//------------------------------//
// Chapter One: Reunions 
// Story: Cape and Cowl IV: Smoke and Mirrors 
// by Artimae 
//------------------------------//


1

Smoke Screen and Mirror Shield filed off of the boat with the other passengers. For Mirror, it was almost like a homecoming - she hadn't been in the city since she was just a filly, peddling wares on the street and performing parlor tricks at birthday parties.

Smoke Screen, however, was an entirely different story. Somehow, he'd never made his way over to Manehattan, and now it showed very obviously on his face. His nose was scrunched so hard, it may as well have been concave. His mouth sat slightly open, and his eyes began to water.

"This place stinks! How could anypony live here?"

Mirror Shield was biting her lip to keep from bursting out laughing. "I'm sorry, love. I'd forgotten about your heightened senses. You get used to it, I promise."

"So what's the plan?" he asked, his voice slightly nasally from pinching his nose.

"The plan is simple: we set ourselves up in a hotel, and then we go find my cousin."

"What if she doesn't want to see you?"

Mirror snorted. "Amber? Please. She'll lose her mind from excitement. She was always the cheery one. She might even try to get us to stay at her place."

"That'd be a lot cheaper," Smoke Screen pointed out.

"And a hell of a lot harder to plan a heist underneath a Guard's nose," Mirror retorted. "No, we'll politely decline should the offer arise."

"And just… how exactly are you planning on finding her?" Smoke asked, not sure if he really wanted the answer.

"How else?" Mirror replied. "We, or I, go right to the station and ask. You can stay behind, set up our room. I know you don't like Guards very much." Of course, nopony would like Guards after they've caught you and beaten you into the ground. Mirror had never asked why that happened, she only knew that it did.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I think I'll do that."




2

Snow Storm and her mother strode into the boutique. The younger mare looked around expectantly, trying to find Rarity. Maelstrom, however, had never set one hoof in such a place, and so now she looked around with slack-jawed amazement.

"These… these kleider! They are so beautiful!" she said, nearly prancing in place.

"Yeah," Snow replied dismissively. The only dress she wanted was for tonight's Ball, and even that was pushing it. She'd never been the type of mare to enjoy all that frilly, girly stuff.

Thankfully, she was similarly built to her mother, if a bit stockier with finer muscles. She'd ordered a pair of matching dresses a month ago, intending for them to be a surprise.

She trotted up to the desk, ringing the bell once while her mother gaped, going from rack to rack like a filly in a candy store.

"Coming!" Rarity's voice came from the back in a singsong manner. She practically floated through the doorway, but stopped as soon as she saw her client.

"Oh, my!" she uttered, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Snow Storm! And just who is this young filly with you? Dear me, I never knew you had a little sister!"

Maelstrom giggled uncontrollably, while Snow merely rolled her eyes at the very thick (and very obvious) faux-charm. "Rarity, this is my mom, Maelstrom."

"Your mother?" Rarity asked, visible confusion forming on her face. "But isn't your mother- ohh, I understand now. Well, it's certainly none of my business, now, is it? No, my business is all around me. Speaking of which, are we looking for anything… special today?" The unicorn grinned toothily at the last sentence, but it was uncomfortable, and she not-so-subtly glanced towards Maelstrom.

"It's okay, Rarity, she knows," Snow said dryly. "And no, I've been keeping up with it on my own. I'm here for the two dresses, for the Captain's Ball."

Rarity let out an audible sigh of relief, and then quickly perked up. "Of course! How silly of me. It's just that I'm not used to you ordering something so normal!"

"Neither am I," Snow said.

Rarity spoke, more to herself than to her customers, as she went and fetched the dresses. "This year's Ball has me so overworked, I can barely keep up with the demand! Why, I haven't gotten proper beauty rest in weeks!"

Never one for small talk, Snow Storm merely nodded her head, dropping an occasional 'uh-huh' while Rarity ran around the shop, proclaiming her non-woes even as more ponies filed into the shop.

"Here we are!" Rarity said gleefully, dropping a pair of light boxes onto Snow Storm's back. "One pair of matching dresses. Now, then, I demand you change into them at once! You may use my personal dressing room."

Snow groaned, but her mother's face lit up instantly. They made their way into the back of the store and, after some fumbling and figuring out whose dress belonged to who, they emerged.

Snow's dress was surprisingly more comfortable than she had anticipated - it was breathable, flexible, with very few frills. Its hem barely grazed the floor, but still hid enough of her feet to give anypony the illusion that she was gliding over the ground.

It was as blue as her eyes, and sparkled brilliantly even in the artificial light of the store, as though it were a sapphire made of fabric rather than stone. Snow wouldn't have put it past Rarity to incorporate the rocks into her work, though when she'd have the chance to acquire them, Snow couldn't fathom.

Until, that was, a familiar voice pierced through the store's backroom. "Alphamom!"

Snow Storm looked around immediately, her eyes widening. "Figaro?" she called out. Out of nowhere, a gangly Diamond Dog ran full force at her, leaping and catching her in a tight hug. "Figaro, what're you doing here?!" Snow asked excitedly, laughing as the pup nearly hopped in place. "Man, you've grown up a bit! It's not even been a year!"

"I'm working for Miss Rarity!" he told her. "I fetch gems for her, and I help out in the back!"

"Leichben, who is this?" Maelstrom asked, coming up to her daughter. Her age seemed to work for her rather than against her, Snow thought - she looked as regal as any of the Princesses. Maelstrom's dress had been allowed a couple more frills, with a longer hem that dragged into a short tail. Clearly, it was a ballroom dress fit for the upcoming Ball.

"Oh, mom, this is Figaro," Snow said. "I saved him from a vicious band of Diamond Dogs back in Ponyville, and he's been my friend ever since. Figaro, this is my alphamom, Maelstrom."

"Hmm…" Figaro rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and then smiled wide enough to show his fangs. "Alphagrandmom! It is nice to meet you!"

"Indeed," Maelstrom said, chuckling.

"I'm sorry, kiddo," Snow said, offering a sad frown. "We gotta get going. Big night tonight. But, uh, stop by the farm sometime! And I'll be sure to come back more often now that I know you're here!"

Figaro nodded his head, giving her a thumbs up. "You got it, alphamom! Can I come by tomorrow?"

"Of course you can. See ya then!"

The two mares left the shop shortly thereafter, having changed back into their regular clothes and safely storing away their dresses. They talked about various things as they walked, both still trying to catch up with each other.

Snow turned her head as Maelstrom talked, and she suddenly stopped. It took the older mare a moment to realize her daughter was no longer with her, and she double-backed. "What's wrong?"

Snow said nothing, simply staring at an empty building with a 'For Sale' sign resting in the front window. She'd been formulating an idea for a while now, about how she could more directly help the citizens of Manehattan.

"Sorry," she said, closing the thought off for now. "Just thinking about stuff. My future."

"Oh," Maelstrom replied. "Well, whatever it is you decide, I will do all I can to help you."

Snow smiled. "Thanks, mom."




3

Mirror Shield's heart skipped a beat as she walked into the Guards' headquarters. Stay calm, she told herself; acting suspicious would only get her into trouble. Besides, she had a perfectly legitimate reason for visiting. Still, it was strange to be seeing a place like this from the other side, and not from behind a set of bars.

She walked up to the receptionist, a small brown unicorn who was busy filing a stack of papers. Around her, Guards trotted about, some with detainees, others chatting amongst themselves.

"May I help you?" the receptionist asked. Her face was stern and tired, but her voice was surprisingly sweet.

"I'm looking for somepony," Mirror Shield said. "Amber Shield? I think she works here."

"Second floor, medical wing," the receptionist said immediately. She pointed down the hall. "Head up the stairs, and then take a left. You'll run into her."

"Thank you," Mirror Shield said, trotting away. She followed the directions, her heart beating in her ears now. How long had it been since she'd seen Amber, anyways? Too long, maybe. She had to show herself, though; it would help their plan.

After a moment, she came upon a familiar sight. "Amber?" she asked, her mouth feeling dry.

"Yes?" Amber picked her head up, and then nearly squealed in excitement. "Mirror! Ohmigosh, what're you doing here!? Wait, you're not in trouble, are you? There's only so much I can do-"

"No, no trouble, I promise." Mirror offered her cousin an honest smile. "I've been a good filly. Smoke Screen was just talking about how he's never seen the city, and I figured this was as good a time as any to go sightseeing."

"Smokey's here!?" Amber asked, looking around.

Mirror chuckled. "He's setting us up in a hotel, but I'll be sure to bring him by. I know you and him get on well."

"Hotel? You sure? Me and Petunia got plenty of room at our place, if you want."

"Nah, we're good," Mirror Shield said dismissively. "We gotta have our privacy, too." She offered her cousin a sly wink. "So, who's this Petunia you mentioned?"

Amber grinned widely. "She's my marefriend. We all gotta hook up, maybe have us a double date!"

Mirror nodded. "That sounds fine to me, little cousin. You want us to swing by later?"

"Can't tonight," Amber said, frowning. "it's the Captain's Ball tonight - Guards and their families. I'd say come to that, but…"

"Oh, yeah, no," Mirror said almost at once. A room jam-packed with lawmen? Not her cup of tea, and definitely not Smoke Screen's. "That's cool. Have fun tonight, cuz. I'll hit you up soon?"

"Looking forward to it," Amber said. After another quick round of goodbyes, they parted, with Mirror Shield hitting the streets again.

Damn, it felt good to be home.