“The zebs, you say?” I tilted my head, “Mind elaboratin’?”
The mare looked down. “I’m sorry...but that’s all I know. Honest. Where they’re from has completely slipped my mind.”
Well that was enough to ruffle my truffle, innit? But something about it sounded so familiar to me that I had to give it some thought. “Hm…”
Flurry Heart gave me a gentle nudge with a wing. “Uh, sir? Are you alright?”
“I’m just thinking…”
“If you’re having any doubts, you can stow them,” she ordered, “She’s telling the truth. I can feel it. After what she’s done to your friend, she feels beyond guilty and wants to make amends.” She looked over to Spectacle, “Isn’t that right, ma’am?”
The mare shyly nodded her head. “You...erm...yes. Please. I want to do whatever I can to start improving and work towards a better life…”
Flurry took some more initiative. “Well, you can start by apologizing to Pale’s wife as well. She’ll feel a lot better once you talk to her. After that, you and Jackpot should sort out your differences and figure out how to go about your relationship with Trixie from here on.”
“I suppose that’s reasonable,” Trixie replied with a shrug. I could tell she wasn’t that jazzed about the idea. I couldn’t blame her. After all, these were two ponies who, while her biological parents, were ultimately complete strangers to her.
So I threw my two bits in. “There’s no need to force it out, mate. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. However, it can’t hurt to at least try. I know what it’s like to be shunned by those around me, Trix. So I’ve taken solace in those who care about me.”
“It’s not like I was going to straight up ignore your suggestions or anything,” the blue mare replied, “And I’ll be honest...I am interested in learning new things from a fellow magician.”
Jackpot tipped his hat. “Well...I wouldn’t mind teaching a fellow stagepony a thing or two. It’s up to the older generation to teach the youngsters, right?”
Trixie turned her head to the left--towards her mother. “And I’d like to know what you’ve been up to ever since I moved to Ponyville. It’s been forever since we last talked...mom.”
That caused her to tear right up. “Oh...Trixie, I’d--I’d love to. Once I get a few apologies out of the way, of course…” she trailed off with a nervous inflection of her voice.
“Sounds like you all have a plan,” Flurry stated to put a proverbial bow on the situation, “While you handle that, we’ll be off taking care of business. Have a good day, everypony.”
With not much left to add, I nodded, and turned to leave. “Indeed. Have a good one.” Flurry followed me out. Much to my chagrin, I couldn’t help but acknowledge the fact that she did indeed provide assistance to the situation. “Alright, ladybird. You were helpful--thank you.”
She smiled rather humbly. “Heh. Nothing to it, sir. Remember. I’m in it for Cozy’s sake. Oh, Pale’s too of course. But Cozy and I have become so close now, that--”
I put my hoof up to interrupt her. “Relax, princess. I hear ye. No need to elaborate. You’ve done enough as it is. Now allow me to work, alright? Don’t think we’ve forgotten about that little stunt you and your friends pulled way back.”
“Uch--pffty--wh--! Come on, I was helping Pale! And we all accomplished defeating a huge monster together!” she exclaimed with her wings spread wide as she floated before me. “Please! I know I can help out…”
I didn’t know exactly how to go about this, honestly. I knew where I needed to go and how to get there. For Flurry, it would be nothing but danger. “Listen...go talk to Cozy for a while. I’m sure she’s in a lot of stress over what Pale has experienced. Given that she considers him her dad and all.”
“I well--yeah…” she touched down to the ground with a guilty frown. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Go on then, lass. I’ll handle things,” I pranced towards the train station. It was time for an investigation.
Back in Seaquestria…
We were taken inside and given some rather unexpected hospitality by Terramar. He offered us food and let us sit in his dining hall as we mulled over what to do. I had to admit, being under here was strange at first, but I loved being able to swim without having to breathe.
What I found most curious was that Terramar had taken over Seaquestria while Silverstream had taken hold of Mt. Aris/Hippogriffia. Really cool in all honesty. The royal siblings now governed their own lands that connected their species. But I wonder if they had found mates yet…
Oh right. Back to work.
“Quick Draw, yes?” the large Seapony addressed me, “And Guttersnipe Poinsettia? Adorable names indeed. So what did you have in mind?”
I cleared my throat, and went on. “Well, basically these mines are all generated by magic, right? All we need to do is track down the source and eliminate it.”
Terramar sighed and leaned against the table with his chin upon his hooves. “Easier spoken than executed. If we knew where the source was located, we could have disposed of it by now. But none of us can figure out what those things are or what they’re made of. It’s absurd.”
Guttersnipe suddenly blurted out from next to me. “Already have. See if I were able to get in there and tinker with the device, then maybe--just maybe, I could find a way in.”
“Are you an expert on magical technology?” Terramar asked.
“You could kinda say that,” Guts flexed her mechanical wings, “I’ve studied all sorts of magitech. But the problem is that I need some kinda barrier to keep my blood from being sensed by it so it won’t go off. Got anypony around who can cast something like that?”
“Hm...I may,” he replied with a somewhat concerned gaze, “Are you sure you’ll be able to handle it, Madam Poinsettia?”
She was as fierce as the red-hot color of her body. “Absolutely. We can handle this no problem, right Quick?”
I nodded. “Yup. Just point us in the right direction.”
Terramar got up from his seat. “If that is indeed the case...then my sword is at your service.”
A sword? For real? I had to see that in action.