Chapter Twenty-One
Serrated Dagger
"So tell me," Serrated asked when she and Page had separated. "How did you and Night meet anyway?"
"Here in the library, actually," Page admitted. "This is where I grew up, and... well, it was right after his first talentmitzvah, when he came here to get some space away from his parents after... you know, I guess."
Both mares nodded somberly, and Page continued. "Really, it was love at first sight for the both of us."
Serrated bowed her head at that. "Well, I guess at least some good came out of that day," she said.
Hidden nodded too. "Mom and Dad were not happy with themselves when we asked them what happened then and they realized how badly they'd messed up, both then and afterward," she said. "Like I said earlier, I wish I'd known about this a lot sooner."
"Me too," Serrated said.
Then she blushed. "Um, I hate to say this, but... I need to step around the corner for a bit, I'll be back."
Page nodded understandingly and gave her directions, for which Serrated gratefully thanked her before exiting the room.
Some minutes later, having finished her business and washed her hooves, she re-entered the hall and found an elderly griffon standing there. "Um, hello," she said.
The griffon smiled. "Hello yourself," she said. "Serrated Dagger, sister of young Night Blade?"
"That's me," Serrated said. "Can I help you?"
"Hopefully, yes," the griffon replied. "Follow me."
Serrated did so, until they entered an office marked with the name Hush Tone. There, the griffon sat behind the desk, and gazed at her silently. Finally, she spoke.
"So, what are your intentions towards my ward?" she asked.
Serrated blinked. "Intentions? I..."
The griffon clicked her beak. "I am the High Matron of this library, and Page's guardian," she said. "I understand you're her coltfriend's sister. I also know that one of your other brothers spent some time here with her yesterday, both because he was fascinated by our library and because of reasons of his own involving some of our new residents. So now, I ask. What exactly do you want with Page?"
Serrated felt her hackles rise at this line of questioning. "I want to try and connect with all of my baby brother's friends," she said. "I want to get to know him, seeing as how badly I failed to do so before as it is only recently that it has been brought home to me just how much we all screwed up on that end. I want he, his friends and his marefriend to know how much I regret that screwing up." She bowed her head. "And I especially want to welcome Page into the family, since she's been there for him when we weren't," she said softer. "I've only known her a short time, but I can tell she is a good person, and I already see her as a sister."
For a moment Hush Tone was silent, and then she nodded approvingly. "And I can see that you mean every word of that," the elderly griffon said. "That's good."
Serrated looked at her. "Did... you do this sort of thing with Deep when he was here the other day?" she asked.
"Well, I would have, but his lawyer was there," Hush Tone said with a chuckle. "That mare was about as protective of him as I am of Page."
Serrated smiled. "Yeah, she is," she said.
"So tell me young lady," Hush Tone said. "I have a pretty good idea on some of this, but how is it that you don't know much about your own brother?"
"Because he's the youngest of five, and all of us were out of the house and living our own lives, in places other than Canterlot, by the time he was even born," Serrated said. "My oldest brother, Crooked Blade... his son is a year older than Night, if that tells you anything."
Hush Tone raised an eyebrow. "Really."
Serrated nodded. "Night was a total surprise," she said. "Mom and Dad were actually getting ready to retire when they found out, and... I guess they weren't exactly expecting to have to go back into the family business and everything else they'd been set to leave behind."
"And what were you doing all this time?" Hush Tone asked.
"I'm a singer," Serrated replied, looking down at her cutie mark, a microphone over a piece of sheet music before turning back at Hush Tone. "I hold concerts all over the world... Deep, he's an artist. Hidden took over running the family business from Mom and Dad when they officially stepped down, Crooked and my nephew Striking are in the Royal Guard, and... well, from what I've been told, I guess Night does sword-fighting tournaments and helps save the world from monsters."
Hush Tone smiled faintly. "Quite," she said. "And apparently has falling-outs with his parents."
Serrated winced. "Yes, he... they came to see him a couple of days ago and he blew up at them because he felt they hadn't cared about him before and were only interested in his life now that he was a hero," she said. "Then we all came to see him and he exploded at us too. And we deserved it." She bowed her head. "After that... I don't know how, but before we went to try and see him, Mom and Dad realized how badly they had messed up their relationship with him. After our little meeting with him, they both met up with him again in private and all of them talked things out long enough to come to an understanding."
Hush Tone nodded. "At least they are making steps in the right direction," she said. "Some families don't get the chance before it's too late."
Serrated had the feeling this was a sensitive topic for her. "Yeah," she said.
"Well then." Hush Tone rose. "I expect my ward is wondering what's keeping you, so I'll let you go back to her."
Serrated nodded. "Yes... and Matron Hush Tone?"
"Hmm?"
"It was good to meet you."
Hush Tone smiled. "Thank you, young lady," she said.
Serrated made it back to Page's office without any further encounters, where she found Hidden and the younger mare chatting happily.
"So," Hidden was saying. "There we were, all covered in mud and feathers, right in the middle of an entire room full of nobles - including our parents - in their best outfits. Everypony was just staring at us, like they'd never seen anything so absurd."
Page laughed. "Oh my."
Hidden nodded. "Mom and Dad didn't know whether to laugh or ground us for a month," she said. "As I recall, they did both."
Page was still giggling. "That is still funny," she said.
Hidden nodded again with a smile. "As Clean Home was ushering me and Crooked out to get cleaned up, I heard somepony else saying something like Kids will be kids, I suppose," she said. "Which is true enough. Deep and Serrated have their own stories about their more wild moments, and not just the ones involving the family airskimmers." Then she looked up and saw Serrated standing in the doorway. "Hey, sis."
"Hey." Serrated smiled. "Sorry it took me so long, I had a run-in with one of your colleagues on the way back, Page."
Page groaned. "Please tell me it wasn't Polished Apple," she said. "I hate to speak ill of one of my coworkers, but that mare gives me such a headache sometimes."
"No, it was the Head Matron, actually," Serrated said. "She's nice. Stern, but nice."
Page's eyes widened. "Oh..."
Serrated nodded. "I don't mind that she wanted to talk to me though," she said. "It just shows how much she cares."
Page nodded slowly, and smiled at Serrated. "That's good."
She looked like she was about to say more, when suddenly she tilted her head, and after a few moments of silence, groaned. "I'm sorry to say this, but duty calls," she said. "One of my people is apparently here for another visit and wants to talk with me about some financial matters that involve providing support for our hive."
Hidden straightened up and looked directly at Page. "Do you think he'd agree to talk with me instead?" she asked. "I do run one of Equestria's biggest business firms. And I might be out on vacation for this week, but I certainly don't mind doing a little work to help you with this sort of thing."
Page smiled again. "I'd be honored if you would speak with him for me," she said, then tilted her head again. "Tymbal will show you the way."
Even as she said that, there was a timid knock on the door, and Page's horn lit up to open it and let a smaller drone in, his ears flicking as he looked at the two nox ponies curiously.
"Tymbal, these are Night Blade's sisters, Hidden Dagger and Serrated Dagger," Page told him. "Hidden Dagger has offered to meet with Stock Market in my place, so if you would escort her to the appropriate conference room?"
The other changeling nodded. "Come with me, please," he said.
When the two had left, Serrated found herself a spot to sit down. "This happen a lot?" she asked.
"Until our Queen formally reveals herself to the rest of the world, which isn't likely to happen anytime soon, I'm the highest visible authority in our Hive, and her assigned proxy when it comes to working with the Equestrian and other governmental officials," Page said with a sigh and an ear-flick. "Which means things like this come to me, whether I like it or not."
Serrated nodded sympathetically. "Every performer needs a manager, and they stuck you with that job, huh?" she asked.
"Interesting way of putting it," Page said. "But essentially, yes." She sighed. "All I ever really wanted was to be a librarian here, even before I got my Cutie Mark, and later to spend my life with your brother. But then things happened, and I find myself with a lot more responsibilities."
Serrated nodded understandingly, then tilted her head. "I didn't know changelings could get Cutie Marks," she said.
"Pureblood changelings still can't," Page said. "But several generations ago, there was... well, one of my ancestors had relations with a unicorn stallion and gave birth to another of my many times great-grandmothers as a result. There've been a few more who mated into our line since then, and their magic is what allows me, and other mixed-blood changelings born of similar pairings, to get Cutie Marks."
Serrated blinked. "Really?"
Page nodded. "It's a very rare practice, but there are a few - a very few - families who've done it," she said. "Most of us don't approve of the practice, and before the Pardon, a majority of Equestrians would have viewed it as an outright crime if they knew about it. Tribalism and blood purity may have been generally abolished among ponies, but... well, you know that despite their labeling us the 'fourth tribe', most wouldn't consider us as real ponies and there isn’t much lost love towards ponies from the more…” Page paused, probably thinking of how best to say this. “Thickheaded purists. Sorry; there is no real better way of saying it without using the old changeling way of describing emotions and that doesn’t translate well.” She flashed her a sad smile. “There are probably some who would still think of mixing our tribes as indecent and wrong even now, despite our new legal status."
"Well, you can count me out of that group," Serrated said. "Love is love, no matter who the ones involved are."
Page smiled at Serrated. "I appreciate that," she said. Then she looked more serious. "Serrated, I have to ask," she said. "Earlier, when you said you'd never had a steady partner... I felt a small twinge of emotion from you, one I recognized." She gave her another smile. "Is there something you want to talk about?"
Serrated looked around. "Promise not to tell my family until I figure this out?" she asked.
Page nodded.
"All right," Serrated said. "The truth is, there's this pony who's been one of my roadies for so long, and we've gotten to be... really good friends." She blushed. "And I'd like for it to be more. But... they've never implied that they like me as anything more, and I'm afraid that if I try and make a move..." She trailed off, but Page was nodding understandingly.
"You're afraid it'll ruin your friendship," she said knowingly.
"Exactly," Serrated said. "Not to mention how my parents might react. They've never voiced any opinions on this sort of thing, but... well..." She sighed. "I'd like to think they'd be okay if I came home with a marefriend, but I just don't know."
Page nodded. "I can't say I know how they'd feel about such a relationship," she said. "But I can promise that if you do find you have a problem, I'll be here for you."
Serrated smiled gratefully.
Page Turner
About an hour later, Page and Serrated were still happily talking when the door opened again, and Hidden Dagger entered. "I'm back."
"Welcome back," Page said. "How did it go?"
"Can I make a confession?" Hidden asked. At Page's nod, she continued. "I have been a career businesspony since I graduated. I've learned the ways of political and bureaucratic maneuvering for even longer than that, it's kind of a necessity to survive in the business world, and I love putting those techniques to use when I'm facing other businessponies, to make sure that everypony involved in our deals gets exactly what they need. The whole challenge involved... for me, it's fun. And today, when mister Stock Market and I were negotiating a very productive outcome for he and your people as a whole, it was one of the most enjoyable rounds of business talk I have ever had." She grinned and pulled out a small slip of paper. "If you ever need me to do this kind of thing again, just give me a call, and I'll be there as soon as I can."
Page accepted the slip with a smile. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," she said. "And thank you for everything."
"It was my pleasure," Hidden said. "Oh, and I think he wants to talk some more, over lunch here. If you don't mind, that is."
Page shook her head. While she wasn’t completely trusting that Stock had given up his plans completely, she had to listen to him as he was one of the few changelings that had the means to provide wealth to her tribe. "It's actually a good time," she said. "I help out in the kitchen a lot, and I'd love to fix something for the two of you." She blushed. "I just have to remember to watch the spices."
"Don't hold them on my account," Serrated said. "I like things zingy sometimes."
Hidden chuckled at her sister's comment. "We'll let you take care of that then," she said.
Both nox ponies headed for the door after getting a promise from Page to let the two take her shopping, and Page followed them, only to see it open and one of the older-looking changelings come in. "Miss Turner, can I have a word with you?" she asked.
Page nodded. "Of course." She turned to Hidden and Serrated, who were looking concerned. "I'll be with you in just a bit," she said.
The pair nodded, and headed out. When they were gone and the door was shut, she turned to the Sage in front of her. "What is it?" she asked, a little more harshly than she had intended but she couldn’t let them think they could walk over her. Once again, all the issues of being the Queen were starting to come up again.
The Sage bowed. "My Queen... I understand you are concerned about your consort, and your friends with him," she said. "And I feel there is an ability you should be aware of, that would let you communicate with him from a distance, even if he is not actively part of the hivemind at this time."
Page regarded her closer now. "Tell me," she said.
"It is an ability unique to our queens," the Sage said. "And one that can only be safely used if the Hivemind Body is intact. It will allow you, if you so desire, to reach out to another of our people and, if they are willing, to use them as a channel. Their body will speak to another, but it will be your words and voice. But again, they must be willing to let you do this; they cannot be forced."
Page's eyes widened, and she nodded slowly. "I thank you for sharing this with me," she said honestly, diverting some love towards the Sage.
The elder changeling nodded. "It's the least I can do," she said. "Not all of us may agree with your choice of consort, but I can tell you two are crazy about one another. If being able to reach out to him will help your peace of mind, I'll gladly help with it."
Page smiled at that. "Tell me what to do," she said.
A little while later, having made contact with a changeling named Gareth, who'd promised to go and find Night and her other friends so she could speak with them later on, she headed for the kitchen to start her work on fixing lunch.
As she passed the dining room where the others were settling in, she quirked her ears as she heard them speaking.
"You know, I like it here," Serrated was saying. "I really do. I like spending time with Page, and this library as a whole... it's so welcoming."
Hidden's chuckle was also audible. "I feel the same way, sis," she said. "I just wish we'd come sooner."
Page smiled as she felt the happiness wafting off the two, and trotted off to the kitchen.
Night Blade
"Oog." Vix-Lei winced as she settled into a sitting position on a convenient rock and lifted one of her legs up to rub the bottom of her hoof. "That was a schlep."
"You don't say," Night Blade said wryly as he and Wind Breaker began setting up the campfire. "And we have a few days yet to go both ways."
"Yeah, I know," Vix-Lei said, switching her leg out for the other. "I wish I could have packed a smaller airskimmer in my gear."
"With your driving, the locals would probably not be too happy if you did," Wind Breaker said with a sigh.
"Yeah, but I can dream, can't I?" Vix-Lei asked. "I know I carry a lot of stuff with me, but being able to store something bigger than myself in a tiny pouch would be convenient."
"It would," Night agreed. "Maybe Rex could figure something out for you when we're back."
Vix-Lei nodded, and then rose again to start fixing dinner for them as the two males set up the rest of the camp. They ate quickly, intending to get an early start on the night's rest and then get going first thing in the morning.
Vix-Lei yawned and stretched as she headed towards the tree she'd be sleeping against, when suddenly, she tilted her ears up. "Sometaur's coming," she said.
About a moment later, a griffon swooped down and landed at the edge of their camp. "Hello!" he said. "Misters... Night Blade, Wind Breaker, and miss Vix-Lei?"
"That's us," Night answered warily. "Can we help you?"
The griffon nodded. "I'm here as a message from my Queen," he said.
Vix-Lei raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know griffons had a queen," she said. "Don't they have a purely democratic setup?"
The griffon blushed. "Ah, well..." Green flames enveloped him, and when they faded, a male changeling stood before them. "This better?"
Night Blade relaxed and nodded as he realized who had sent the changeling. "What does your Queen want to tell us?" he asked, uncertain if there was anypony in hearing range.
"Hold on a second," the drone replied. "It's safe to talk, I can tell. But still whatever you do, don't freak out on me, 'cause it'll make it harder to maintain the connection."
"What do you mean?" Wind Breaker asked.
The drone's eyes went flat, and then turned to a familiar shade of blue. "He means this," a familiar female voice said.
"Page‽" three voices asked in astonishment, before Night took the lead. "What- how are you doing this? How long have you been able to?"
"Gareth agreed to let me speak through him for a little while," Page's voice said. "As for when, I only found out a few hours ago, and how... according to my Sages, it's an ability all changeling queens have had, though it has its limitations. I've only been able to do it safely since I remade the Hivemind Body, not that I ever tried before, and I can only do it if the changeling lending me their voice does so willingly."
"Right." Night Blade calmed himself. "So, what's happened?"
"I wanted to check up on you," Page admitted. "One of my people... er, saw the three of you going into the hospital the other day, and that you had what looked like a hurt wing. Since the entire hivemind knows how I feel about you, they told me, and I couldn't help but be concerned."
Night grimaced a little, but nodded. "Apparently my injuries from our fight with Sharp Point were not entirely fixed, and chose now to flare up," he said. "I can't use my wings until they're fully healed again, which probably won't be until after we get home."
The changeling drone's face adopted a worried expression. "Night..."
"I'll manage," Night said stiffly. "And I promise, I'll be careful." He smiled. "I love you, Page."
"I love you too, Night," Page said. "There's another thing I should say."
"What's that?" Night asked.
"Your brother, Deep Blade, dropped by the library with Rex and Xvital the other day," Page said. "We had a nice long conversation, and he's... well, I can tell he wants to make up for his neglecting you all this time." Gareth's ears flicked, just as Page's must have. "And your sisters came to visit me this morning; they wanted to get to know your friends. Since it was just me they could see then, we spent a lot of time talking, and I could feel that they really do regret neglecting you all this time." The drone's ears flicked again. "They want to try and get to know you better when you get back."
Night nodded slowly. "I see," he said. "That is... good to hear."
Gareth's face smiled. "I also told all three of them, Deep the day before and Hidden and Serrated today, about my being your marefriend, since the rest of your family already knows," she said. "All of them were surprised but supportive."
"That's also good," Night said with a nod.
Page nodded back through Gareth. "I can't keep up the connection much longer, and Hidden and Serrated are waiting for me in my office, so I'll make this quick," she said. "Wind, one of my drones also told me that you found some information that could lead you to your family. How are you doing?"
"I'm doing," Wind said with a sigh. "It'll be at least another day or two walking to get up there, and the same time back."
Gareth's head nodded. "I hope it goes well," she said. "And Vix-Lei, how about you?"
"Doing good," Vix-Lei said. "You take care of yourself, and Rex and Xvital too, okay?"
"I will," Page said. "I don't know if I can contact you like this again anytime soon... if I can send another message in a few days, I will, but if I can't? Be safe, all of you."
"We will be," the trio chorused, before Gareth's eyes went flat again, and then he shook his head.
"That was a humdinger of an experience," he muttered.
"But a much appreciated one," Wind Breaker said. "Thank you, for agreeing to it."
"Ah, it's nothin'," Gareth said. "Least I could do for the people who got us all pardoned." He stretched his front legs, shifting back into griffon form as he did. "Gotta go now; the missus is getting supper ready but... you take care, okay?"
"We will," Night replied, before the changeling-turned-griffon flapped his wings and took off again.
"Well," Vix-Lei said. "That was unexpected."
Night and Wind Breaker nodded simultaneously, before Wind spoke. "Good to know she's keeping an eye out for us," he said.
Night nodded again. "I appreciate it too," he said, and Vix-Lei nodded her own agreement.
For a moment, there was silence, and then Wind Breaker looked at the two of them. "Guys... I think I need to say something," he said.
"What's that, kitty-bird?" Vix-Lei asked.
"It's just... ever since the Nightmare, and realizing that one aspect of my powers, I've kind of felt a deeper connection to Page," Wind admitted. "Not a romantic one," he said as Night started to open his mouth. "But at the same time, more than just friendship. I just... somehow, I think we were linked even before we met, in some way. But I don't know how."
Vix-Lei blinked. "That's... unexpected," she muttered, unusually serious for once.
Night nodded. "Have you told her about this?" he asked.
"No," Wind confessed. "I've been trying to figure it out since it hit me, but between everything going on, I just haven't been able to. I am going to talk to Page about it though at some point." He sighed. "Maybe all it is, is that I have a couple of changeling ancestors too. But that's just a wild guess, and I don't really know." He sighed. "It's really been bothering me, not knowing."
Night laid a hoof on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out, my friend," he said. "Somehow."
Wind smiled at him gratefully.
"You aren't alone in this, Windy," Vix-Lei added. "None of us are." She smiled. "Now, come on. Let's get some shut-eye."
Wind nodded as he and Night headed for their own resting spots, Night only closing his eyes when he saw his friend had done the same.
Somehow, despite Wind's words, he could not bring himself to feel jealous of the other male, yet at the same time, he wondered what links Wind and his marefriend could have.
With a yawn, he drifted off to sleep.
Sweet Dagger
It was early evening when five members of the Blade family sat down to dinner, three of them having been specifically invited to join their parents at the manor (Crooked and Striking had also been invited, but respectfully declined on the grounds that they were both out handling guard duties, or so Crooked had said when his mother had contacted their headquarters to ask if they could come). After a few minutes of silence, Sweet Dagger spoke up. "So, how was everypony's day?"
"It was a day," Deep Blade said. "Students being students. Wish I could have gone to the library after classes again, but I had a parent-teacher meeting this afternoon that I couldn't skip out on."
Hidden nodded understandingly. "I don't blame you for wanting to go back," she said. "Serrated and I spent the entire day at the library with Page and later some of her friends, and we certainly enjoyed ourselves."
Sweet Dagger's eyes widened. So that's what they meant when they said they had something important to do today, she realized. I should have guessed.
"No disrespect meant, but shouldn't you have been taking care of the family business in Manehatten?" Deep asked, drawing Sweet out of her thoughts.
"I have executive directors for a reason, Deep," Hidden replied. "Ms. Hackney can handle most things in Manehatten while I'm away, and if an emergency comes up where she really needs me, she has my numbers for both here and our Canterlot offices." She frowned. "I can't stay out forever, but I can certainly manage a week or two of vacation."
Deep looked like he wanted to say something more, but Lethal Blade raised a hoof, getting his children's attention. "How was your time at the library?" he asked, looking towards Hidden and Serrated. "Deep has already given us his view on miss Turner and her friends there, but I'd like to hear yours too."
"It was great," Serrated Dagger replied happily. "Page is wonderful, and I can't wait to officially have her as a sister."
Sweet Dagger smiled at that. "That's good to hear," she said happily.
Hidden nodded in agreement. "For all that she's nearly half our age, it was very easy to forget that and relate to her as a responsible adult," she said. "Our youngest brother's marefriend is very easy to get along with."
Lethal Blade nodded. "Your mother and I look forward to meeting her as well," he said. "Once Night and his other two friends have returned to Canterlot, of course."
"Speaking of Night, did miss Turner say when she expects him to be back?" Sweet asked.
"She said something about having gotten a message saying that the three of them are having to walk from the town they landed at to another one further away, though I don't know how far," Hidden replied. "Apparently the place doesn't have a dock for skimmers or passenger chariots to land at, and the roads between it and their initial landing area are kind of rough. And since their minotaur friend doesn't have wings..."
Sweet and Lethal both nodded understandingly.
"Speaking of, we found out how they all met for the first time," Serrated spoke up. "Page says that she and Night were on a date the night of the Honor Festival, and while she was away from him for a bit, she saw this other changeling being harassed by a gang of thugs. She stood up for them, then Night and these four strangers all came to help her, including Vix-Lei - the minotaur who flies like crazy," she added for her parents' benefit. "After that, they went through a lot of stuff and got to be friends, though Page didn't give all the details. She did say the papers got at least some of it wrong, that most of the time they just wanted to get around without getting caught and had to defend themselves, but the papers reported that as deliberate sabotage or attacks on Equestrian soil."
"Did she say anything about what happened during the Battle of the Everfree Forest?" Sweet asked. "Your father and I have read that article again recently, and we were wondering how... accurate certain parts were. Obviously, the part about her being a changeling was true, but the rest, we were... willing to give Night and his friends the benefit of the doubt, considering it has since been reported that they were all being framed as traitors before."
"We didn't think to ask about that part of their travels," Hidden admitted. "I get the feeling they're not happy about it though."
Lethal nodded. "Crooked and Striking haven't said anything about it either, just that even before that, they were... under suspicion for a while, until Night and his friends returned and were found to be innocent of the crimes they were being accused of," he said. "I can't help but wonder if that's when he lost Determined Point."
"He what?" Deep suddenly shot to his hooves. "How-"
"Deep Blade!" Sweet looked at him sternly. "Sit down. Now."
Deep did, his nostrils flaring as he tried to calm himself. Finally, he looked at his parents questioningly, and they exchanged looks for a moment before Lethal spoke again. "The night of our family meeting, while you and your siblings went to try and talk to Night at the hotel, your mother and I went to the gym where Night and his team trained," he said. "We wanted to look at their records of all the tournaments he was in. As it happens, he was there too, and we had another talk. He was... more willing to listen to us this time, and we agreed to try and start over."
Deep nodded. "Xvital mentioned he was on speaking terms with you again when we were talking yesterday, but she didn't say how it happened," he said.
"Well, that's how," Lethal said. "At any rate, during our talk, I noticed he was carrying a different sword than usual. He explained that Determined Point had broken while he was fighting to protect his friends. That is also when he got the scar over his eye, though he did not get into the specifics of the fight." He paused to look around. "At some point after this, he had free access to an armory belonging to some people who were willing to let him re-arm himself. I don't know who they were, but apparently they had a Masamane blade in their possession, which he's been using as a replacement weapon since."
"Whoa." Serrated Dagger muttered. "I'm no expert, but I didn't know there were still any of those around."
"Supposedly, Masamane himself had them all destroyed before he died," Hidden told her. "If one survived..."
"Night himself doesn't know where they got it, or so he told us," Sweet Dagger said. "The people it belonged to weren't in any mood to explain, from what he said."
Deep nodded slowly, finally looking calm again. "Well, if Determined Point broke in a battle to protect its owner's friends, then it had a good and worthy end," he said. "Shame it's gone, but c'est la vie."
"Getting back to Vix-Lei," Sweet suddenly said. "You said you heard how she and Night met. Did they say where she learned to drive?"
Serrated nodded. "That, I did ask about, after Rex and Xvital came in this afternoon," she said. "According to Rex, her father is the shipmaster of Ledra in the Minos Islands, and she and her brothers all grew up around airskimmers. He also said their employees include a number of minotaurs who earned extra money driving passenger chariots while they were in college, and they taught her most of what she knows."
"Xvital had more than a few grumbles about that," Hidden added. "Apparently her stomach and airships do not get along."
Sweet Dagger tutted sympathetically. "I see," she said.
"We also found out that apparently, the night we went to see him, Vix-Lei had taken it upon herself to throw him a proper talentmitzvah, with their friends and a couple of her brothers," Hidden said, giving her parents a pointed look. "That's what the four of us walked in on, though we didn't realize it at the time."
Both elder nox ponies looked down. "At least someone was able to give him the celebration he deserved," Sweet Dagger finally said.
Lethal nodded. "We will have to thank her for doing so when she, Night and their other friend..."
"Wind Breaker," Sweet Dagger said, prompting a snort of laughter from Deep, though his mother's firm glance his direction cut him short.
"Wind Breaker," Lethal said with a nod. "Return from their travels." He glanced at his son, who was clearly trying to hold back another laugh. "Is there something you wish to say, Deep?"
"I'm sorry, it's just... who on Equuis would name a kid Wind Breaker?" Deep asked. "When I was at the library, they mentioned him a few times, but they just called him Wind the entire time, I think this is the first time I've heard his full name."
"He was a Hatchery griffon, Deep," Hidden said sternly. "It's not something to laugh about."
"I... oh." Deep was suddenly very quiet. "I guess I didn't read all the papers that closely," he admitted. "Just the parts about Night."
"Well, you know now," Serrated said with a sigh. "Goddesses only know who thought that was a good name for a kid, griffon or otherwise."
There was a moment of silence before Sweet Dagger cleared her throat. "So, did anything else happen there that we should know about?"
Serrated perked up. "Oh, yeah! Page said they found out some stuff about the Virtues while they were traveling, that we'd gotten wrong all these years."
"Really?" Sweet asked.
Hidden nodded. "And some that we'd gotten right, such as the Lady's generosity," she said. "As Rex later explained, she inspired others with her selflessness and desiring the best for others."
"Oh my." Sweet looked at her daughters. "That... how did they learn such things?"
"Page didn't say," Serrated said. "But I think one of the biggest parts they got wrong was the Stallion of Dedication." She glanced in Hidden's direction. "Apparently, the stallion they made all those statues of was the big brother of the real pony of dedication. They got her hat right though."
"Wait, seriously?" Deep asked. "That's... how?"
Hidden shrugged. "Apparently, King Blueblood was relying mostly on second-hoof information and didn't understand all of it."
"And since it's been a thousand years, it's only understandable that the truth might have been distorted as it was retold," Lethal mused. "That would make a lot of sense."
"Does that mean... all those statues of the Magi of Stars they have outside of libraries..." Sweet started, looking at her daughters questioningly.
"Are right where they belong," Serrated told her. "She, the Magi of Stars, absolutely loved books and reading, from what we were told."
Sweet relaxed at that. "That's good to hear," she said.
"In fact, Page... well, have you seen her Cutie Mark?" Hidden asked.
Lethal nodded. "It was on her wanted poster," he said. "Actually, I didn't know changelings could get Cutie Marks; I suppose I assumed it was just a part of her disguise."
"I was kind of curious about that myself," Deep said. "But she still had it when she was in her changeling form the other day. I didn't think to ask about it while Emerald and I were there though."
Serrated nodded. "I was wondering about it too," she said. "When I asked her, Page explained that pureblood changelings still can't get them, as far as anypony knows. But mixed-bloods can, and since she has unicorn ancestors..."
"Ah." Lethal nodded.
"Anyway, she got hers for helping another pony find the book he was looking for," Serrated continued.
Deep nodded. "Wouldn't be the first member of the family with a book of some kind for a cutie mark," he said as he gestured to the business ledger on Hidden's flank.
"True," Hidden acknowledged.
"Hey - you said you talked to Rex and Xvital too?" Deep asked. "I didn't get to see them today 'cause of work, so how are they doing?"
"They're good," Serrated said. "Xvital said your advice helped her a lot in her lessons today."
"And Rex and I talked business for a while," Hidden said. "You know, that's two people I've gotten to talk with about that today 'cause of Page." She smiled.
"Well," Sweet Dagger said. "The more I hear, the more I'm looking forward to meeting her and Night's other friends."
Lethal nodded. "The same goes for me," he said. "And I expect Crooked and Striking will agree too."
The others nodded, and then focused on their food. But as she ate, Sweet's thoughts drifted to her eldest and his son.
Be safe, wherever you're on duty tonight, she thought to them silently. Goddesses be with you.
Crooked Blade
Crooked Blade looked around the mass of his fellow Royal Guards, and the IA agents who were watching them from the windows of the building in front of them. He had been out here with his squad since 1400 and was doing his best to ignore his grumbling stomach.
"I hope those ponies up there drop their case soon so we can go home," one of the other Guards grouched next to him.
"Watch your tongue, soldier," Mist Flight snapped as he passed by. "We're doing this to support our Captain."
"I know, and I get it," the other pony answered. "But you'd think those guys up there would take the hint and give up on this already!"
"They think they can wait us out," Striking Blade said, making a beam of pride soar in Crooked's heart. "The Captain has made sure we are more stubborn than most dragons in our duties."
That was received by a round of chuckles from Guards nearby with Mist giving a smirk.
"Damn straight," he said. "We are Royal Guards, and we do our duty to the end. And that includes supporting our Captain when she's been unfairly targeted."
"Absolutely, sir," Crooked Blade said, speaking for the first time. "Gentle Step is our Captain, we stand by her." He gazed up at the IA building again. "At least their Deputy Commissioner is a decent sort," he muttered quietly.
Mist Flight nodded. "True," he said. "And boys... keep holding the line. I've a feeling things are about to take a turn for the better."
Crooked nodded and saluted his commanding officer, and every other Guard around followed suit.
"Crooked, a moment," Mist said, drawing his attention towards the grizzled acting Captain-General. "There is something I would like to ask of you."
"Sir?" Crooked asked.
Mist led them off to the side, creating a shield around them that canceled the sound out. "Do you know where your youngest brother is?" he asked. "I've gotten reports that he apparently left the city with two of his friends."
Crooked shook his head. "News to me, sir," he said. "I've been here since the start."
"Hmm." Mist considered. "Do you think any of your siblings would know?" he asked. "I've also gotten reports that they were seen visiting with miss Turner and two of the others who stayed in the city."
"That's... news to me too, sir," Crooked said. "I haven't had the chance to speak to them since this whole situation started." He considered, looking off where Striking was standing. "My son might; I understand that one of Night's friends is a Hatchery Griffon, and Striking was on duty for giving out the necessary information, so he may know more on that end."
Mist nodded with a look on his face. "They are doubtlessly in the Griffish Isles, though if we knew exactly where they were, it would be a weight off of my mind," he said. He then turned to face Crooked. "For reasons that are classified, it would be best for all of us if they were under Royal Guard protection. However, as we are not to revoke their freedom to move about, we need to keep better track of them. As such, I would appreciate it if you were to go inquire your siblings if they knew their location."
"I'll do what I can, sir," Crooked said. "If I could call in to my parents' manor, I'd probably be able to reach them; Mother invited us all over tonight, so I expect my siblings are still there."
Mist nodded. "Major Blade, I hereby grant you permission to depart this area and do as you've stated," he said. "We'll cover for you."
"I appreciate that, sir," Crooked said.
With that, he faded into the shadows behind him, and was gone.
It was nearly half an hour before he returned to his post, and saluted Mist Flight.
"How'd it go?" the other stallion asked.
"According to Mother, our family pilot did indeed take Night, his friends Wind Breaker and Vix-Lei to the Griffish Isles," Crooked reported. "And while Miss Turner did not give any of my siblings the specific location, we do know that they were able to safely land in one city and are currently proceeding to another, over land, that lacks official landing areas of any kind. They believe Breaker may have family there."
Mist grunted. "Well, it's more than we knew before," he said. "What about your pilot?"
"From what we understand, he's staying with the skimmer," Crooked said. "Sir, have you spoken to Striking yet?"
"I was waiting for you to get back," Mist said. He raised a hoof to his helmet and said something into it. A moment later, Striking Blade trotted over.
"Reporting for duty, sir," he said.
Mist nodded. "I have an important question for you," he said. "Did you, in the course of doing your duties, have reason to encounter a Hatchery griffon named Wind Breaker?"
"I did, sir," Striking said.
Mist nodded. "And did you have chance to review his folder and identify where he was originally from?"
Striking nodded. "Yes, sir. He is from the Essex Region of the Griffish Isles, sir, and is one of the young griffons obtained illegally from an orphanage in that area."
"Damn." Mist shook his head. "So it would be reasonable to assume that's where he went first when he and two non-griffon friends of his went overseas to that country?"
"I believe it would, sir," Striking said.
"And... how did he strike you as a person, guardsman?" Mist asked.
Striking considered. "He seemed like a decent fellow who'd heard too many jokes about his name, sir," he said.
"That doesn't surprise me," Mist said with a chuckle.
"And apparently, I reminded him of Uncle Night," Striking said, causing Crooked to look at him in surprise. "Something about the expression on my face."
"Hmm." Mist nodded. "Well, thank you for your help, both of you," he said.
Both nodded, and then, at his dismissal, headed back into the crowd of protesting guards.
"So, what was that about?" Striking asked quietly.
"Concern over the whereabouts of your uncle Night and some of his friends," Crooked replied just as quietly. "I'll explain more after all this is over."
"Right." Striking nodded, then turned his eyes to the IA building again.
Crooked looked in the same direction, but his mind was running elsewhere.
I suppose it's my turn to visit miss Turner and Night's other friends next, he thought to himself. Once our Captain is no longer being targeted and we are free to return to our standard duties.
Something tells me it will be an... interesting experience.