something to that effect,” Sablesteel muttered.

Nightcanter put a hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “Well, you don’t have to grovel under that nag, if you don’t want to,” she said. “Any technique worth learning is worth stealing, correct?”

“It wasn’t just how strong she was,” Pinkie said softly. She had to admit, she had no clue how to even get ley energy to behave so that she could make lava. Not even the slightest instinctual clue. Still... “There’s something wrong with how she uses channelling.”

“All the more to investigate,” Sablesteel said as they reached their room. “And learn. We will meet all of them tomorrow, it would be better if you, at least, pretended to be interested in all their offers to keep options open.”

Pinkie plopped down on the rock hard bed, eyes focused on the ceiling for a while. She didn’t want to think about what to say tomorrow.

This bed was not much different from her old bed back in the rock farm, really. She looked to the others. Nightcanter and Copper Mane had gone over to their beds, while Sablesteel sat by one corner, eyes alert.

“Aren’t you going to get some sleep, Sable?” Pinkie asked.

“I’m fine,” Sablesteel said. “Hurry up and sleep, Pinkie Pie. And don’t call me Sable.”

“If you need something warm and soft to get your sleep, I can scoot over,” Nightcanter added. She patted the side of her bed for emphasis. Pinkie opened her mouth to protest, but decided to observe Sablesteel instead. For her part, Sablesteel merely gave a brief glare before focusing elsewhere.

“You are safe in Clan Quartz’s burrows,” Copper Mane said, frowning. “A watch is not necessary.”

“Says the Clan Quartz channeller. Don’t take it personally, Copper Mane, I’d set up perimeter alarms and a watch while sleeping in the Royal Palace.”

“By the way, Pinkie, have you carefully thought about what you will say tomorrow?” Nightcanter asked. She was all smiles as she said that, her head resting on her right hoof as she looked at Pinkie. “This is rather important. I hope you’re not just going to blurt out your theories on Magma Dart before them. Poor Sablesteel here might have to gas the whole room if you do.”

“Hey, even I know that!” Pinkie snapped. “I’m not stupid, you know!”

“Of course not,” Nightcanter replied.”Just be the curious and eager student for now, Pinkie, we’ll slip that Magma Dart business later, like a blade through some ribs.” She turned around and rested her head on a pillow without another word.

With that, Pinkie focused on getting some sleep, lest Sablesteel started scolding both of them.


The Great Deepstone Quarter Meeting Hall, nestled at the very center of the quarter, where tunnels from every clan’s burrow converged. Each tunnel from a clan’s burrow led to the section where its members were to be seated. A stone podium stood at the head of the assembled seats close to the center of the circular chamber. When Pinkie and her group arrived with Clan Quartz, Elder Clearstone took that spot while she and her escorts took the seats directly behind it. He was dressed more formally this time. A stone mask covered his face, a large, diamond-shaped chunk of quartz at the center of where the eyes should be. Behind them, Clan Quartz ponies armed with spears and heavy crossbows guarded the entrance.

Another clan had arrived before them, much to Pinkie’s surprise. Sable had woken her up really early. At least, it felt really early. It was hard to tell underground, but she definitely still felt very sleepy so it had to be. She was sure they had arrived too early and would be sitting by themselves for an hour or two. She already knew what to expect from each clan’s appearance, including the names of their leaders. Copper Mane talked a lot about them back in the airship.

The clan already inside must be Clan Corundum. Pinkie recognized Chisel Sharp sitting behind the podium along with several masked channellers. At the podium stood a mare that must be their clan leader, Elder Ruby Red. Like all of them, she wore a type of barding made up of stone plates strapped on to her with chains. Pinkie remembered her troubles with barding back in Bastion City, and that was just with metal. How these ponies bore stone and metal while still standing was a wonder. She did notice, though, the very faint glowing veins along the insides of those plates when they turned just right. Ruby Red’s pinkish white mask was a solid chunk of corundum with a circular ruby for a left eye, and a blue sapphire of the same size and shape for a right. As with Clan Quartz, armed and heavily armored ponies guarded Clan Corundum’s entrance.

Clan Cypress came next, led by Elder Stout Limb. He was a large stallion, the largest in the whole chamber so far. His mask was wooden, with twigs sprouting from its sides that somehow had new leaves growing from them. His thick, white beard flowed out from beneath the mask, reaching down to his chest like old roots. Instead of armor, he wore a green cloak, designed to resemble large leaves sewn together. A remarkably detailed one too. Pinkie squinted at it for a while, surprised to find individual veins and discolorations on the leaf patterns. While they also had crossbows, Cypress guards also had large axes, the hallmark of being the lone lumber clan among the True Earth Ponies.

Clan Sandstone scurried in, moving so swiftly and innocuously that Pinkie nearly missed them. They were a small lot. It almost looked like a class of older colts and fillies had come filing in to observe. No armor for them as well. They were dressed in drab greys and browns, designed to blend in with the cave walls as best they could. Their leader, Elder Sand Scour, had on a mask of brown sandstone, featureless and smooth like an egg. He had with him what looked like a large box, which he stood on to level himself with his podium. Pinkie had to suppress a snicker. She didn’t mean to be mean, and she certainly didn’t want to start off on the wrong hoof.

Then came Clan Gneiss, in the opposite manner as Sandstone. A pair of ponies first appeared by the entrance to their tunnel armed, not with spears or axes, but with trumpets. They blasted the chamber with an obnoxiously grandiose series of notes just as Elder Sparkle Sheen pranced in. Her stone mask was gilded with gold around the edges, and studded with various gems, particularly diamonds and emeralds, so that there was little room for smooth surface. Its chin was attached to a fine, platinum chain that linked to an enormous golden collar around Sparkle Sheen’s neck. The collar itself was gaudy with gem work. Sparkle Sheen placed her hooves on the podium with deliberately exaggerated slowness, showing off a pair of gold fetlock bands.

And the last to arrive, likely on purpose, was Clan Basalt.

Magma Flow walked in with a regal mien, as if she was a princess about to address her realm. Her mask was dark grey basalt with lurid streaks of rust red like bloody tears. In contrast to the dark mask, she wore a long cloak of brightly coloured feathers. Normally, Pinkie would have adored such a whimsical, riotous explosion of colors, especially in this gloomy, serious cave full of very serious ponies. But she had already heard of pegasus pinion cloaks, and how they were meant to show off how many pegasi the clan had killed. For a cloak to be so luxurious...Pinkie didn’t even want to imagine it. While her back bristled with the morbid trophies of dead pegasi, Magma Flow’s neck and chest were wrapped in strips of cloth and chain, creating a harness festooned with colorful horns. Though she had the outward appearance of being the most whimsically dressed of the clan leaders, Magma Flow remained a bastion of oppressive intimidation.

Behind Magma Flow, Clan Basalt channellers filled the seats and guarded the entryway. They were all clad in dark gray robes bright red veins that resembled cracks. It was as if a thin sheet of rock was the only thing holding back a torrent of magma they hid inside themselves. Their masks were also dark gray, but without the rust red streaks. Pinkie didn’t see any ordinary true earth ponies like she did with the other clans. She leaned over to Copper Mane and whispered. “Is Basalt all channellers? Is that why they’re in charge?”

Copper Mane first glanced at Clearstone before whispering back. “From what I’ve been told, they’ve always been able to produce many talented channellers, but this is the first time in our history that they have been able to fill their chamber seats entirely with them. I suppose the blood of Magma Dart is not only strong, but resurgent. They do have non-channellers, but this is clearly for show.”

Before Pinkie could say anything else, the sharp rap of a gavel meeting its sound board called attention to Magma Flow. “Everypony is here,” she said. “The True Earth Pony Clan Leaders convene today to discuss and decide on the matter of the Element of Joy’s arrival.” She shot a look at Pinkie. “Miss Pinkamena Diane Pie came here after speaking with one of Quartz’s ‘missionaries’, a commendable result of what we first viewed as a waste of time.” At this, that red-stained mask turned slightly towards Copper Mane, who turned his eyes to the ground, visibly shaken. “Basalt approves of this, and we would send more true earth pony missionaries if the Legion wasn’t so strict on the influx of our ponies into the Heartland.”

“All well and good, Basalt, but your clan tried to imitate that move with a large, heavily armed group, and they were massacred,” Stout Limb rumbled. “Maybe the boy was just lucky that he found Miss Pie, and the Heartland as a whole is filled with hatred for true earth ponies.”

Pinkie glanced nervously at Sablesteel, who remained seated with her forelegs crossed. At least she wasn’t wearing her gear.

“Basalt sent troops and an elder to take you in when they intercepted Copper Mane’s message to his clan,” Sablesteel had explained back in the airship when Pinkie brought it up. It seemed like something to know before meeting the True Earth Ponies. “They were instructed to use any means necessary to get you. The mistress ordered me to take care of them.”

That was a bit of information best not brought up.

“The loss has been noted,” Magma Flow replied. She glanced briefly at Clearstone, who held her gaze without a flinch. “As has Quartz’s attempt to bring Miss Pie to their side before the other clans could have a say. What is important, however, is that she is actually here and now in the presence of all clans. Miss Pie, we are aware that you must have come here for a purpose. The True Earth Ponies will hear you as a whole.”

Pinkie took that as a sign to stand up. When Magma Flow gestured to the center of the meeting chamber, she trotted over tentatively, passing a nervous glance towards her “escorts”. Nightcanter replied with a smile and a little wave for support. Sable offered a curt nod that Pinkie took as approval. Copper Mane had on a worried look that didn’t quite help her confidence.

“Um...hi!” Pinkie began when she took the central floor. She did a little spin to show her face and her best smile to each clan leader. Their stone masks and lack of movement was all the reply that got her. “My name’s Pinkie, and—“

“What are those marks on your rump?” Stout Limb asked. “Are those slave brands? Were you a slave in the Heartland?”

“My—“ Pinkie turned around just to check. “Oh, those are my cutie marks. No, they’re not slave brands! I was a baker in the Heartland, not a slave!”

“All the ponies from the Heartland carry that mark, Cypress,” Ruby Red said. “Not just the earth ponies.”

“I see,” Stout Limb said, his forelegs crossing.

“I can see a growing fashion trend starting from them,” Sparkle Sheen remarked. The chain on her mask jingled as she tapped her chin. “We’ll make a killing with our tattoo artists.”

“Let Miss Pie finish,” Magma Flow said with a quick rap of her gavel.

“Um, right,” Pinkie went on. “Like I said, my name’s Pinkie, and I’m not a slave. I’ve been learning about ley channeling ever since I found out about it from one of your travelling elders. It’s been really useful, especially when I was fighting that mean old alicorn, and then those ghosts in the abyss...”

Though the clan leaders all wore masks to hide their expressions, the weight of their incredulous stares pressed down at Pinkie from all sides.

“Anyway,” Pinkie continued as formally as she could manage, “as Element of Joy, I need to master as many skills I can to help me and my friends fight the abyss. That’s why I’m here, to learn from the True Earth Ponies.” She straightened her back and stood as confidently as possible as she looked at her audience. She wasn’t really lying, but it still felt weird to hide what she wanted to do.

“The True Earth Ponies remain citizens of Equestria,” Magma Flow said. “We know already of the Elements of Harmony and their purpose in fighting the enemies of Equestria. If our tradition of ley channeling can help one of them, we are obligated to lend our strength.”

Pinkie’s smile widened a bit. That sounded good, especially coming from that cranky Magma Flow. How the True Earth Ponies knew about the Elements of Harmony continued to be disconcerting, but she supposed it made things go a little bit smoother.

“I have seen for myself a measure of what you can do with your brief foray into ley channeling,” Magma Flow went on. “And, certainly, each of the clan leaders in this room can sense your potential. We are also pleased that you have returned the blade stolen by the Anathema to us. For all of this Clan Basalt shall take you in for your continued education, under my personal tutelage.”

“You are presuming too much, Basalt!” Clearstone exclaimed. “Miss Pie has already said that she will learn within our clan.”

“Um...yeah...” Pinkie replied, this time with a bit more restraint, as Magma Flow wasn’t flinging magma around. “I did say something like that.”

“When did these dealings take place?” Stout Limb asked. “I did not take you for the conniver, Quartz.”

“I’m impressed,” Sparkle Sheen added, leaning forward from her podium. “But I do not agree that the Element of Joy’s education be left to the sheer luck of finding her first. No offense, Quartz, I have nothing against your clan’s techniques.”

“How about a vote, then?” Sand Scour finally spoke up. The entire room fell silent after that. That mildly pleasant feeling Pinkie was getting earlier dissipated while the clan leaders focused on Basalt’s podium.

“Agreed,” Magma Flow swiftly replied with a sharp rap of her gavel. The council shall now vote on the clan to initiate Miss Pie into proper True Earth Pony ley channelling.”

“Clan Cypress votes for Clan Cypress,” Stout Limb groused unenthusiastically.

“Clan Gneiss votes for Clan Gneiss,” Sparkle Sheen chimed in.

“Clan Quartz votes for Clan Quartz,” Clearstone said.

Pinkie looked around her in bewilderment. Things weren’t going to go anywhere if—

“Clan Sandstone votes for Clan Basalt,” Sand Scour said.

So that was why the rest of the clans were so uneasy with the voting. Pinkie glanced back to Magma Flow. That dark stone mask merely hid that conniving smile. Even Pinkie could tell it was there. Obviously, all it would take was for Clan Basalt to vote for itself.

“Clan Corundum votes for Clan Quartz,” Ruby Red said.

Heads in the chamber swivelled so fast that Pinkie could have sworn she heard a whiplash.

“Corundum...” Magma Flow said. “Did you just misspeak? Or perhaps you forgot your clan’s name?”

“Clan Corundum votes for Clan Quartz,” Ruby Red said even louder. “Is that clear enough for you, Basalt?”

Silence again, with every mask now facing Magma Flow.

“Then, Clan Basalt votes for Clan Basalt,” Magma Flow said. “We have a tie. We hereby invoke the mandate passed down to Magma Dart by Rock Maven himself. In the event of a tie between the choice of the Unified True Earth Pony Clan leader and that of another, the leader’s choice shall prevail.”

“Hold,” Sparkle Sheen said. “You are skipping steps, Basalt. During such a deadlock, clan leaders are first allowed to re-evaluate their votes. Only when the tie remains does Magma Dart’s mandate take effect.”

“And who has re-evaluated their vote, Gneiss?” Magma Flow asked.

“We have. Clan Gneiss votes for Clan Quartz.” Sparkle Sheen looked to Clearstone as she said this.

“It’s settled then!” Clearstone called out. “Miss Pie remains both guest and student of Clan Quartz!”

The clan leaders murmured with the ponies on their side. Magma Flow remained as still as any statue, her mask turned towards Ruby Red. After a while, she spoke again. “Very well, we acknowledge that Miss Pie shall learn under Clan Quartz...for as long as she wishes to.”

“You are inventing provisions on the spot, Basalt,” Clearstone said.

“If Miss Pie were to decide to move on, Quartz, are you going to stop her?” Magma Flow asked.

“Certainly not,” Clearstone replied.

“Then it is as we have just said,” Magma Flow said. She looked over to Pinkie. “Do you wish to say anything else to the council?”

“Yeah!” Pinkie replied. “Uh...” she stopped when she noticed Nightcanter make a face out of the corner of her eye. “I mean...not at the moment.”

“We will adjourn this meeting then,” Magma Flow said. She rapped her gavel against its sounding block one more time before walking away. It was only when she had disappeared into Clan Basalt’s entryway did Pinkie breathe a sigh of relief.

“Quartz!” Sparkle Sheen called out while the rest of Clan Gneiss walked out. “A word with you.”

Ruby Red said nothing, but she and Chisel Sharp also stayed behind while Clan Corundum departed. Nightcanter, Sablesteel, and Copper Mane trotted over to Pinkie.

“I am so glad you decided to stay, Pinkie,” Copper Mane said. “You are a mare of honor.”

Nightcanter let out a brief snicker, but she patted Pinkie’s back with a hoof. “Surprisingly composed and restrained,” she remarked. “Not bad.”

“Don’t be so quick to celebrate,” Nightcanter said. “Clan Corundum just upset Clan Basalt’s typical way of winning. They will try more extreme methods.”

Both Ruby Red and Sparkle Sheen were approaching Clearstone when Pinkie looked up.

“Time to find out what our little help just cost,” Nightcanter said with a smile.