As soon as we were served, Romaine smiled at Windy and asked, “Are you Windy from Windy’s Ice Creamery? The place that got burned down in the recent riot?”
Windy nodded, “Yes, Mam, I am.”
“May I interview you about what happened? I am Romaine, a reporter for the Ponyville Prancer.”
“If I can get permission from Miss Peanut Brittle, my boss, sure. Happy to.”
Peanut cheerfully agreed, “Go for it, Windy! It will be great advertising for your new shop once it is rebuilt.”
Caramel came out of the kitchen and joined us at the table. She quietly stated, “This interview will be about Windy, Romaine. Keep Mister Wholeheart out of it as much as possible, please. I know him and he is a very private pony. He was terribly hurt years ago. He tries to do as much good as he can with his wealth but to this day, he remains afraid of being found by those who hurt him. Please don’t give them any clues to find him.”
Coalsmoke casually wandered up and overheard Caramel. She joined us at the table and inquired, “How did Mister Wholeheart come up? He is usually pretty invisible.”
Romaine pointed to Windy. “He helped her out. Her new ice cream parlor near the rail station was burned out in this morning’s riot. He is seeing to getting it rebuilt.”
Coalsmoke nodded, “OK, that makes sense. I know how he feels about fires.” She sort of shuddered and turned to me.
“Does he still get those awful nightmares, Grumpy?”
I nodded. “Yep. Nothing seems to help those. Believe me, I have tried.”
Romaine asked incredulously, “He goes up to your cave, Grumpy?”
Coalsmoke nodded sympathy. “Sure. I spend a lot of time up there, as you know. That is how I know of Mister Wholeheart. He gets work from Grumpy.”
Romaine raised her eyebrows at that. “He does? I am pretty familiar with Grumpy’s files at the Hall of Registry and I have never seen his name on any contract.”
I shrugged, “Windy, can you keep a secret? I know that every other pony here can.”
She nodded, “I can. I gather that what you are gonna say is in that category. I won’t tell.”
I nodded acceptance. “It is simple, really. Think back to what you know of the Nightmare Wars. It is obvious that there is more than one sort of Non Equine Magic. What he wants is to do only good, but usually very anonymously. That includes how his fortune grows.”
Romaine sucked in her lips as she thought it through. “You can do things that don’t need contracts, registry, or payment. You keep everypony focused on the sort that you do, to keep them from trying to get you to do what does not need registry. Why only for him?”
Coalsmoke chuckled, “Because he only wants good from what he does. And he shares some of Grumpy’s sort of pain. He is the pony that Grumpy wishes he was like.”
I turned to Peanut and gave her a twenty gold bit piece. “Get everypony here what they want, Caramel, Windy and you included. Keep the change. I have a place that I need to be.”
As I was about to trot away, Coalsmoke put in, “Grumpy, I wanted to invite you to come to Noxon’s funeral, tomorrow. Can you come?”
“I will be there,” I promised as I left.
Where I had to be was up to my cave! My assorted alarm and spy spells had let me know that I had quite the congregation of ponies up there on my ledge! I paused to drink from the spring about half way up the trail and then let all of my glamors go, leaving just me in my invisible spirit body to go face the twenty five upset and mostly very disfigured appearing ponies on my ledge.
The day was warm, so the iron front sealing off my cave was nice and hot. None of the crowd wanted to be there, next to the hot iron, making me a nice open path right to my door! I slithered up to it and used my nice personalized opening spell to silently lift the stout bars holding it shut.
I was in and the door resealed before any of them were aware of it! Clarence was sitting in my easy chair, a candle lantern dangling from the tip of his horn. He was chortling as he watched the heavy timber braced front of my cave as if he could see right through it. Of course, he could. Lord of the Dead and all that, remember?
Bare bone should not be able to grin. Clarence’s bare polished skull was grinning. He pointed with a hoof of bone at the iron wall, indicating the amusing crowd outside.
“Most diverting, Grumpy! That truth spell has had a delightful outcome! I am certain that their Highnesses are enjoying it!”
I smiled at the old friend who killed me and made me what I am as I replied, “They are indeed, Clarence! I am pretty sure that those out there are not as happy with it! What I want to know is simple. Are any of them Fated Deaths due to happen in the next few days?”
“No, Grumpy. Do you want me to destroy the lot of them? It would be no trouble at all.”
“Not so fast as all that, no. What I do have in mind will be far more profitable. We are going to restore their pre lying to the Princesses looks for a hefty fee. I wonder if any of them has read the Truth Spell contract? It is publicly registered, after all.”
Clarence got a far away look in his empty eye sockets for a few seconds. “No, Grumpy. They simply expect to buy your compliance with their wishes.”
“I presume that I should do business with them, then. I think that you will be amused by the contracts. Oh, would you please take my real skull into the back? I want to be sure that it is safe in case things go nasty.”
“Of course, Grumpy.” Clarence quietly closed the back room door. I went to the front and undid the bars and chains quite noisily. I also left the siege latches set. Good thing, too.
The door slammed against the siege latch stops with the weight of a number of overweight ponies behind it! I called through the crack that the latches allowed, “You might as well stop trying to force your way in! The door and wall were designed and installed by a reputable firm of military equipment contractors. They will take a standard Equestrian Military Battering Ram. You are not going to break it.
“If you are prepared to be civil, we can do business. If not, simply go back down the mountain to Ponyville.”
Somepony in the crowd called out, “You did this to us! You have to undo it!”
“Did what? If I have done anything to you, it will be part of a registered contract. To my knowledge, I have not done anything to any of you.”