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// Death of the Lone Wolf 
// Story: The Fulcrum 
// by Gabriel LaVedier 
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	Rain fell heavily, spattering loudly in fat, pounding drops upon a group of ponies. They were earth ponies, one and all. A small pack of ten setting upon one other earth pony. The stallion fought against the assault of the others, bucking out, shoving his back out as they piled on, dodging and weaving around in the mud and debris. He held his own very well, but eventually fell under the crushing weight of sheer numbers. He shouted out to the unforgiving sky, as the ponies swiftly bound him up, ropes secured around his legs and body, keeping him from moving too freely.
The eleven ponies marched through the churning mud, beneath the booming sky showering them with buckets of rain. It seemed like a silly thing, to have so many ponies to restrain one earth stallion, who looked to be on the good side of mature but was still no yearling. Then he halted, pulled back and twisted, nearly taking the ropes from all his captors and practically getting out of all of his bindings.
The ten regained control after a moment of confusion and shouts assigning blame to each one in turn. Culpability was ultimately assigned to the prisoner, who was given a few light blows, the captors not daring to get any closer than what would be required to give warning taps.
He was hauled on, out of the outskirts of a forest and into more tamed, well-tended areas. The loose dirt gave way to packed earth and then the cobblestones of a village street. It was a typical Equestrian small town, filled with waterproofed thatch-roofed cottages, none getting much larger than two stories. There were no ponies daring the torrential downpour, aside from the ten leading along the prisoner, who occasionally attempted to release one of the ropes, his attempts ever noticed by one of the pairs of paranoid-seeming eyes.
He was pulled, twisting and straining, towards a solid-looking building made entirely of gray stone. It lacked all the charming, rustic touches that gave the other habitations a warm and inviting look. The fitted slabs of granite were securely mortared together, with heavy iron staples seen inserted into pre-carved holes that linked the large chunks, secured in place with metal used like glue. Even the front door was uninviting, a heavy bronze portal featuring carved depictions of manacles and horn caps, as well as the stern image of a frowning Celestia banishing Luna to the moon.
Beyond the squealing door was a dim, dank, uninviting cavern of gray stone. The colors in the place almost seemed to be washed out and siphoned away. The posters showing criminal faces were monochrome, the furniture the most boring and pale shade of brown possible, and even the ponies themselves were nearly a uniform shade of beige. An army of ecru ciphers.  The only difference was the prisoner. His caramel coat refused to surrender to the blandness of the environment; and despite the lingering mud, his mane shone with the luminous effects of regular treatment. His attire was not faring as well, a white shirt with ruffled front stained and torn, black waistcoat ripped open, buttons all popped, his black suit coat even more stained and battered, though looking intact. Tied around the base of his tail was a colorful ribbon, which hung down between his flanks, barely visible behind the mud and fall of his silky tail.
One of the stallions moved away from the others, panting softly and scowling at the still-struggling caramel male. “You've been quite a hooffull, haven't you? I guess there was a good reason we were told to arrest you.”
“And here I thought it was because somepony saw the ribbon on my tail and got spooked.” The voice was dark, heavy, filled with a kind of repressed fury. His eyes shone with the anger behind them, but also with the glow of a secret held well away from unknowing oafs.
“We don't very much take kindly to your sort around here. There's a certain... reputation to you ribbontails. We have to take ALL threat's to Celestia's laws seriously. Especially a night-walking gypsy like you. You've just got a look about you. A smell of criminality. I guess your kind can't help it.” The leading stallion motioned with his head towards the back. “Throw him in there with the slime-drinkers. It's a good thing we can get these scum off the street and eliminate the problems in this great land.”
The nine remaining stallions hauled the struggling Roani prisoner through the back, into a room filled with cells. Unlike most Equestrian jails there was nothing inviting or warm about the space to indicate that it was for the purposes of gentle correction and rehabilitation. It was impersonal and rigid, the cells more like cages, with barred ceilings and floors in addition to the bars between them. Despite the bellicosity of the ponies, indicating their probable zealousness for incarcerating others, there were only two others in a cell, stallions. One was a purple pegasus with a yellow mane and tail, protectively laying a wing over a dark orange unicorn with a white mane and tail.
The sound of tromping hooves snapped the pegasus' head up, his wing's grip tightening around the smaller male. The scrape of the cell door set them both to wincing, though it may also have been the injuries evident on them. Both had swollen features, and scrapes over their bodies, though the pegasus had clearly taken the brunt of it.
“Maybe these two sick freaks will do what their perverted nature tells them and this ribbontail will learn not to come into decent areas.” The earth stallion was unceremoniously thrown into the cell by the sneering constable and spit on before the door slammed shut.
There was nothing said between the three at first, the two stallions watching the new arrival slowly get to his hooves and shake his head, checking on his dirty clothes, paying special attention to the ribbon on his tail. Finally, the pegasus spoke, in a gruff but quiet voice. “Midnight Glow.”
The unicorn followed with a softer, “Noontide. Glow.”
The earth pony stood tall, the rage melting away in an instant, leaving the secret dancing behind his eyes. He gave a low, grand bow and said, “Udan Ibai. Kako Udan to my niece, Bar Ibai to my brother and my sister. A distinct pleasure to meet you, Noontide, Midnight.”
“Why... why did they arrest you? Are you a colt cuddler too?” Noontide's voice was still soft, fearful, and showed the pain he was in.
Udan showed his tail ribbon again and gave it a wave. “I was picked up for trotting while Roani. That was certainly less than a surprise. I've heard about this place, in rumors and whispers. I didn't expect it to be this bad. I also didn't expect anypony else to be in here. It's a complication but, such is life.”
“Complication? What are you talking about?” Midnight looked incredulously at Udan.
“Well let me put it this way... did you intend to come here?”
“N-no... we were looking for a vacation spot. I... wanted to check for directions but Midnight said he knew where he was going. We wandered through the forest and... found this place.” Noontide gasped, choking a little as he started to sob. “They... weren't very kind. I think they don't like non-earth ponies. But they don't look like Cannonites. Then we kissed and... they came to take us in. For crimes against Celestia. Can you believe it?”
“Now, I'm no Canterlot colt like him, but even some Cloudsdale nopony like me knows Celestia is all about colt cuddlers...”
“And Luna too.” Udan added.
“And Luna too... oh, right. Roani. Sorry I forgot...” Midnight cleared his throat and licked his lips. “Anyhow... we stumbled into this situation. What is going on with this talk about crimes against Celestia?”
“Certainly nothing with Celestia's approval. So, ten stallions, to take down two colt cuddlers. And it looks like they gave you the business. They wanted to try that with me too but they figured out that wasn't too good of an idea. Earth ponies know earth ponies. They don't take chances. They strike like ravenous timber wolves, make sure the odds are distinctly uneven, and then assert their dominance to make sure their prisoners are completely submissive. Dictators, keeping their little community pure. Isolationists. Probably just a hair from being separatists, but they still rely on something that keeps them maintaining outward signs of compliance with the laws of the land. But when they can get away with it...”
“Who... are you?” Noontide squinted at Udan, as though he somehow recognized him. “You talk like... like a constable or some other official like that. Are you from Canterlot?”
“Pericarp. And no, I can say I am in no way an official constable. I'm something far better.” Udan dropped a wink and looked around, leaning in to take the other two into his confidence. “I'm a scoundrel and a busybody. I heard bad things were happening to those that were not perfectly perfect, the kind that society has not fully embraced. It is... personal, as you might imagine. I wanted to see if it was true. Then I'd make a big stink about it. I have that ability.”
“And... just how were you going to do that? I'd imagine that your trial is going to wait a while, if you get one.” Midnight shifted his gaze to the entrance to the cells, as though expecting to see one of the stallions eavesdropping.
“Oh that's a good one! Trial... I haven't been involved in a trial for two years. And I was the one on trial three years before that. No, no. I'm just going to escape. In a little Podunk place like this it's ridiculously easy. But that's why I said your being here made things complicated. I have to get you out too. It wouldn't be very good for you to be here when I get out. After all, they don't need loose ends in case anypony comes in asking questions.”
“E-escape? That sounds a bit dangerous. Can't we just... wait? Maybe... maybe they'll let us go after admitting they made a mistake? I mean, we were just lost. And you... you didn't do anything.” Noontide visibly quailed, breath starting to come in quick pants.
“Ten. Ponies.” Udan's voice grew hard and his eyes bored into Noontide's. “Two colt cuddlers. One Roani. They wanted, and needed, a guarantee none of us would escape from their clutches. You're never leaving this cage. They know the townsfolk are either too scared of them to do anything or are in on it. They can't risk anypony knowing about how they 'honor' Celestia. I think I know what they're doing... but that's no matter. You're not even a pony to them. You're a beast. And they WILL keep you here. If you're very lucky.”
“Y-you mean they'd... they'd..?” Noontide tucked himself further under Midnight's wing.
“This is crazy.” Midnight shook his head and squeezed Noontide tighter. “Th-this... this kind of thing doesn't happen in Equestria! This isn't the Griffin Kingdom. I've heard rumors about things there but this... we're fully civilized like the Grand Veldt or the United Colonies. They don't... don't KILL colt cuddlers or Roa. They price gouge or make snide comments at worst! In Cloudsdale or Chicacolt or Detrot. Ponies are getting over it.”
“Not here. Not these ponies. If I'm right, and I hope I'm not, you aren't dealing with ponies that have a full deck. I don't mean they're crazy... I mean they are insane, because they believe things that are not true. The most frightening part is they don't think that's possible.”
Neither Midnight nor Noontide spoke. Noontide had begun to softly weep, his breath rasping out through his thick throat; Midnight was holding a neutral expression, head angled up in a desperate attempt to appear strong. “How do you know so much, mister Ibai? How can you possibly know something like this?”
“You don't want to know. You honestly don't. It's a dull story. Lots of dusty books and long nights with coffee. Know I know, and know that I WILL be getting out of here. And taking you both with me to make sure there are no retributions brought down against anypony. Not ideal but I've been doing this all my life. No problem at all.”
“And how will you do it? This is a jail. They don't exactly make it easy to get away from places like this.” Midnight stroked Noontide with his wing, trying to pass on comfort he did not feel himself.
“Because they're amateurs, lured into a false sense of security by a long time of being dictators to their own citizens, dealing with rule-breakers they can intimidate, or lost folk like yourselves that are seldom a big problem. They don't know how to actually deal with the incarceration of serious criminals. It's all in what they didn't do.” Udan approached the bars and lightly touched them, carefully making his way towards the door, feeling each one several times at different locations. “Yes, they beat us all to one degree or another. Base intimidation. Brute force. That's all they know. It probably works on their own and on the average citizen who is only interested in getting along and getting out of a bad situation. But they forgot even the basic logical steps as represented by their own door, though they are probably not totally idiotic.”
The examination of the bars continued, the earth pony's hooves beginning to tap the metal as he reached the door and got closer to the lock. As he examined he continued to speak. “You, your wings aren't clipped, wrapped or broken. Even in a cell it's standard practice to hobble a pegasus somehow just in case. It's also a way of reducing the possibility of using the wings as a weapon. And you, even though there's almost a one hundred percent chance the lock is counter-enchanted to prevent a lockpicking spell, it is basic, day-one training to ALWAYS horn cap a unicorn prisoner, for obvious reasons, even if it is believed they are pacified by other means.”
The area around the lock was very carefully stroked and tapped, Udan's ears perked up high, his face a mask that gave no indication if the varied plinks and rough rasp of hoof on metal were good or bad. He was very nearly touching the lock itself. “And even more basic than that, more stupidly obvious, they didn't bother to frisk me or to confiscate my clothing. They seemed to believe appearances, that I was completely without any objects on me. Objects like a lace ribbon whose ends conceal lock picks.” He suddenly dug the ends of the ribbon into the lock, hooves deftly twisting and rotating the picks all around until there came a soft click and the lock disengaged. “Gave one of these to my nephew, though I understand he keeps it more as a kind of memorial rather than as a functional bit of neck wear. Whatever works I suppose.”
Midnight stepped forward slowly, cautiously. “What... what was with all that feeling and tapping before you did that? Some kind of secret technique to make the lock looser or something like that?”
“Oh no. Nothing like that. I was stalling for time mostly. I needed to see how frequently they would check on us, if they responded to the sounds of tapping and sliding over metal, and if they had bought any enchantments such as touch alarms or electrical discharges. They're still proving their uselessness. No spells on the bars, they don't respond to the sounds of touching and tapping, and they don't even look in. Just as I thought, completely useless thanks to their smug sense of superiority. Looks like we're getting out easier than I expected. If I'm right, they're either all out there doing patrols and responding to reports. Or at least most of them will be out. They came out into the rain for me; they'll be out there no question. Are you ready?”
“H-honey? Can we do this?” Noontide looked up at Midnight, fear and desperation shining in his wavering eyes.
“Can we? I don't know. We're trusting some pony that just picked a jail lock. But we also can't stay here. Not if we want to be safe.” Midnight sighed and slowly stood up. “Our lives are in your hooves, mister Ibai. We just want to go home.”
Udan slowly pushed the door open, using light pressure and stopping every so often after a twitch of his ears. “And so you will. We just need to make a very quick stop to get my pack. I have a lot of important equipment there. Including a way to make a lot of noise over this. Now, after I keep this door from making a lot of noise I need you to pay attention. If I say 'creep', you creep; if I say 'duck', you duck; if I say 'run' then you outrace the Wonderbolts. Welcome to the big time. Don't worry, there are full pardons on the other side of this.”
When the door had been opened to the width of a pony the three slowly crept out, doing their best to move on the stone floor without making too much noise. Midnight attempted to fly but winced as his wings flapped; they were probably bruised.
Udan took point, stepping casually and at an almost-normal pace without making a sound. He peeked his head out of the doorway into the main area, looking around carefully before motioning. “Come on. It's empty. When we hit the door turn right, then run like Discord is after you. Up the street and out of town. Once we get to the forest I'll give more specific directions.”
Even though the station was empty the trio continued to creep its way along towards the front doors. The heavy ports opened up with a slow squeal. The town was still dark, under the pall of clouds and the hammering sheets of rain. Visibility was horrible, but what could be seen revealed no constable presence. With no observers or constables in view Udan tossed his head and they all galloped as hard as they could, Noontide falling just off from Midnight's pace, both of them a small distance behind the earth pony, following his bright ribbon in the torrential downpour.
They reached the outskirts of the town, into the tended wilderness of the surrounding woods before they heard a sudden shout of, “Hold it! Prisoners escaping! Prisoners escaping!” Hoofbeats pounded into the wet loam and thick grass of the border area, one of the underling officers seen galloping towards the feeling group.
“RUN! Don't look back even a fraction! Go! Run!” Udan dug his hooves into the ground and peeled out, scattering clods with the force of his galloping. “Follow me! We just need to reach my equipment. We can take a single one of them!”
Unable to think of anything else, Noontide activated his telekinesis and reached out for anything his magical grip could reach, throwing rocks, sticks, mug and other such things vaguely behind his, a fearful scream pouring from his mouth while his legs hammered the ground as hard as they could.
“Hey! You're just digging yourself deeper, pole-gobbler! Stop that immediately! Backup! Where are you!? They are attempting to escape through the woods! Help me here guys!” The constable could be heard behind them, growing closer by inches.
“Midnight, drop back and kick!” As Udan gave the order he skidded and fell to his side, sliding through the mud into a thick thatch of foliage, sliding back out with something that looked very much like a guards-quality rucksack.
Midnight obeyed unhesitatingly, slowing down and giving just a quick glance back before he unleashed a might kick and a cry of anger. “This is for the other day!” His rear hooves struck the pursuing pony, who was totally unprepared for the strike. It sent the stallion tumbling to the muddy ground with a grunt.
Udan shouldered his pack with just a touch of difficulty, struggling with the slippery material for a moment before he had it secured. “Run! Come on! We need to make I to a forest road! I know a place we can go!”
“Halt! Escapees! You'll pay for that!” Suddenly, more of the constables broke through the brush, including the one that seemed to be the leader. The full complement was not present, but there were certainly enough of them to make it another unfair fight.
“Sorry, delivery pony carries no bits!” Udan swept a low and vicious kick that caught the hoof of one, sending him to the muddy ground along with the first.
“Let us go! I promise we won't tell anypony anything!” Noontide, still in panic mode, once more began to throw objects around.
“Hold them! Get them back to the jail!” The ropes came out again, each of the constables attempting to toss them around one of the escapees. They focused most especially on Udan, though they also attempted to stop Noontide from using his telekinesis.
“Let's go! Forget them!” Udan pulled on both Midnight and Noontide, dodging one of the ropes. But he dodged poorly, the rope missing him but catching Midnight's left rear leg.
“Got one of those perverts!”
“Midnight!”
“Go! Get out of here!” Midnight lashed out with his other three limbs, avoiding other ropes and battering those that came near him.
“Come on, I couldn't... we need to leave! Now!” Udan dodged another rope, dropped the one that threw it and pulled a screaming Noontide into the dense foliage of the forest.
“NO! No! Midnight! No we can't! We have to save him!”
“No time, and no way. They'd have us back in the cell, or worse... I'm sorry but this is... what is.” Udan's face looked sunken and fearful. He was very nearly in shock thanks to the happenings. “We need to escape and get to a good hiding point until we can reach the sanctuary I know.”
“Midnight...” Noontide looked through the consuming and concealing foliage, losing sight of his husband as the constables lost sight of them.
The two escapees vanished into the thick growth, causing the lead constable to snort and stomp his hoof in the mud. “Just great. We lost them. That ribbontail must have let them out. I can't believe we forgot to check him! It's just been so long...” He looked down at the struggling pegasus and spat on him. “At least we caught one of the perverts.”
“Let's just finish the job...” The initial pursuer, the first one dropped by Midnight, got to his hooves, rubbing at the sore portions of his body. “Kill him right now. Make him pay for what he did to me.”
“No!” The leader struck the complaining underling across the face, brows furrowing. “What do you think you are? A Discordian? We obey laws! We are Celestia's stalwart guardians. We will not shortcut the process because you feel slighted. We will do as we always do. To take care of potential discovery he will be hung tomorrow after a public trial. The evidence will be put away and cleaned as ever. We have a process. The process makes us orderly. Order makes us strong. Strength makes us righteous.”
All the constables, including the angry one, echoed, “Strength makes us righteous.”
Udan and Noontide crashed wildly through the forest, breath huffing from their mouths. Noontide was weeping and muttering cries for his abandoned lover while Udan was remarkably silent. He had a look of stunned disbelief on his face, which made him actually look his age, even if only for a moment.
“What are we going to do?! Tell me we're going back!” Noontide ran with all his might to put himself beside Udan and glare at him with all the pain in him turned to anger.
“We... we can't. Not like this. They'll expedite everything they were intending. By the time a force gets here it might already be too late. I didn't notice but I'd bet my silver badge that the cemetery has a lot of blank headstones.” He huffed softly, dead eyes still staring ahead into the raining darkness, directing his hooves towards where he knew there was a modest road.
Udan fell upon the road, head dropped as he contemplated his limited options and saw any hope for a decent resolution dry up and blow away. It was worse than the incident at Fountain Head Estates. That had been hopeless but he had been out of the loop that could have helped. He didn't know there was a risk of... but here, he knew the risks. He had dragged them out into it. Certainly, he saved one. But the 'greater good' arithmetic would not stop the tears from falling or quiet the mocking voice crying, 'You are useless now.'
A sound along the read made both stallions look up and do the side. Coming through the rain was a creaking collection of wagons. There were three large wooden wagons of an older type, typically used to pull traveling shows. At the head of the wagons was a truly massive stallion, heavy-bodied with feathered hooves. He was a yellow earth pony, with a bright green mane and tail. He pulled the three huge wagons without any strain or difficulty, very strong in his earth pony mana flow. No other ponies seemed evident.
Udan suddenly rose and waves a hoof to the approaching pony. “Hey! Hey there! Stop please! We require some assistance! Please stop!”
The huge stallion rolled to a stop close to Udan and Noontide, allowing the side of the wagons to be seen. All three were painted with a logo that had once been bright and cheery but had grown faded and washed. The name was still readable, Trottingham Court Cabaret of Mystery and Wonder. The big stallion looked down at the ponies. “What's the matter?”
“We require a bit of assistance. We have to help somepony about to be punished for something that isn't a crime.”
The huge pony thought about things for a moment before he called back, “Hey! Anypony know anything about law?”
After a general muttering an old-sounding voice thick with the refined accent of Trottingham responded, “What are you talking about, Six? And why have you stopped the carts?” A cleverly-hidden window opened in the side, and an old unicorn with a gray coat and white mane, and long, twisty goatee, stuck his head out. “My word. Such wretched looking unfortunates. Open the cart, let them in.”
The back of the third cart opened slowly, and two unicorns emerged, a white stallion with a white mane, and a black mare with a cream mane. Twisted into the mare's mane was a collection of thin silver chains hung with glittery baubles. “Wow. The really do look like something a cat hacked up...” The stallion.
“Blank!” The mare lightly kicked the stallion on his horn and scowled, before turning a softer look on Udan and Noontide. “Come inside.”
The two soaking ponies made their way into the cart, which was rather expansive. The standard spatial-skewing effects of Equestrian construction were at work. It was a sparse space, to be sure, all bare wood painted in faded colors, with pillows laid out and a small area for preparing meals along one edge. The rest of the space, save the large empty central space, was filled with boxes and sacks that were probably filled with props and equipment for the shows. “Please, please we need your help!” Noontide was the one pleading; Udan was looking at the mare.
“I'll say you do. Walking in the rain, in the forest, at night. There are easier ways to be alone together...”
“Blank! Can't you keep a civil tongue in your bucking mouth? These are bucking guests! Show some bucking respect!” The mare cleared her throat and turned to the two. “Don't mind him. My name is Clear Thought. This rude fellow is Blank Slate. Other than some towels, do you need something to eat or a hot cup of tea?”
“We need someone that can imitate a government agent. There's a town of near-separatist ponies illegally incarcerating ponies for non-crimes allegedly in the name of Celestia. His husband was just recaptured and is now a liability to them. He is in danger.” Udan paced around nervously, reflexively slicking back his mane over and over.
“Uh, heh, I'm good but I can't just turn into Princess Celestia or anything.” The one identified as Blank Slate chuckled lightly and sheepishly rubbed his neck. “I couldn't even work up a decent Prince Blueblood. Not that I'd want to, but it couldn't hurt. He's official-looking.”
“I would do my usual but there's too much risk. I need something slightly more subtle until he can be secured. This wasn't supposed to happen. It was a simple escape. Simple...” Udan trailed off, muttering softly to himself, while looking oddly at Clear.
“Well we would... like to help. And we're sorry for this...but it's an... an odd... claim to make... I'm sorry.” Clear looked back at Udan and frowned. “What is the matter with you?”
Udan turned around and showed his muddy, sodden tail ribbon. “You aren't wearing yours. That's very unusual.”
Clear blinked, and stared at the ribbon, surprised at realizing it was there. “You..? I mean... we're not all unicorns but most are. And no offense sir. I'm not exactly saying you're lying but, you don't look Roani.”
There was a soft sigh from Udan, as though it was common to hear that. He also seemed to be calming himself. “Roanipen. My sister-in-law is Roa Baro of her tribe. I learned my way in when it was clear my niece would be raised to know the Roani ways. It was important I be able to present that to her.”
“Prove it.”
Udan took in a deep breath, as if preparing to release a loud cry. But rather, he began to sing softly in a rich, beautiful tone. “Opré Phuri Daj. Opré Luna. Luna, Luna, Opré Luna. Opré Roa. Phuri daj Luna opré.”
“Just remembering the order is impressive enough.” Clear noted, slowly nodding. “Well now... you're a brother to me, no matter where your tribe originates.”
“My blood is of no consequence; my sister-in-law's tribe comes of Caballito and Percheron. They are Zaldi, which would explain her marriage.”
“I know I'm a bad Roa, not wearing her majesty's ribbon, but it makes my life easier if all I do is decorate my mane and try to be sprightly. And swear under my breath when they're being idiot gadje, but we all do that, don't we?”
“Arvah, arvah.” Udan said with a soft chuckle. “So, you can help us?”
“You have my vote for help... but there are others...” Clear looked to the open door as other ponies filed in. First was the huge yellow and green stallion, then the ancient gray unicorn, seeming rather spry despite his age. Behind them was a pegasus with blonde mane and body, her mane slicked back with oil, a light brown earth pony with a dark brown mane in braids, and finally a silver-bodied male bald eagle griffin. “And there they are.”
“Now, ahem, what is this about needing somepony conversant with the points of law?” The old pony spoke first, setting a pair of small spectacles on his face and giving the two stallions the once-over.
“They SAY they just broke out of jail and need out help to break a third pony out again. And something about Celestia.” Blank shrugged his shoulders and yawned. “I wasn't really listening.”
“That's not what they said. Oh Luna you have the worst attention span of anypony I know, Blank!” Clear nudged Blank solidly and turned to the old unicorn. “He said they were wrongfully imprisoned by some kind of separatists. They escaped but this guy's husband was caught again. And he thinks they're going to kill him.”
“It's the only reasonable conclusion to make...”
“'Reasonable'?!” Noontide shrieked in disbelief and stared incredulously at Udan. “That's crazy! There's nothing reasonable about murdering a pony for being a colt cuddler! Was it reasonable when they were going to do the same to you for being Roani?”
“I meant it makes sense from their perspective. Get rid of any evidence in case we manage to convince anypony official to go in and see what we've found. They won't tell, and the citizens are either in on it or terrified of them.” Udan clarified.
“That's quite a hefty claim to make. Any reason we should give you the benefit of the doubt? You don't exactly have credibility in here.” The blonde pegasus looked with a squint at the two.
“He's my brother...” Clear began, pointing at Udan.
“Oh, family crisis.” The griffin huffed and tossed his head with a scowl. “If he's anything like my sister we need to just toss them both out on principle. He can't be hanging out with a good pony.”
“Again with your sister. Give it a REST Arg. I'm not exactly buying this either but come ON.” The blonde gave an exasperated splutter and shook her head. “I honestly don't see the family resemblance.”
“He's a fellow Roa.” Clear pointed to the tail ribbon. “He's a Zaldi. His brother is married to a tribe Roa Baro. I don't know if that's a fact or not but I trust him. He's another of Luna's children.”
“Be that as it may...” The old unicorn strolled up and cleared his throat again. “My name is Gray Pearls, leader of this traveling troupe. I am an old hoof at all the tricks of the trade, whichever trade that may be. I believe you may be in earnest but that brings to mind the question, what would you have us do?”
There was a moment of silent contemplation, Udan thinking deeply about the question. “We'd need to distract the whole town. Lots of eyes, lots of witnesses, no way to assure an overpowering intimidation by the constables. There are ten of them but nearly as many of you. They're already on edge. They won't risk anything when they're not sure they can manage it. Plenty of colorful strangers, lots of flashing lights and explosions so they won't notice one sneaking figure skulking about and liberating a captive. But even then... it would still take an official investigation to fix things...”
Gray regarded the contemplative stallion with a quirked brow. “I see... you have given this much thought. Or perhaps this is your stock-in-trade. If this is truly for a good cause then it would, of course, be right to do this. But we need some assurances of some kind.”
“Please...” Noontide finally spoke up, looking pleadingly at the seven members of the troupe. In the low light of the room his injuries just stood out, adding to his appearance of serious sorrow. “My husband took a beating to protect me when they arrested us. And he beat up a constable so we could get away. He was captured so we could get free. I just need him back, safe. Please, if... if he's right then they're going to kill him. You can't let that happen.”
“I support this idea, Gray.” Clear moved over and gingerly stroked Noontide's mane. “Brother in Luna or no, I think this is real. It sounds crazy but... Any Random happened. I'll believe anything after that crazy mare managed to exist at all.”
“There is a certain... logical force to your words, Clear.” Gray turned to the pegasus. “What do you say, Locks? I value your input, as ever.”
The mare sighed and tried to look stern and disbelieving, but failed. “I don't know now. Clear's right about crazy things seeming likely. I'm thinking more that... this is dangerous. We could be run off, leave behind some equipment and a few pints of blood if we're lucky. All on the word of a few late-night forest strangers.”
“It just ain't right.” The giant pony previously named as Six shook his head and snorted. “Taking in and beating a poor stallion just because he's a colt cuddler. I thought we were all better than that. This isn't the Griffin Kingdom.”
“Hey!” The griffin screeched and glared at Six. “There's never been any fully confirmed reports of that kind of thing happening by official decree. It's all individual matters.”
“You aren't standing up for that, are you?” The brown earth mare looked at the griffin with concern and almost sorrow. “Argentum... you always said you hated it there.”
“Wha-? Hey, Pretz, no. But it's my home. And I still want to make sure that we don't get misunderstood. I mean, my dad was a diplomat, so my family is something official and governmental. Bad things said about them reflect badly on me.”
“Don't worry, Arg, I never thought of you as anything official or governmental.” Blank grinned and popped his white brows with a click of his tongue.
“Blank... you have all the tact of an ill-bred timberwolf.” Clear rubbed her head slowly. “No matter what, I think we're going to side with them. It's really the right thing to do. Just on the off chance that this is really going on.”
“Miss Braids... you did not chime in specifically.” Gray looked to the brown earth pony.
“I agree with Six, completely. This is Equestria. We respect colt cuddlers, because Celestia does...”
“And Luna too.” Udan added quickly.
“And our phuri daj too.” Clear said almost with Udan. “Especially her.”
“The ultimate question is... can we trust you two strangers? Are we being asked to do something criminal and ultimately not actually for the good of the innocent? Are there any assurances you can offer? Something to make us more secure, at all?” Gray used his magic to pour himself a cup of water, which steamed almost as soon as it hit the leaves at the bottom of the cup.
Udan smoothly opened his pack and pulled out an unassuming length of dark black metal, an iron rod with a hook on one end. He pulled on it, telescoping it out into a long, full croupier sick. “It may be too much to hope, but does this mean anything to anyone? This and the name LaRoulette?”
There was a general murmur from the gathered troupe members. “I've heard of it...” Locks admitted, sliding a hoof around her mane. “In passing. I didn't use the gaming facilities. I know there's a chateau under that name. And that's a croupier stick for the dice tables. But just because you work there doesn't mean to can give us assurances that you're on the up and up.”
Udan shook his head a bit and twirled the stick deftly. “It's no ordinary stick. Cold iron, with a silver inner plating. No one knows but me and the Dog that forged it. It's not a part of a job. It's a badge of belonging. It's a sign of my brother. Gilbert LaRoulette, and his wife, Roa Baro Aurelina LaRoulette. You need money? Favors? A safe haven to hide? My brother offers it all. Here is the sign.” He telescoped the stick back down to the smaller size and passed the stick to Gray. “Hostage to you. My word is my bond until you call for the cash at his doorstep.”
“I vote we help him, Gray.” Locks nodded solemnly, watching the stick passed over. “I don't know much but I know this. Only the big stallion, his wife and what family members I saw carry those custom jobs, in different materials. He knows so much that even if he's putting us on it might be worth something just purely from the price of information brokering about somepony that knows too much.”
Gray took the object in his telekinesis, moving it around in the air, squinting a bit as the magical field wavered over it. “He's telling the truth. It's hollow to reduce weight, but the inside is pure silver bonded to the iron. And it's impurity-laced iron, which lets magic through, the kind somepony would choose if they wanted something symbolic, and knew traditional tales of how to destroy the fae, bane of travelers.” Gray set the croupier stick on his back and sighed. “We will help. No question. Do not fear. This will be... a most interesting use of our many skills.”
“And skills are powered by sleep. I don't know about the rest of you but if I'm going to be distraction for a jailbreak then I need some shuteye.” Blank yawned and smacked his lips.
“That's not a bad idea. Nopony is doing anything tonight. They want it all done right. Mock trial, ceremony, then the hanging. We just need to be up well before dawn, and we won't have an aerial act.” Udan started to write with a graphite stick on a piece of thick paper.
“What are you talking about? You can't take me out of this. I'm one of the big draws in this show! My stunts always draw eyes. I've gotta participate.” The griffin, Argentum, puffed his chest and thumped his keel with a talon.
“There's something far more important that's going to need to happen. A message that absolutely has to get to where it's going, plus the reply needs to get back. Do you think you're fast?” Udan looked sidelong at Argentum with a skeptical eye.
“You challenging me, stranger? I'm the fastest griffin you ever saw! I'm Argentum mac Aurelius O'Bald, second of first, but my father's first-hatched son. And I am a champion flier.”
“Except when your sister's in the area. Then we all know you're second-best.” Blank called from the background, then grunted as Clear thumped him on the back of the head.
“Second best can be the best if it's what you have and you need them to step up and be the hero.” The message finished, the caramel pony folded the paper up tight and scribbled something onto it. It was a name. Bataud Carp. “You'll have to fly fast south-southeast. There will be a beautiful town there surrounded by cherry trees. Find the chief constable there, probably with the family name Grind, and give them this name and my description. Then tell them to come here in full force, adding, 'There is something worse than Streamford Grade.' They'll understand. You'll have to leave before Celestia even wakes up. Well before Luna tucks the moon down. And like I said, fast.”
“Can't I just do it now, have them wait or something?”
“You could. But I know those folks. They wouldn't wait. I think the ones in town know how to handle an official surprise. There are proper channels, protocols, everything. Even with notice and suspicion. He has to be out of their hooves before that stops mattering. We have to trust this to our baxt.”
“Our what?” The griffin cocked his head and looked at Udan with one quizzical eye.
“'Baxt.'” Clear said. “It means our fate or luck. Or what we are, our nature. We're trusting both to chance and to our capabilities.”
“Dame Fortuna...” Udan stated quietly, apropos of nothing.
“Time to get some sleep. Gentlecolts... all we can offer you is this room and some blankets. Set the alarms, we're waking early as possible. Be on top of everything. Big noise, big lights, lots of movement. Standard for bringing the eyes and ears. You know how. Make it magic.” Gray sipped the last of his tea and passed the cup to the black unicorn mare. “Read the leaves please, Clear. We need all the fortune we can get.”
“I don't know why you do this. I'm a carnival drabani, hardly a rigorous soothsayer. Still...” Clear took the cup in her magic aura and looked at the leaves in the bottom. “You're not about to be stricken with bibaxt. Take some comfort in that. But you will find many challenges ahead. Everything is a test for you, but you are a wise stallion with an august beard. It presents the right countenance. You will succeed because others believe in you. You're a real leader, Gray. The leaves won't say differently tonight or any night.”
“Never hurts to hear it.” Gray sighed and walked slowly out of the caravan.
“Here. Um... we'll have to share the space.” The brown earth mare, Pretz, presented Noontide and Udan with two thick blankets. “It's tight space normally, never mind guests. But we share what we have. Do you need anything to eat?”
“I... I don't know how I could possibly eat after what has happened to me and my husband. I think my stomach is going to eat itself...” Noontide shook his head and fell onto his side. “I'm an accountant, in a big city. This kind of thing just doesn't happen. In all my days I never even imagined this could happen. The most excitement I ever thought I'd have would be to stumble onto some Randomoid's finances.”
“It's not too shocking, but is certainly startling if you don't have a clue. All you do is call the local constables, pass over the numbers that made you leery and they arrange a full takedown with an army of accountants to make sure they yank out every last root.” Udan slowly went down onto his side and pulled the blanket up over his body. “A simple procedure.”
“You seem to know a lot about it. Are you a constable, or an accountant?” Pretz looked down curiously at Udan.
“I've been both. I know the procedure. It's fairly basic; no need for needless layers of hassle when the danger is so great.” Udan pulled the blanket up, letting his body heat and the blanket slowly dry him off. He left his clothes, there was no point in trying to give them special attention. “I've been a lot. Been a lot...”
The raised blanket shut out the world. He heard further words but didn't react. He just closed his eyes to enter a place where he didn't need to keep up his image. It wasn't that long ago where inside and outside were in harmony. Confident and debonaire. There was no gambling in his gambles. Either royal forces knew exactly where he was at all times and could respond instantly, or he had stacked the odds so high the other side could not have won even if he had given up. He made the ultimate mistake. Worse, it was his mother's mistake. He thought too much of himself. However high his luck had been, he had forgotten the lesson of the spirit he often invoked. Dame Fortuna showed no partiality. Her wheel lifted and crushed, in equal measure.
It was bad enough he was finally feeling the sting of daring too much, wandering on his own mission without any more of his enchanted parchment. He had thought it would be fine. One stop in a constable station and a flash of his badge would bring more, at least enough to get him by. But no, at the moment he needed it most, he was out of luck. Bibaxt. She may not have been a drabani like his oathbond sister, but that mare named Clear had said a real mouthful. Another pony named Clear. Had it been so long of an errand that he was now able to say that the new ponies he met reminded him of the ones he already knew?
Wasn't that the sign of growing old? If it wasn't, it certainly seemed like it. His bones did not creak and his back did not sway, he was as clever as ever, not to mention as spry and strong as ever. But the time was adding up, minute by minute. He was the eldest in the family. And his nieces and nephews had children. True, there was not more than a few years separating all of them, and all married young, more or less. But it did not change the facts. Perhaps this was a sign. He had been waiting so long to give his lover the dividends for her paying the cost of the crown.
He had certainly earned it... years ago. Any other pony would have been more than happy to argue the point, to wear her down to allow themselves to rest on their laurels. In any other case the sword, lance and shield would have been nothing but a pile of rust among the concealing flowers. He had felt terrible but knew it was right to go. He had been doing it for Equestria. But perhaps also for his ego.
He had accepted the situation before. The reality of seeing his lover infrequently. When he thought it was all over he had been shattered by the idea that it was not to be. But he walked out of Canterlot without an argument. He had, after all, been promised all he ever wanted, and been confronted with the reality of his helping the nation in ways that could hardly be grasped by the average pony. He knew it was right. That Equestria needed its Black Knight-Errant. It felt good. Maybe too good.
He had felt invincible. His luck was unstoppable. He had caught the arch-nemesis he had chased all his life, destroyed an organization that stretched across all the lands and been promised a child. Had he accepted the mission because it was right, or because he was sure that he would keep being his usual amazing self, living a life like some kind of character in a novel or movie? Always on his own, forever becoming more and more amazing, the lone hero with many a tale to tell.
Selfishness. Self-aggrandizing. A sense of smug superiority. The hallmarks of a Randomoid. Had his hunt for the enemy turned him into one? There was no saying in Equestria that would even imply such a thing was possible. But stranger things had happened. Even while despising her and all she stood for, he may have turned himself into Any Random's reflection.
Mister Sliver. Chance. Lysandra. Miss Toothy. The Everfree Nightwatch. Rosemary. And so many more through his long career of becoming a hero. He had never been alone. His luck had been held aloft by an intricate, interconnected web made of adamantine threads. They were strong, unshakable. He gave as well as received. From comfort to closure to advice to even a marriage. He never took more than his fair share, just what he needed, and was never forced to give more than he could afford. No Randomoid would ever have done what he did. He would have been his mother's pawn.
He had wandered alone. But he had never really acted alone. He was no brooding loner. He was a friend and lover. The myth of the singular hero was just that, a myth. Harmony was the key. It always had been and always would be.
He slowly drifted off to sleep, considering the next day. He was not sorry to see the lone wolf die.
One could not mourn what never existed.