The Mysterious Mare Do Well #1: The Mare Before the Mask
Act III: "Finding Mare Do Well"
***
So now I'm dead. Dead to the world and even if I wasn't my life is basically over. So I decide then that something needs to be done. I'm in no position to do anything but there's somepony out there who may be able to put an end to this. I decided that night that I was going to find the Mysterious Mare Do Well and try to enlist her aid in putting a stop to all of this. It's a lot harder to find your way around Equestria when your face is on the front page of Equestria Daily, The Royal Tribune, New Yoke Times and even The Tabloid papers.
I did run into some unexpected help along the way, as well as some serious stumbling blocks. One pony ended up being a bit of both. I am, of course talking about 'The Pink Lady' but I'm getting ahead of myself here.
***
Not a bit to her name, Amber trudged down the deserted stretch of road out in the east Equestrian Countryside. She had brought her boat a few miles along the coast and took to land on the outskirts of the city. As far as she could tell it was still late in the night. Maybe just reaching one in the morning so she hardly met a soul. All she knew of where she was going was that it was near Canterlot. Almost clear on the other side of Equestria. She'd plodded through the suburbs and eventually found herself beyond the city limits in the weak predawn light. The road she was on was a secondary highway, rout 53 which, if she remembered right, would take her as far as hoofington before heading towards Fillydelphia, and their monstrous snowstorm.
She spotted a copy of yesterday's Equestria Daily laying at the side of the road, sporting a rather unflattering picture of herself and a massive headline, 'Police Mare Accused of Grand Theft Presumed Dead After Magi-tech Meltdown'. A sick feeling in the pit of her stomach prevailed as she read the passage. It was strange. She knew that she was supposed to be dead, but seeing it in a paper really drove the message home. She could never go back. Every step forward was a step into a new life. A new identity and a new past. She couldn't safely be Amber lights anymore and the thought hurt.
Dropping the paper and stepping on it pointedly, She continued on her way. Days of solitary travel ahead of her and a life cut short behind she soldiered on, a goal set firmly in her mind. Find Mare Do Well. She passed nopony for hours as the sun began it's morning rise. A small village passed into view from behind a copse of trees and the smell of a baker's oven reached her nose, causing her empty stomach to make itself known. She had no money and was for all intents and purposes, dead. How was she to feed herself? An idea pushed itself into her mind but she quashed it as quickly as it was thought. She would never stoop so low. The star on her flank forbade it. Walking on, she passed the bakery, and only gave it a passing glance of longing before she moved on. The village was small and she was through it before the sun reached zenith. She resolved to forget about her hunger and just focus on the journey ahead. The law forbade grazing on the highways so all the green grass she passed was off limits.
Try as she might, the hunger stayed with her. The day faded into evening and evening into night. She stopped by a stream that passed under the roadway and took as long a drink as she could, desperately trying to fill her empty stomach with something. She walked on into the night, the hunger returning in short order but she slowly grew accustomed to it's hollow bite. Hoofington loomed in the distance. She knew the road she was on would lead her through and onward to Fillydelphia so she struck off to the west, aiming for her best approximation of Canterlot's direction. She found rest in a small clearing and woke again a few hours later with the rising of the sun. Continuing on her trek she found a back road and decided to follow it to the Main roads.
Almost three days with no food and little sleep were wearing heavy on Amber as she slumped along the road, hooves dragging, head hung low and mane matted and dirty. The last thing she had eaten was a snack bar while she waited in the loft above the club. Hours more since her last proper meal. She had forgotten the hunger in favor of the bone weariness of malnourishment. It was not so bad that she couldn't keep going but she knew if she didn't eat something soon, she could very well starve to death.
The solitude was strange as well. In her two days traveling, she could count on her hooves the ponies she had seen. In the city, she could barely drop a hoof without treading on somepony. A sea of faces, Stone had called it. Her mind slowly ground to a halt at the thought of Stone Shifter. In her state, she didn't remember why immediately but that name was no good anymore. Then she remembered and the anger returned. Then she remember the risk he took for her and the anger cooled... it was still there but tempered and redirected slightly.
Now she was angry at Ruby Tooth. Now she had a plan, but her mind was working so slowly she could hardly remember what it was. She sat and leaned against post on the roadside and thought. She had to find somepony. Somepony that could help fix all this. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud gravelly cough.
"Pardn' me Miss," A tan Earth Pony Stallion with wearing a black hat was standing over her looking concerned. "Are you alright?"
"Who me?" Amber said weakly. The words felt weird after not having spoken for two days. "I think so. I'm looking for somepony..."
"Why don't you come up to the homestead?" He said. "The wife is preparing lunch, you look famished."
"Wha... Oh, okay?" She said, and just followed the Stallion. Bleary eyed, she gazed around. She had leaned against his male box. It read "The Pie's". She saw a newspaper and that made her nervous, but for the life of her, she couldn't remember why. Shaking her head, she looked around the rest of the property. A mineral farm. Flat barren earth spread wide, with rocks of various types laid all around. Farms like this provided the mineral mud that spas used to treat their customers. Amber wasn't even sure why she knew that but she paid it no mind as they approached the house on the property.
Two adolescent Fillies were cleaning their hooves off in a small trough in front of the house and from the door the smell of cooking. Broccoli and cheese soup. Amber's stomach gave a painful lurching rumble as they approached. She winced at the sensation as the Stallion spoke to the two fillies.
"Inkamena, Blinkamena, go tell mother to set a place for one more. I've brought a guest," The Stallion said, motioning to Amber who had stumbled and was now sitting on her haunches looking slightly dazed.
"Yes Papa," the sisters chorused as one and they trotted into the house. The screen door swung shut behind them and their voices carried out onto the patio as the spoke to their mother.
"My name's Clyde, by the by," He said extending a hoof politely.
Taking it in his, Amber spoke. "Nice to meet you. My name's Am-" She faltered. That name was no good. Had to think of a better one. "Am... Ambrosia. Ambrosia Stars," she decided.
"A pleasure. Well, Miss Stars, why don't you come on in and grab a seat at the table, and I'll introduce you to the family."
Amber nodded and followed Clyde through the door into the quaint little house. Few photos adorn the walls. The one she can spot readily was hung across from the door. It showed the two sisters and a third bubblegum pink pony with darker pink hair working together to push a rock. From the drag mark, they had made some decent headway. One wall sported five black silhouettes, two larger, the parents and a three smaller, their foals. The kitchen was as sparsely decorated. The sisters were sitting quietly at the table waiting for dinner to begin and an older grey mare was standing at the stove, tending a pot. They all looked when he entered and all eyes fell on Amber.
"Everypony," Clyde said, drawing their attention. "This is Ambrosia Stars. She's going to be joining us for lunch. Miss Stars, I'd like you to meet the family. The sisters are Inkamena, and Blinkamena. And that there's my Wife Lilly."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," Amber said. "If you don't mind my asking, Isn't there a third sister?"
"You mean Pinkamena? She moved out a few years ago," Clyde said, taking his seat at the head of the table. "Life on the old 'Rock Farm' wasn't to her tastes."
"Oh, well if she's happy then, right?"
"To be sure." Clyde glanced around the table. The sisters were quietly waiting for the food to be served and Lilly was just lifting the pot from the fire and ladling the food into six bowls. Amber's mouth began to water as the smell of the soup nearly overpowered her. When the bowls were passed out, she was halfway to the spoon when she noticed nopony else making a move for theirs. She set her hooves at her sides and waited
Lilly Cleared her throat and began speaking. "We thank you Celestia for the warmth of your sun and for the food it helps to provide. In your name we take our meal. Amen."
The family chorused in turn and dug in. Amber ate with a passion belying her weakened state, but she tried to remember herself and curb her enthusiasm. She hear the family beginning to speak freely. The sisters were gabbing to their mother about school and other young filly stuff. Clyde was listening happily to his daughter's story but occasionally glanced at Amber who was eating her second helping of the broccoli and cheese soup with an enraptured look on her face.
"Mighty hungry were we?" He asked good-naturedly as she leaned back and pushed the cleaned bowl away with a sigh.
"Understatement of the year, Mr Pie." The brown Mare relaxed for the first time in days. The stress of her encounter and subsequent flight evident on her face.
"Now, I'm not one to pry, but if you don't mind my saying, Miss Stars. You look like you've been to the moon and back."
"You could say that," Amber said, looking at Clyde. "I'll manage though. I'm actually on my way to see somepony who might be able to help me out."
"Well that's a relief. I'd hate to see you out with nowhere to turn Miss Stars." Clyde turned to Lilly. "Is pinkie's old bed still sitting in the attic?" he asked her.
"It should be, I could send the girls up to clean it off," Lilly said, turning to Inkamena and Blinkamena who dutifully stood and looked expectantly at their father.
"Get it ready. Our guest needs a good night sleep."
The sisters hurried off and Clyde smiled after them. He stood and gathered the dishes and brought them to the sink. "When the girls get done, you can head on up and get some shuteye. You look like you ain't seen a bed in an Alicorn's age."
Amber sighed, her weary body growing heavy as she stood. "Thank you so much for your hospitality."
"Think nothing of it," Clyde said with a smile. "Momma Pie would have my cutie mark for her quilts if she'd heard I'd left you out there like that."
Amber idly thought that she would like to meet this Momma Pie. A yawn derailed her thoughts and she followed the sisters up the stairs into the attic. They were giggling and chatting between themselves as they dusted the old straw mattress and blankets when Amber crested the landing. As one, they turned and gave her a warm smile.
"We don't get many guests hereabouts, Miss," One said. The other nodded in affirmative.
"Most we see of the town is goin to school or market. Not a lot of time to meet new pony folk." The second continued for her sister.
"So!" The first began. "What brings you by our way anyway? You said you were looking for somepony."
"Oh! Maybe we can help! I know lots of ponies from the school!"
Amber smiled her thanks, but shook her head. "The pony I'm looking for is in Ponyville last I heard."
The sisters gasped in unison and as one said "Ohmigosh! Our sister Pinkamina lives in Ponyville!"
"She'll totally help you find the pony you're lookin for!"
"Yeah! She knows everypony in ponyville! Said so in her letters. I think she named them all in one..."
"She helps run the bakery! She's a confectioner and Party planner."
"Inky, isn't big sister so cool?!"
"You bet Blinky! Oh, and her parties are so much fun! I can't wait for our birthday this year!"
"Girls," Amber interrupted as politely as she could. Her head was starting to spin at their rapid fire conversation. The both looked at her, cutting the conversation off abruptly as if this were a common thing with them. "Thank you, really. Thank you so much, but I'm very tired and really use the rest. Can we pick this up after I've had some shuteye?"
The one to the left, apparently Blinkamena spoke up first. "Oh, the bed! We're sorry!"
"Yeah! Let's get it all fixed up quick as you please."
The sisters chatted between one another as they finished making the bed. Amber quite enjoyed watching the sisters laugh and talk but she attributed that self destructive thought to her lack of sleep. When they finished the, again as one gave Amber a crushing hug and left. As they went down the stairs they Chorused "Sleep tight Miss Stars!" and then they left.
Amber was asleep before her head hit the pillow. The bed wasn't particularly comfortable but it sure beat concrete and dirt. When she awoke hours later, her head was abuzz with the events of the last few days. She desperately tried to get back to sleep but the uncomfortable heat in the attic coupled with all the nervous energy of her racing thoughts conspired to keep her from further rest. After a few moments of futile tossing and turning she resolved to get up and be on her way. Downstairs, at the base of the landing, the Sisters were again chatting between themselves and giggling. The spotted her, and giggled all the more fiercely. This was rather disconcerting but she thought little of it and approached.
"What are you two laughing at then?" she asked half jokingly.
"Oh nothing," Inkamena said innocently only to dissolve into another fit of giggles. Blinkamena, however was not so reserved.
"So..." She began, and glanced conspiratorially at her sister. "Who's 'Stone Shifter'?"
"He your coltfriend?" At this they both giggled some more.
"How do you two know that name?"
It was then that Clyde stepped in from the front. "We heard you sayin it in your sleep. And for shame girls, nosin where you don't belong. I raised you better."
"Sorry Papa," the sisters chorused but it couldn't have been less sincere if they had added 'not really'.
Clyde just shook his head and took a seat by the fireplace. "So, now you've got some food in ya and a bit of rest behind ya, mind explaining what you were doin wandering the countryside with no supplies?"
"I can't. I'm sorry but I just can't really talk about it. But if you've heard anything about Mare Do Well, that's who I'm looking for."
"Mare Do Well? That's that super Neato' Superhero they were writing about in the papers last week!" Inkamena blurted out.
"They say she vanished a few days ago, less than a week after she first appeared."
"Yeah! Pinkamena sent us a letter telling us all about it"
"OH! Oh oh oh! Maybe Pinkie can help you find Mare Do Well! She does know every pony in ponyville so if Mare Do Well's a pony, then Pinkie has got to know her!"
"Now there's an idea," Clyde interrupted, stalling the sisters and their rapid fire back and fourth. "I'll write up a letter for Pinkamena and ask her if she can give you a helping hoof. What do you say, Miss Stars?"
"I don't know..." Amber was grateful to be sure, but the more people knew about her, even with a nom de plum increased the chance that she'd be found out.
"It'll be fine. Pinkamena's a sweet girl, and contrary to what you would think, she can be discrete when the need arises." Clyde stood and moved over to a writing desk in the corner. "The mail mare should arrive in a few hours so I'll give the letter to you to give to her."
With several slow deliberate strokes of the pen, Clyde wrote out a missive for his daughter in Ponyville. While he was writing, Lilly Pie stepped into the sitting room from the kitchen and called everyone in for supper. Clyde stayed at the desk, instructing the family to start without him. Obediently, the sisters rose and followed Lilly into the kitchen where dinner awaited. Amber followed, and took her seat. Lilly turned to her.
"Would you like to say grace dear?" she asked in a motherly voice. The sisters looked to her eagerly. Amber nodded and bowed her head.
"Dearest Celestia thank you for the sun and the warmth it give, the light it brings and the life it nurtures. May that warmth keep us safe, may that light, show us the way and may the life it gives be not put to waste. Amen."
"That was lovely dear. Is that a family prayer?"
"Yes. My mother used to say it before we went to sleep. It's the only one I know." Amber shifted uncomfortably under the looks the sisters were giving her. They wern't bad, but they were strange because the mirrored each other in all but color. She shook her head, and smiled. "I don't know about you, but I could eat a dragon!"
The sisters laughed and gabbed and stopped once to say in chorus, "Good Evenign papa," as Clyde trotted in and took his place. He hoofed a sealed envelope across to Amber who took it and read the address. Pinkamena Dianne Pie, Sugar Cube Corner, Ponyville Equestria. Dinner was delicious and the conversation lively. With the meal wrapped up, everypony gathered in the sitting room and relaxed, letting the hearty meal settle. There was a loud clopping of hooves on the front porch and a rap on the door. A sweet female voice called through the door.
"Mail Mare. I have a package marked 'Hoof Deliver' for the Pie residence."
Clide stood and motioned for Amber to do the same. "You wanna give that letter to the Mail mare?" he asked. A moment of uncertainty passed but she nodded and took the letter in her teeth. Outside a blond maned grey Pegasus stood, with a package set at her feet and a clip board in her mouth. Clyde signed it and passed it back and amber stepped forward.
"Coud ooo deiver dis le'er?" She asked from around the sealed envelope.
"You bet!" The Mail mare chirped and took the letter. With it tucked in her bag, she turned back to them and Smiled, one golden eye slowly wandering off course between blinks. "I'll have it there by tomorrow!" With a smart salute and a flap of her wings, she was off.
Clide turned and spoke with a serious tone when the Mail Mare was out of earshot. "I know you say you can't Tell us what's troubling you that you have to nearly kill yourself to fix it, but if Pinkamena's going to help you, she'll need to know a fair bit more than what you've told us."
Amber looked at him with what she hoped was an innocent lack of understanding but he pressed on.
"For starters" Grunted the tan earth farmer. "She'll want to know your real name. She probably won't call you by it, but she'll want to know."
Amber was taken aback by how astute the Earth pony beside her was. "How long have you known?"
"Since I first called you 'Miss Stars'. You don't respond right away. When you deal with ponies like the ones I do, you gotta read between the lines." Amber thought he would make a good detective with that kind of pony reading. "I got nothin against you wanting to remain secretive and what not, but I hope you're not bringing any trouble along after you."
"No sir. That trouble doesn't even know I'm alive right now," I hope... She added as an afterward in her mind. If Stone was found out, then there's sure to be somepony after her. "That said, I do need to be on my way as soon as I can."
"I understand. Well, let me and the missus pack you some food so you don't starve yourself between here and there. It's not far but you seem determined to meet your end on the way." Clide led her back into the house and pulled some old saddlebags from a closet. "And when you've got all this sorted out, stop on by. The sisters really seem to like you. They could use a responsible older friend."
"Count on it," Amber said as she rejoined the family in the sitting room. The sisters had brought out a board game and invited Amber to play, which she happily obliged. Tomorrow she would hit the road again, but for now, she was determined to relax.
Clyde opened the parcel that the Mail Mare had delivered. It was a batch of cupcakes. Even slightly stale as they were, they were delicious.