Weeks melted into months while Twilight toiled away in a dream come true. She found Steel’s day shift researchers were quicker to be impressed by her invention. With them spurred on by the thrill of simple technological advancement, and the siren song of steam engines, Twilight had found kindred spirits.
The hour was late, and Steel’s foundry was perpetually hot. The day shift staff had retired, but that only meant Twilight had the night shift to carry on the tireless work of a mare’s passion. They had not taken a shine to her nearly as much since they had a boiler much like hers planned. Twilight’s arrival meant over a year’s worth of work was wasted.
Currently, Twilight was awash with sweat, and her work coveralls were deeply stained in grease and soot as she was neck deep in the revised iteration of her watertube boiler. Applejack was at her side, allowed only because of her being an indentured servant. The orange mare wiped her brow with a stained rag before releasing a tired breath. Twilight had grown up not unjustly paranoid that non-family would try to sabotage her successes due to her tribe. Such paranoia translated quite well to others holding her place of birth against her. As such, both mares were inspecting her boiler for any sign of tampering.
“Well, Boss, Ah think that just about does it.” Applejack cast her eyes over the machines, a prideful grin on her worn out face. “Ain’t no sign of anypony messing with it.”
Showing no less fatigue, even though her horn sparked constantly, Twilight nodded in agreement. “Thank the Light.” I thought for sure Bell Weather would try something. She looked back towards Steel who had been informed the test would be ready by the hour. This was one claim Twilight definitely kept. Wiping her brow as clean as she could, Twilight slid out from the inlet pipes, and cantered over to within earshot. “Sir, we’re ready to proceed.”
His own horn crackled with lightning as he pulled out a pocket watch. He let off an amused snort before returning it to his vest. “I’ll give you one thing, Lady Twilight, you are punctual if nothing else.” He turned to look further down the foundry and spotted a coal team wheeling in several bins.
Upon seeing the same thing, Twilight pulled her thankfully clean horn suppressor out and started to put it on, only for Steel to eye her with amusement.
“No need for that,” he almost laughed.
Both Applejack and Twilight shared a confused look. “Why? A spark might ignite coal dust.”
“Do you really think I wouldn’t account for that in my own yard?” he asked almost derisively as his own horn continued sparking occasionally. Steel pointed up to the ceiling where several industrial fans were being opened by pulleys. “City power will run the fans until the engine has enough steam so there won’t be enough build up for either of us to cause a fire.”
Cooing in admiration, Twilight put her suppressor back in its pocket. “Wish somepony had told me about that weeks ago. Still, I know what I’m doing when I eventually open my own shop.”
While the two pegacorn had spoken, the coal team had already set up and waited for Steel to give the word.
They didn’t have to wait long for him to notice the lack of activity and shook a wing at them. “Alright, boys, get to work.”
Twilight and Steel took position near the read out station for the boiler while Applejack and some other engineers watched over the attached engine and transformer that fed the rest of the yard.
The fire teams were quite skilled and got the boiler going in short order. As soon as the fires lit off, Steel started the clock. “Just in case you forgot, you’re not competing with my firetube boilers, we already know watertubes perform better. I’m just here to make sure your miniaturized of that type actually measures up to land based models. That means it better not have a steam explosion or you’ll never work on a yard again so long as I live.” He leveled a critic eye at Twilight who started to grow nervous. “As you well know, we pegacorns have long lives.”
Giving off stuttering laughter, Twilight leaned. Not Applejack’s ear. “You’re completely absolutely positive there wasn’t even a hint of tampering on the boiler?”
“Triple checked just like ya said to,” Applejack replied almost too defensively. Ya don’t think Steel did anything do ya?”
“No, he’s got profit to be made on this if my design works. But that tramp Black Creek on night shift? Ohhh I know she’s up to something.”
Steel’s amusement was fading fast, and he tapped a hoof impatiently. “Do I have to reschedule?”
The irritation in his tone made Twilight practically jump away from Applejack to bow a bit at him. “N-not at all. We can get started right away.” Trying to hide her jitters and instead focus on finally earning a living through her passion, Twilight was still left a bit unsteady on her hooves. Passion or not, paying for the use of the foundry had eaten a third of her remaining funds. Still, she was optimistic. “I fully understand you're incredibly busy. Progress waits for no pony after all, and I think you’ll be quite pleased.”
“That remains to be seen,” he stated flatly as he eyed the clock again.
Over the next several minutes, Twilight was hardly a passive observer during the test. She watched the workers like a hawk, and even went so far as to check a few pieces of coal in the off chance there was any sign of sabotaging her test.
Barely four minutes in, she noticed the fire door into the boiler was left slightly open when it was unnecessary, and that the second bin had wet coal under the dry top layer. Both issues were handled promptly, with Steel docking pay for the workers responsible.
Twilight had been given the option to press for greater punishment, but she had declined in the end. No point in it. They are not the ones who have quarrel with me. And hopefully I never have to work with Black Creek again after today.
As time passed, the group watched the needles rise. Through it all, Steel kept a calm, if expectant composer, but he couldn’t hide his internal excitement with his horn sparking almost as constantly as Twilight’s own. Twilight nearly lost herself in the excitement of seeing her creation, the one she had dreamed and repeatedly drafted and redrafted for years based solely off incomplete material science she had to guesstimate on her own, finally roaring to life.
When nothing broke down or failed by the time Steel stopped the clock with an impressed whistle from his lips, Twilight roped Applejack into an ecstatic hug and started jumping up and down crying out in victory, the engineer was caught up in the good mood and joined in. Weirdest boss I’ve ever had, but Ah can’t complain.
Steel let the mares have their moment before cutting in. “Amazing. You’ve matched the best land-based watertube boiler on the market that’s also small enough to put on a fourth rate vessel! I’d tip my hat to you if I was wearing one.”
Beaming with pride, Twilight wanted dearly to rev in the moment, but even now she was still aware of Steel’s gift of patience. “I take it you’re agreeable to contract seven?”
Shaking his head with a side-grin, Steel gave the order for the workers to cut steam and shut the boiler down. “You've more than delivered your promises. Seven will do fine.” Steel’s amusement dipped drastically. “We should talk further in my office.”
Steel’s office had changed little since Twilight was first there. The only real difference was the rolled up contracts on top of the desk. It was a quirk of Steel’s to write up multiple copies in the event an acquisition was still intriguing but not at advertised quality. He claimed a seat and motioned for Twilight to take the visitor chair as he discarded all but the relevant contract. “Sit, please.”
The walk over to the office had been disturbingly quiet, outside of brief, meaningless small talk. This time, Twilight did as told and held her tongue, unsure of what he was leading to.
The intervening silence had left Steel uncomfortable as well, and he pulled a drawer open to claim a cigar. “I’ll be the first to give you formal congratulations for the boiler. The benefits of this boiler warrant pushing back the Warrior’s launch to install it. Even if the Navy is being impatient, I’ll see to it they are made aware of the improvements this will entail.”
Twilight couldn’t help but to smile from pride. “I’m sure the benefits will placate the admiralty for any delay.”
Lighting the cigar, Steel took a few puffs before speaking again. “Undoubtedly. And yet it is the admiralty that is causing a major concern, and not without reason.” He sighed slowly, warring with himself on if he should even speak about it. To her credit, Twilight remained silent as well, letting him think. “... I received a report from the navy a few hours ago, and they claim the leak about ironclads came from two yards. …Including mine.”
Twilight covered a gasp with a hoof. “Oh my. Were the spies apprehended?”
“The ones we found out about.” He tapped the ash onto a tray. “Everypony is looking for spies and scapegoats, and I’ll be honest, your name came up.”
“What!?” Twilight leapt out of her chair and planted her hooves on the desk. “How does that even work? I arrived here long after that leak could have occurred.”
“No pony is saying you’re the cause of the leak,” Steel placated, clearly irritated with the whole business. “But some are claiming you’re the replacement spy. My friend wouldn’t, or couldn’t elaborate enough to give me a name, but discretion is why he has his position in the first place.”
Feeling as if her very honor as a highborne noble was being tarnished with every word, Twilight pleaded with him. “You have to believe me, I couldn’t have leaked anything! Not that I want to, either,” she added quickly. Twilight had to fight the urge to glance back at the office door where one of Rainbow’s subordinates was currently watching them. The pegasus stallion was agreeable enough, but the last thing she wanted was him having any excuse to distrust her anymore than normal. “Nevermind the fact I have not mentioned a word about our work since the first day I came to your yard, save to Applejack and my-,” For a moment, Twilight wasn’t sure what to call Pinkamena, but came up with something quickly enough. “Majordomo, Pinkamena.”
“I do believe you wouldn’t do something unbecoming on you… intentionally.” To her horrified expression he simply puffed again, taking little joy out of it. “Look, some of the other research staff have mentioned overhearing you talk about work at the local lounges and once at the Exchange. With the audit proving the leak came from my yard, I’m in enough hot water as it is.”
Twilight’s first reaction was to stutter and huff until she could finally make a coherent reply from under her intense indignation. “Sir, I have had to be discrete my whole life! Working on unsanctioned machines, harboring borderline illegally kind treatment of Equestrian slaves, trying to weasel my way into the abolitionist movement. I know how to keep my mouth shut! All of these insinuations are bunk.” A small voice in her head mentioned her lack of success in all that, but she kept it quiet.
Sighing heavily, Steel tapped his cigar on the tray. “Look. As I said, I don’t think you would do this intentionally. But do you recall the first day we met? You offhandedly mentioned your brother, an Equestrian military officer, knew about our supposedly secret ironclads.”
“But-” Twilight didn’t expect that, but countered quickly. “All of my Equestrian secrets are to be given up to my new liege and all who serve him are they not?”
“Merchant’s Creed seventy four: knowledge equals profit.” He gave her an unamused raised eyebrow. “I’m sure you’re familiar with that one.” Twilight grew silent, begrudgingly nodding her head. “Let’s say your deal with the emperor said you forfeit all secrets to his servants, you didn’t inform me about the leak as a warning or a bargaining chip. You said it,” he thumped the desk with a hoof, “without thought.”
“And because of these rumors,” Twilight began while sitting back down in a dark mood. “You think that was more than just a one-off.” She sighed when he inclined his cigar at her in acknowledgment. Irony is, he probably told these ponies about my slip without thinking either, so he trapped both of us. As gratifying as it might have been to call him out on that, there was a measure of grace to be had in accepting defeat with dignity.
“It doesn’t help the fact that few would care if you took the fall,” Steel continued when she looked away to think. “Oath or not, you’re an Equestrian by birth, you don’t have any friends to incense should you go down for this, and outside of this office I don’t think many ponies understand just how much you can bring to the table,” he ended while knocking the ashes off his cigar. “And to speak of the elephant in the room, you’re the lone member of a brand new house who hasn’t paid off the debt the emperor demands of you. As far as the other houses are concerned, you’re both illegitimate and an interloper. I’m doing you a favor by removing you before too many hooves point in your direction.”
He’s doing both of us a favor is what he really means... But he’s right, and I haven’t been here long enough to start burning bridges just to save face. Squaring up her posture, Twilight spoke with measured neutrality. “If that is how things must be, then there’s no point in arguing. Shall we wait until we have cooler heads, or just sign the contract now?”
Hiding his gratitude she didn’t cause a scene behind a head shake, Steel puffed a bit more on his cigar. “I’m already irritating the admiralty by delaying the Warrior as it is.” Picking up the correct contract, Steel scribbled out a signature and turned it over so Twilight could do the same. Once she did so, he felt a knot in his chest unravel a bit, and rolled it up and put it aside. “I just need an address for where you wish to send the prototype. You paid for parts and labor after all. Additionally…” Feelings of guilt soured his mood almost enough for him to backpedal the whole conversation. “The watertube performed better than advertised. I’d say an extra ten percent should cover things. Off the books.”
Twilight instantly shook her head while she claimed some paper and a pen to write down the information. “You can keep the original price so long as you promise these false rumors you’ve heard about me are either kept from the admiralty, or barring that, you deny their validity when asked. I will leave your employ to simply explore new avenues of fulfillment.”
In truth, Steel knew what she was asking was worth far more than ten percent, but there was more to the equation of a pony’s worth. He thought it over a bit before nodding. “I never asked you what drove you away from Equestria. But I’ll be damned if I’m the first stone to force you to go back. You got a deal.”
“That oath you discounted so much,” Twilight began with her head held high. “Means something to me at least.”
It took less than a few minutes to confirm some final details with each other. After sharing brief farewells, Twilight departed his office, leaving Steel with a foul taste in his mouth. He bitterly dug his spent cigar into the ashtray, and looked across the room to the decanter of scotch calling him from the wall mounted shelves. His poor mood making him thirsty, he made his way over and quickly poured himself a glass. Before downing it however, he remembered something, and looked down at an envelope he had dismissed months ago.
Sipping his scotch, he claimed the envelope off a shelf, and pulled its letter out. Printed at the top it read, A call to all Moon Blessed pegacorns...
“Hmph. What is more moon blessed than a name that means the passing of day to night?”
Twilight ran into Applejack and Pinkamena waiting for her at the security gate. The aristocrat had used the long walk between Steel’s office and the gate to cool off and regain her inner composure. A fact made easier since Rainbow’s subordinate was all too happy to avoid small talk.
Applejack was chewing on some overly tough jerky while Pinkamena had been pacing with nervous energy. Strapped to Pinkamena’s back was a bunch of rubber bananas securely bound by twine. Upon seeing Twilight cantering towards her, Pinkamena sagged momentarily with relief, only to instantly pep back up and race over to her side. “Thank the su-moon. I thought you might have been arrested or something.”
Twilight handed over her contractor pin to the gate guard before eyeing her old friend with a bemused look. “What possessed you to think that?”
“Well -erm,” Applejack admitted with a shaky grin. “Security kinda threatened to boot me outta there if I didn’t start walkin’ the instant Steel pulled you aside. I figured something fishy was going on, and started insisting on going with you.”
Caught between disappointment in her fortunes, and curiosity about the fake fruit, Twilight gestured further down the road so they all started walking, mostly so they were out of earshot from the guard shack before she regaled what happened in his office.
Applejack tsked after hearing it all. “Can’t say Ah didn’t see it comin’. An Equestrian fresh off the boat that designed a better boiler than one of the best yards? You ticked off a lotta brains with that one.”
“She’s not Equestrian anymore,” Pinkamena growled while nervously eyeing passers by. “She swore an oath, remember?”
“Ya really think that matters outside the law? It don’t change where she was born an’ raised.” Applejack was quick to add with a placating hoof wave at Twilight. “Not that Ah hold it against ya or nothin’, best to be honest with ourselves, right?”
Twilight waved a wing at Pinkamena to calm her down. “If my staunchest native supporter still thinks this way, then we must make do with what clout we can muster.” Glad to see Pinkamena stopped glaring at Applejack, Twilight focused on the road ahead of her. “Things being what they are, a sale is still a sale. Applejack, I must insist on inviting you and your family to a diner of your choice for tomorrow.”
“What? Really?” The engineer rocked back a pace in surprise before leaning back over to Twilight’s side as they slipped past a street corner. “Wh- Ah mean, sure thing.” A massive smile crossed her face as a singular idea struck her lightning quick. “The Orchard’s Choice has the best surf and turf and apple pies this side of the pond, believe me.”
“Sounds delicious.” Turning to her childhood friend, curiosity finally got the better of her. Twilight couldn’t help but to reach a wing towards the bananas, just to make sure they weren’t some strange prank being pulled. “You didn’t happen to bring me a snack did you?”
Pinkamena was momentarily confused, having completely forgotten about her passengers, only to let off snorting giggles after seeing them. “Oh, these? They’re tickets to see a new comedy act at the Stomping Theater by the comedian’s own request.”
The other mares were left so confused they stopped dead in their tracks. “Bananas?” Twilight asked dumbly.
“As tickets?” Continued Applejack with equal bewilderment.
“I know! Isn’t it just so perfect?!” Pinkamena was practically bouncing on her hooves like a beach ball of energy. “I was hoping to invite you, Applejack, and her family.”
Glad to see Pinkamena so openly happy, only one possible answer could have passed Twilight’s lips. “Sounds fun, I’d love to go.”
“Well, Ah don’t know ‘about Granny, but Ah’m sure Apppebloom would love it,” Applejack stated with a dubious shrug.
“Let’s make a day of it then!” Twilight suggested quickly. “Dinner and a show to celebrate our first major success!” A cheer erupted from the three, earning an array of looks and glares at passersby that they ignored.
Opting to walk the city, rather than snag a carriage, it was nightfall by the time they returned to the former griffin embassy.
Standing at the gate with some slips for a faster ride home, Applejack almost let Twilight slip inside the building before calling out to her. “Beggin’ your pardon, but have ya got any plans for work? Ah ain’t exactly all that useful dealin’ with suits, just coveralls and uniforms.”
Mildly snorting at the joke, Twilight ended up shrugging helplessly. “I wish I knew, honestly. It takes connections, friends, and warehouses to run the kind of merchant operation I’m used to with my family back west. We were a family of old money, so I was never taught how to start from scratch. This whole thing with the boiler was just to get some startup capital, is all.” She felt a pall fall over her mood. “It’ll be a big help, but I’ll just have to jump and see where I land.”
That was about what Applejack feared. Nothing in that plan had anything to do with her or her wrench. Ah still owe a year. If she don’t have a need for me, she might have to let me go to who knows who.. Having a boss as forgiving as Twilight holding her contract was uncommon, and worse yet, could lead Applejack to being forced away from her family again.
Similar thoughts struck Twilight as she stood in the doorway, not fully able to meet the engineer’s eyes. She's been such a big help, and I’d hate to have her just sit around with nothing to do but bookkeeping, and something tells me she‘a the type who needs to keep herself busy. Maybe I should just rip her work contract up and let her be free of it. That way I can just hire her later as a regular employee when the need arises.
“Why not keep the whole invention ball rolling?” Applejack blurted out, derailing Twilight’s train of thoughts. When Twilight refocused on her, Applejack pointed in the general direction of her family’s shop. “An old stallion called Gold Tressel’s been lookin’ for investors in an oil engine a’ his. Maybe you could be a bit more hooves on with him and the three of us work on it together.”
“An oil engine?” Twilight halted in her tracks with her ears painfully stiff at the news. She cradled her chin in a wing. “Going from solid to liquid fuel. Now that’s an interesting idea. Being a liquid that burns easily makes things both easier and harder in so many delightfully different ways. Yesss…” Her thoughts were already awash with ideas on how she could rework her boiler to use oil, or perhaps… I could go the extra mile and find a way for a machine to run on oil without needing to boil water. Wouldn’t that be a trip? The sheer audacity of that extra mile gripped her like a vice, and her decision came within a matter of seconds. “I love it. Applejack, I wish for you to set me up with an introduction with this Golden fellow. I still need to sell my boiler to the yards first, but I love this idea.”
An equally big smile graced Applejack’s muzzle. “I’ll get with him first thing in the mornin’.”
Rarity had not been idle in the passing months. Presently, she sat in a passenger rail car in one of Equestria’s sparingly used trains. Unlike the coal driven originals in Lunaria, the Equestrian train was pulled along via magical means. However, its power requirements relegated it to military or crown use only. Having started from Canterlot station, most of the train’s original passengers and cargo had disembarked along previous stops, but a sizable number of soldiers and material were headed to the same place Rarity had been ordered to go.
Sitting in the same passenger cabin were the three members of her team: Fluttershy, an early middle aged earth stallion from the army, and a lime green unicorn named Lyra Heartstrings.
Fluttershy was content to watch the countryside fly by through the window. Given how exceedingly rare druids were in the employ of civilized ponies, she opted to dress plainly, just enough to conceal various totems, reagents, and a family of squirrels in her saddlebag.
The stallion who was nearest to the door was blushing as he read a little black book of adult literature. Like many of his type, his firearm rested on the bench with him like a lover he cared for with his life. Its fresh wood polish still tickled the air with its coy scent. His time worn, yet well cared for uniform was pressed and clean of the dirt and mud it often found itself covered in.
Lastly, Lyra was plucking away at the instrument that was her name sake. Eccentricities showed themselves readily with Lyra as she did not use hooves or normal magic techniques in playing her instrument. The odd mage’s magic formed into a pair of five digit ‘claws’, by Rarity’s reckoning, both holding the lyre against her neck, and plucking the strings. The musician had found a way to synchronize her tune with the steady thump of the train tracks. Resting behind the lime green unicorn was a highly expensive aluminum warstaff, both it and steel were still a rarity among the mage corps who tightly clung to the age-old use of precious metals, ivory, or wood for the staff. This one was capped by brilliant ruby and sapphire that were protected in a small cage of steel. It had been Lyra’s only unusual condition in joining Rarity’s retainers. Under the seat, the warmage stashed four gallon-sized leather skins of water she wore into battle.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Vinesburg. If only it could stay that peaceful sleepy little town I remember. A shame mom and dad moved away years ago when all the hullabaloo started, but that’s probably for the best.
With their arrival approaching, Rarity addressed the musician, more to stop any distractions than anything else for the briefing she had planned. “Lyra,” she said, causing the neon green mare to cut her playing off in an instant. “I trust that you have you read up on our destination.”
Snapping a poor, yet well meaning salute, Lyra put her instrument down. “Vinesburg, Inquisitor. Used to be a small farming community until the last war which saw the Lunaria annex land all the way up to four miles from the outer farms. I believe the crown issued a general relocation decree five years ago right before the green dragon stream migrated there.”
“Very good.” Rarity looked to Fluttershy who had turned away from the window to listen. “You’re most attuned to the streams, what do you know of them?”
“Umm… well.” Fluttershy had to stop herself from digging nervously at her cotton seat. “Dragon streams are the largest of the ley lines that cover the planet. Many of the orders migrate with the lines to-” Fluttershy briefly grew irritated, “protect nature from aberrations the streams might create when they cross. That is unless the um - the streams cross over cities. Dragon streams seem to bring out the worst in ponies, more so than a full moon, so they stay away to keep from being blamed for things.”
“That and for being weird free huggers,” the stallion chimed in while closing his book and winking at the shy pegasus. “Glad to see not all a’ ya are ugly hermits, Sweet Cheeks.”
“They umm,” Fluttershy tried to keep from hiding her face, but only managed to keep one eye uncovered by her mane. “They don’t really believe in shampoo, so you can’t blame them for that.”
“I certainly will anyway,” he mused with a derisive smirk at no one in particular. His good humor was blunted at seeing Rarity’s silent displeasure. He coughed and turned his smirk into a more friendly smile. “Sorry. Had a few dozen run-ins with the Willow Sages a while back. Scraggly bunch, believe me. I swore half a’ them had mange the last time I saw them.”
Despite herself, Fluttershy actually tittered at the jest, defusing much of Rarity’s building reprimand. “Oh I remember them. The Council of Stewards always made sure orders like them had seats that were downwind with a strong breeze.”
The stallion slapped the bench with a hearty laugh. “Ha! That’s why I like you, Butterball.”
Rarity gave an approving nod at the camaraderie, patience having proved to be the correct course. “Mockery of the hygiene impaired aside, Color Sergeant Lock Stock, I trust you know the importance of Vinesburg in recent years. I'd rather not having to advise you in the midst of house fire again.”
Sudden seriousness fell over his face, as he wasn’t sure just how casual he could get with Rarity directly before getting booted back to his unit in disgrace. “The dragon stream lets us grow gem grapes. Good for everything between heating field mess kits to musket balls.” He eyed her cautiously. “Ya still haven’t given us the faintest idea why we’re going there. The stuff’s important, sure, but that’s what the garrison is for. Not us.”
“How astute of you.” Rarity almost felt like she could trust the train didn’t have any eavesdroppers, but she was not in a profession that mixed well with complacency. She cast a privacy field to protect the cabin. “My superiors have received some troubling reports, and I’m being sent there to correct the course, as it were.”
It was late in the day when the train arrived at Vinesburg. The last remaining troops, barely a platoon’s worth of soldiers, disembarked along with a resupply for the garrison. Crates full of unprocessed gem crystals were being loaded on with almost choreographed efficiency.
Rarity’s white and gold trimmed long-coat and wide brimmed hat swayed in a breeze as she moved to step onto the platform. The moment that hoof met wood, Rarity felt her heart be gripped, as if by some unseen hand. She stumbled, just far enough for Lyra to squeeze past her, unaware of the shock that had paralyzed Rarity. Breaking free enough to move again, Rarity felt a chill run down her spine, despite the hot summer’s day. She looked up to the sun, only to find dark clouds. Something is wrong here. Like… I’m standing on the edge of a cliff.
The reek of dirty smoke just barely tickled her nose. Not the reek of a trash fire or a cooking pit, but that of a burning building. In the briefest of moments, Rarity’s mind conjured the images of the town before her in flaming ruins.
Just as fast as it had happened the vision was gone, replaced by the small center of a farming town. It’s thatched houses and simple stores returned to their peaceful appearance, even the storm cloud had vanished.
Lock Stock and Fluttershy had walked ahead of Rarity to gauge the town, but Lyra had remained at her side. “...You alright, Inquisitor?” Lyra asked with genuine concern.
Rarity shook it off and shored up her expected airs to those who might be watching, but knew she couldn’t hide from Lyra. “I just received a vision, it seems.”
Lyra’s brow furrowed deeply at the utter lack of enthusiasm of such a thing from an inquisitor of all people. “Something bad, eh?”
Caring her gaze around the small community, as if she would get few chances to do so, Rarity sighed. “Just a reminder of what is at stake with our work… When war comes, I fear Vinesburg will find it difficult to survive.”
“Could have just been the dragon stream,” Lyra offered with a half-questioning tone. “Fluttershy wasn’t kidding about how they can affect ponies, but there’s no telling what until it happens.”
With a silent groan, Rarity wasn’t sure she liked Celestia’s message being demoted to a mundane daydream. “Whatever the case may be, these citizens are right to worry. The Lunarians have an air corps base barely five miles from the border. When the next war begins, they will strike here first.”
Still, Lyra nodded in grim agreement. “As you say, Inquisitor.”
Shaking off as much of her jitters as she could to excuse confidence once more, Rarity led her group to the modest town hall. Her uniform went a long way to keeping her path clear in the garrison town.
She went straight to the mayor’s office as was customary. The stallion secretary she found on the third story reception area looked nervous long before Rarity even showed her face. That anxiety was only compounded by her retainers looking more akin to a band of mercenaries than the usual supplicants. Lyra’s ruby and sapphire capped warstaff and the Sargent’s carbine weren’t helping to put him at ease.
The frazzled unicorn stood up, but couldn’t bring himself to leave his desk. “Madam, if you need to speak with the mayor, she’s in a very important meeting with the garrison commander. I must ask you to wait.”
“The commander’s here? Oh how delightful.” Rarity replied with measured good cheer, on for her to lay a placating hoof on the skittish pony as she walked right by him. “As much as being polite might help, I haven’t the time.”
The thin sweat stains on the receptionist’s color grew considerably as he finally recognized her uniform. “In -In qqqui-”
“Chin up, mad lad,” Lyra piped in, shaking her staff point at him. “We’re not here for you.”
“Yet,” Lock Stock quipped amusingly, right as Rarity thrust the office doors wide open.
Within, a beige mare with a prematurely gray mane was loudly arguing with the pegasus stallion wearing the crisp air armada uniform of a Commodore. Both of them glared at Rarity for the interruption, the condemnation that had been spouting at each other having found a new target, only for such talk to wither away the instant they recognized her dress.
This stunned silence was a guilty pleasure of Rarity’s, but she hid it well behind a friendly mask and a soft spoken tone that unsettled her hosts. “Mayor Mare,” she started with the slightest of smiles and a curt nod, “so good to see you didn’t let last year’s little incident end your political career. Such as it is. Commodore Bunker, a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Bunker was the faster of the two to gather his wits and gave a deep bow towards her. “Inquisitor, this is a great honor.”
Stumbling over herself, Mayor Mare prostrated herself far more than was socially required. “Inquisitor Rarity Belle!” she cried, half terrified. “I - ah - Inquisitor, whatever it is, I have had no part in it. I-”
Rarity had closed the short distance by then and pressed a silencing hoof on the mayor’s chin. “Tut tut tut, that remains to be seen. If you are innocent, you have nothing to fear.” Her eyes lingered on the mayor just long enough to ensure the earth pony was listening while she addressed the officer. “It is a pity my visit is not a social one. Ten servants have gone missing in the past two months and now word has it that a week ago, a fire ravaged a tenth of the crops,” she frowned at the commodore who was doing an admirable job remaining cool and collected. “In any other town the fire alone would warrant an inquiry for the loss of such valuable material. With both, however, it is very likely that the culprits are Lunarian saboteurs from their own garrison just across the border. Since local forces have proven insufficient, I have been asked to step in.”
Mayor Mare stood as strongly as she could, but that was barely enough to keep her back straight. “You will of course have my full cooperation, Inquisitor.”
Snorting at the mayor, Bunker was more forceful in his acclaim. “I am Celestia’s humble servant,” He insisted with reverence, giving Rarity a much needed break from her musings. “If there is anything you require of me or my soldiers, you need only to ask!”
In that absence, Rarity finished gathering her wits, and addressed both of them in the same soft spoken manner. “Your words are pious, I respect that. But no pony can remain above suspicion. I will root out the cause of this.” Her gaze was hardened as the loss of servants unwantedly brought her mind back to that night in Manehatten. Holy zeal filled her to never repeat such a failure again. “My current suspicions rest upon Lunarian actors, but one can never be too sure. I will need access to lodgings, maps, and your records rooms.”
The commodore stood in stiff attention. “I must insist you accept my residence during your stay. It sits in a quiet area of the garrison, perfect for meditation and prayer.”
“That is acceptable.” Rarity displayed a convincing, yet false, smile. Is that the act of a genuinely pious pony, or a traitor wanting to keep a close eye on me. Time will tell, my dear Commodore. “We all have errands to do. You will hear from me on the ‘morrow.”
Mayor Mare gave a meek reply. “Yes, yes of course. Any time you deem fit is perfectly fine.”
“Excellent.” Rarity gestured to her group who had remained by the door. “These are my retainers, Fluttershy, Lyra Heartstrings. And Color Sargent Lock Stock. They speak with my authority, answer to them as you would me.”
“I’ll spread the word,” Bunker stated with a curt nod. “Let me say, I am grateful for your arrival.”
“Naturally, as am I,” Mayor Mare added quickly, her voice cracking from the stress.
“That’ll do.” Rarity turned to leave, her retainers parting for her. “Expect me at noon.”