//------------------------------// // 4: Meeting of Minds // Story: Crossed Gears // by TheFoxern //------------------------------// The Crystal Empire. Impressive to say the least. Standing at the crystal pillars that marked as the entrance to the city could strike one speechless. Staring at the massive crystalline structure, glittering in the sun, surrounded by large crystal buildings, it was hard to look away. Copper however... “Why is the train station so far out?” Everypony turned to look at him, some glaring. “I mean honestly. I do not want to walk that far...” He let out a heavy sigh before he began to trot towards the city. “Some like to appreciate beauty,” one of the ponies said. It sounded like Alva, who was following him while the others gawked. “And you do not?” he said as he looked at her. “No. I've seen it a few times. It's neat to look at, but it doesn't change.” She shot him a glance and Copper almost checked to see if his head was still attached. “And don't think you can just be so friendly with me. I'm still mad at you.” There was a moment of hesitation. He was sure he had never seen her before, but she seemed so familiar. Mostly her voice... Changelings tended to keep the same voice. Then he felt very, very bad. “Chestnut,” he said simply. She scoffed. “I'm surprised you even remember my name. After you sent me off to Trotland to be your decoy... There are still changelings in that damned prison cus of you.” He shifted uncomfortably. “I'm sorry... I really didn't think you'd actually get all the way to Trotland...but they never sent anyone after you, which I had planned on them doing...” “Oh I'm aware. There was practically an army waiting for us at the docks. They tore the ship apart.” She truly sounded upset and almost as if she was going to cry. “Do you know how little to drink there is in prison? None! Nothing. Not a bloody drop of alcohol in the whole damned place!” It wasn't a good thing to do, but he couldn't help it. He laughed, hard enough that when she hit him, he fell over. He was in tears and covered in a few fresh bruises by the time he could actually get back up. And she had changed back. Well, back to what he was used to seeing her as. A chestnut colored pony, with hazel eyes and mane. He smiled at her. “It is good to see a friend.” “I'm only your friend if there's a damned drink in it for me,” she said, though the edge had fallen from her tone slightly. He chuckled, nodding. “C'mon, I'll buy out a bar.” ~ “My goodness, that is a rush...” It took a moment for him to refocus on Nightmare, who was still sitting in his dreamscape. “And that world looks so interesting...” There was movement around him as gears started to turn again. “It is. But...since your power comes from fear-” “Yes...I am weakened in that world. Glad you caught that.” She sounded sarcastic, but she was smirking at him. “Now, it is your turn to ask questions.” “I'm gonna ask two, since you cheated last time and did,” he said and she chuckled, but gestured for him to go on. He had to think of what to ask her. “What do you do?” She blinked, tilting her head to the side for a moment. “I do? I do lots of things. Mostly I keep the lesser nightmares from gaining strength into things like me. But for fun...” She grinned at him. “I do lots of things.” For some reason, that sent a shiver down his spine. That seemed quite suggestive, but at the same time unpleasant. A thought struck him and he wished that he had asked it earlier. “What do you know of The Pony of Gears?” Her smile, for the first time, faded. “I do not wish to speak of that...thing. It is the only thing that I find more unpleasant than myself.” Her nose wrinkled in annoyance before she continued. “But fair is fair... I know little. I only know from what I have experienced and that was very unpleasant.” She looked lost in thought and then shook her head. “I do not want to continue this game.” “I am sorry if I upset you,” Copper said, looking at her as she seemed to spread out. “I am aware you are.” She rubbed her face and when she pulled her hands away, she was once again smiling. “You are so interesting...” She drifted closer to him, but not too close. Her hand reached out slowly, but she did not touch him. “Such a mind you have...so many thoughts...so many ideas...plans...goals...yet you give so little thought to love.” He blinked, refocusing from watching her hand, to looking at her face. “I give enough thought to it.” “Not enough,” she said, grinning. “Celestia will not have you and you have accepted that... So instead, you seek out the bad girls...” Her tongue ran over her lower lip; it looked black and greasy. “Chrysalis...Celestia...Luna...Madam Raven...Gilda...Nightmare... So many...you have such an odd attraction to the girls who could do the most damage to you...” Copper frowned at her, but he had no rebuttal. When it was put like that, it was hard to deny. “And why are you saying this?” She leaned in close. “Because I am a bad girl, Copper...” She stared at him, eyes of pitch black. But at this close, Copper could see a milky gray sort of fog, just below the surface. “I want you to feel what you do for them, for me...I want to be wanted...” She suddenly pulled away, a look of slight annoyance on her face as everything seemed to rush downward. ~ He opened his eyes, looking up at the ceiling. “All right, get up,” Scootaloo was saying. She was sitting on the bed beside him and had been poking his face. “Is this normally the way you wake me up?” he said as he sat up, groaning a bit. “I don't often get the chance- why aren't you wearing a shirt?” She gave him an annoyed look, as if he wasn't allowed. He guessed it was because she stared at the stub over his shoulder. “It was more comfortable. And I wanted to get a look at myself,” he said as he picked up his shirt, pulling it back on. “Yes...well, hurry up. I had to go through a lot of trouble to get this meeting.” She turned away and stood up. “Had to go to Madam Raven,” she muttered. “And of course she was more than happy to help...” Copper chuckled softly as he went to the table. He looked at it a moment, at the things he had worked on. It seemed so long ago. He was losing track of time. He would need to build something that would tell him not just the time, but what day it was. Maybe they built those? “Hm?” He looked up at Scootaloo, she had said something. “I said, where did you get the money for all this? Some of it looks expensive...” She was again moving things around the table. “Oh. Well, as I was going to a different theater, cus apparently they don't like it when you buy several tickets in a row to the same movie... This odd fellow came up to me and tried to rob me.” She gaped at him. “Are you all right?” “Hm? Oh yes. He only had a knife. But he had quite a lot of cash on him.” “You...you robbed him,” she said slowly. “Not really. I took payment for wasting my time and almost putting a hole in my coat.” As he talked, he walked over to the object of conversation and put it on. But he left his gun in the drawer. Better to go without it. “What...what happened to the mugger?” Scootaloo said, moving quickly between him and the door. But he gave a shrug. “I don't know. Probably still in that ditch I left him? Or else someone found him and got him to a doctor? I know he'd have trouble walking after I busted his leg,” he said, watching as Scootaloo's face shifted to one of shock, then to horror and then to admiration. “Wow...so you beat him up?” She said, grinning and opening the door. “I dunno. I might have killed him. He wasn't really moving when I went through his wallet...but he was breathing.” ~ The Cat’s Cradle was not what Copper had been expecting. It was apparently a very popular club, bar, restaurant thing, as far as he could tell. A reputable establishment. A perfect front for illegal operations. Outside was a large griffon, probably the largest Copper had ever seen. But he recognized the look that he was getting. One of distaste. Like his very presence was going to be a complete waste of time. There was a line, but Copper did not bother with it and went straight to the one Scootaloo had pointed out to him as the bouncer. No one got in unless it was through him. “I'm here to see Don Burrasca,” he said, staring up at the griffon. “Tell him that Copper Feather is here for our meeting.” Copper hadn't noticed the murmuring of the crowd around, but he sure noticed when it stopped. Background noise was something he only vaguely paid attention to, looking for key words in a conversation, but when it stopped, it always gave one the feeling of having said the wrong thing. The bouncer, however, seemed unimpressed. “Name?” he said as he looked at a clipboard. Copper's brow wrinkled, as he looked at Scootaloo. “Didn't I just say my name?” She nodded. “Thought so.” He turned back to the bouncer. There was a comment about to come from his mouth, but he remembered he must be diplomatic, so he simply said, “Copper Feather,” and tried to hold back his annoyance. The bouncer seemed to be satisfied. “She can't come in,” he said, pointing a claw at Scootaloo. “No minors.” Copper opened his mouth to speak, but stopped. Again his brow furrowed, as he looked at Scootaloo. “Well then.” He turned back to the bouncer. “I'm afraid you can inform Don Burrasca that we will have to have our meeting outside then. I am not going to leave a little girl out on the streets at this time of night. It would be irresponsible,” he said as he folded his hands behind his back. Your move, he thought. But he had to avoid the annoyed glare he was getting from Scootaloo. There would be consequences to that 'little girl' comment, he knew. For an instant, the bouncer actually looked slightly panicked, but made a decision quickly. “In the back, through the red double doors. Keep her away from the bar.” “Like I would drink the piss water you serve here,” Scootaloo said as she stomped past the bouncer. He smirked as he moved in behind her, not looking at the bouncer. It was not terribly loud inside, but there was a large stage to the left, with a band and somepony singing. It took him a moment, but he was sure that it was Lyra. He'd seen her around a lot in Ponyville in the time he had been there, and had had lunch with her once. He had to admit her voice was quite enchanting and after scanning the front row of occupants, he spotted Bon Bon. It was difficult to make out the differences in ponies here, but he was starting to get used to it. “Hm...interesting...” He could spot quite a few Ponyville ponies here in fact. “C'mon,” Scootaloo said, glaring up at him. “You can watch on your own time. I ran myself ragged to get you this meeting.” His attention turned to her and he smiled. “Sorry. Just...” He looked back at the audience and began walking towards the double red doors. “Lots of familiar faces.” There were two griffons in front of the double doors. Not bulky like the one outside, but intimidating in the way that they stood. Something about their posture told Copper that they were hiding some fairly heavy firepower. He didn't question those instincts. As they came up to the pair, he opened his mouth to speak. “We're here to see Don Burrasca,” Scootaloo said, her arms folded in front of her. The two griffons looked at her; well, more glared down at her. But Copper had to admit she was doing a great job at holding that look of annoyance. He supposed that anger beat out fear. “I'm Copper Feather. I have an appointment with Don Burrasca.” They both looked at him as one moved towards him. Copper spread his arms as the griffon patted him down, he was very glad that he had left the gun at home. Something told him these two would not look kindly to him having brought some sort of weapon. “The Don is straight down the hall. Red door on the right,” one of the griffons said, with a fairly rough voice. The other stood silent, but stepped aside and pushed the door open for them. They entered and the sound stopped as the doors closed. There was nothing but the sound of their footsteps, till Scootaloo asked, “You sure about this?” Copper hesitated and then nodded. “Yes. But...” There was the door, it was the only red one in the hall. “Let me do the talking, okay? If he's anything like the Don Burrasca that I know, I'm fairly certain I can handle him.” “I hope you know what you're doing...” she mumbled as they came to a stop at the door. Copper hesitated again, wondering if he should knock, or simply walk in. Perhaps he should- “Come in,” came a voice from the other side. There was no mistaking Don Burrasca's voice, but his tone seemed off. Copper pushed open the door, which opened up to a rather large and spacious office. There were a few plants, as well as a couch at one side. On this side of the desk were two large chairs. Behind the desk, unmistakeably, sat Don Burrasca. “Good evening Don Burrasca,” Copper said as he moved into the room, removing his jacket and laying it over the back of a chair. “Please, have a seat.” It was then that Copper looked at him, took a good look at him and he nearly hesitated. That was the look. The look that said he knew everything already and was barely interested in the conversation. That was the same look that Copper had practiced in the mirror for years to perfect and this griffon was doing it spot on. So he returned the look, without even thinking. This was not the same Don Burrasca that he had known. “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” he said as he took a seat, barely registering Scootaloo taking the seat beside him. “Ah it is no problem. This is all over the matter of some of my...mmm...employees,” he said, leaning back in his chair. There was obviously a lot of things that he was trying to do at once and it seemed that he was going to make Copper feel as if he was interrupting his busy schedule. But as far as he was concerned, Don Burrasca was wasting his time. “Yes. I just wanted to make sure that there was no...hard feelings towards one another.” He steepled his fingers. Who was this? This was nothing like the Don Burrasca he had known. Not even in the slightest. The words something has been inside his head came back to mind. If this is what he would have been without the mental torture, Copper was afraid what could have happened in the other world. “Yes...well...you did draw a weapon on one of my subordinates...” “He drew first,” Copper said calmly, making sure that was well known. “Yes...I am aware of that. Quite the feat as well...he was known for being fairly quick on the draw. But no harm done in the end. Mostly egos bruised and all that.” His eyes never left Copper and Copper never looked away from him. It was almost like a staring contest. But this was not for who would blink fist. “I'm glad to hear that. After all, it was merely a job on my part.” Copper leaned back into the chair more and decided to test what they had told him. “And treating a lady in such a way is not the sort of thing I would think you'd be for.” There it was. It was ever so slight. The shift in facial muscles as the brow wrinkled slightly and the beak tip rose. That beak made it difficult to read griffons if you didn't know what to look for. “I was not aware of that little detail. I trust the lady is all right?” Copper nodded lightly. “Oh yes. Quite all right, if not a bit flustered at being treated as a...” He turned to Scootaloo. “What was the word she used?” Scootaloo sat up straight instantly. “I...uhm...” She looked down at the floor and then at Don Burrasca. “Well, she said they were treating her as if she were some kind of hooker.” He frowned noticeably. “This was not brought to my attention. It is one thing to bother a private Detective, but another to disrespect a lady.” He shuffled papers around on the desk and made a note. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention.” There was a few seconds of silence, which was filled with shuffling, before he spoke again. “You know, I was quite surprised that you wanted a meeting with me.” “Oh?” Copper looked around the room. It was painfully obvious that he was feigning disinterest, but that usually made people want to talk more. “Oh yes,” he said, looking at Copper. “Most people when they find out that they might have done something to upset me...leave the city. Can't imagine why.” Copper shrugged. He could guess some reasons...but those would be rude. “I haven't the foggiest idea. Perhaps to find some sort of way to seek forgiveness?” “Mmm...perhaps. I do not understand why anyone would be afraid of me,” he said as he leaned back and once again steepled his fingers. “I run a good business here.” “That has been on my mind, actually,” he said as he gaze went back to Don Burrasca. “What is it exactly that you do?” Don Burrasca smiled at him. “Why...I help people, Detective Feather. There's a lot of people moving into this country who don't have homes, or jobs. I help them to...mmm...adjust.” He nodded. “That is what I thought.” It was easy to read between the lines. He was being careful, because he didn't know if Copper had ulterior motives. “It sounds like-” he stopped and Don Burrasca gave a slight smirk. There was what sounded like an argument coming down the hall. “My apologies. It would seem another matter is about to seek my attention.” Copper stood and gave a slight nod. Scootaloo began a break for the door, but Copper gently steered her towards the couch. “I am in no hurry. Please, take your time.” Copper guessed he had some sort of apparatus that allowed him to hear all the way down the hall. In the silence, one could probably even hear footsteps if one knew what to listen for. He got comfortable on the couch just as the door practically burst open and he saw one of the griffons who had been standing at the double doors. “Please Ms. Heartstring, he-” “I don't care!” It was Lyra, glaring at the griffon, who thought it prudent to move. “Burrasca.” She moved quickly, Bon Bon right behind her. “Ah, my dear Lyra. What on earth has gotten you so riled up?” Burrasca spread his arms wide, smiling. “It's that blasted band you got. They can't play a single song correctly. How am I supposed to sing when I'm practically attacked by sour notes?” It was obvious she had taken most of her anger out on the poor griffon, who was now standing beside the door, glaring at Copper as if it was his fault. “Oh dear me,” he said and he genuinely looked concerned. “But last night you said they were perfect. They played beautifully I thought.” “Yes, well that was last night,” she said, heaving a heavy sigh. “It was because you were in the audience. The one night you don't listen, they played like they didn't care. It was humiliating.” Copper glanced at Bon Bon and found that she was staring at him with a look of intense interest. “I'm sorry,” Don Burrasca said, patting her hand gently. “I will find a better band to play to you by tomorrow.” A thought struck Copper from somewhere in his subconscious and he smiled as he stood up. “I hate to interject. But perhaps I could be of assistance?” They all looked at him and Lyra gave him a look like she had never even noticed his existence. That actually kind of hurt. He had liked Lyra for the brief interactions they had had. But he folded his hands behind his back and continued. “I could find the perfect band to accompany you. Free of charge, of course.” If Scootaloo could glare fire of some sort, surely his head would be aflame, or melted. “As a sign of...good faith.” Don Burrasa practically grinned. “Well now, there you go. Detective Feather will find you the perfect band.” His gaze moved back to her. “Shall that be all right?” There was an odd sort of interaction between Lyra and Burrasca. Non-vocal communication. Just with a look, they seemed to know exactly what the other was thinking, or something to that point. “All right...” she said slowly and stood up, looking at Copper, this time with a friendlier look that he recognized. “But they better be able to play well.” He gave her a smile, a genuine smile. One that you would give to a long lost friend. Oh how he missed living in Ponyville. How he missed being able to simply go out into the street and strike up a conversation with anypony and be treated as a friend. “Of course.” He turned to Scootaloo. “Come, we shall start immediately.” The two of them walked out the door and he closed it behind them softly. Scootaloo went to say something, but Copper held a hand to silence her and listened. “Well that was weird...” he heard Lyra say. “Why did you have a Detective in-” she stopped talking abruptly. Copper opened the door once again. “My apologies, I forgot my coat.” Don Burrasca gave him a smile. “Of course. I was just about to send someone to bring it to you.” He held out a hand towards Copper. Copper took it without thinking, gripping slightly firmly and shaking it slightly. “I do hope you will be prompt. The club opens at five and Ms. Heartstrings starts at six.” “Of course,” Copper said as he put on his coat and headed back out of the room. He was impeccably smart. There would be quite a bit of issue trying to determine who was smarter, but right now, Copper knew he was on even ground. He knew more than he did and that gave him a slight advantage, but Burrasca could find out more than Copper could and he had the home field advantage. “What-” Scootaloo began, but again Copper held up his hand to silence her. “Not until we're outside,” he said as he began to walk down the hall, at a slow, measured pace. There could be panic bubbling up inside him somewhere, but he was not going to let it. Hopefully that was a good impression that he just left. Flaunting his intelligence slightly to keep him curious. Hopefully enough to not kill him. ~ The street was pretty much empty and Scootaloo seemed to steam with anger as she walked beside him. “Sorry,” he said, taking a deep breath. “That did not go anything like I planned... He is nothing like the Don Burrasca I know. It threw me for a moment...” “You handled it amazingly,” she said and there wasn't even a hint of sarcasm to her tone. “I've watched people crumble in front of him. I could only dream of being able to read someone like that...” He looked at her and smiled. “It just takes practice. I can tell you, I wasn't very good at it at first. It takes a lot of practice and you make a lot of mistakes along the way.” There was a long silence, before she spoke again. “So...a band.” Copper nodded. “Yup. I hope you have some idea of where to start, because I have no idea.” She smiled and nodded. “Yup. Luckily for you I happen know exactly where to go. And we're heading there now.” Her brow wrinkled a bit. “While you were making your little speech, I was working out a plan. Though we're kinda gonna be sorta maybe stealing the band...” That alone piqued his curiosity further and even though he was certain he was paying attention to where they were going, Scootaloo still managed to somehow get him lost. “We aren't being followed,” he said, glancing back to make sure they were indeed not being followed. “I don't trust Burrasca,” she said, looking back behind them as well. “It would not be prudent of him to do such a thing. It would be most unfortunate for our new found...relationship,” Copper said slowly, but even so, he still watched the area behind them as though expecting something to move. “I suppose so...we're here anyways,” she said slowly. Copper looked around slowly and could see nothing but buildings with drawn curtains. “Where is here?” Something caught his eye and he stared down ahead on the road. There was somepony there. Or something. It seemed...off. He had an odd feeling. Not particularly bad but...it was a feeling he'd not felt before. A mixture of excitement, intrigue and a bit of fear. Nervousness throwing its hand as well. “C'mon,” she said, walking down an alley that seemed oddly well lit compared to the others around. He looked at Scootaloo and then back. It was gone. “Odd...” The feeling slowly passed, but something about it lingered. He followed after Scootaloo, who was fishing about her person. “So...” There was an odd alcove to the right, an arch and stairs leading down into a building. “Interesting.” Scootaloo pulled something from somewhere and was clutching it quite tightly as she headed down the stairs. “This is it.” Music was drifting up from a large door. It sounded pleasant. Quite pleasant indeed. Scootaloo moved to the door, knocked three times and then kicked the door a few times. A slot opened and two eyes glared out from it, the music getting louder as it did. There was something hauntingly familiar about the music. “Whatcha want?” Scootaloo held up something and the pony behind the door stared at it before he slammed the slot closed and the door opened. The pony behind the door reminded him of the bouncer back at the club, though rougher. The two of them entered. There was a lot of ponies. A lot of drinking ponies. But at the other end of the room... “No way.” It was impossible to have any doubts now. The light gray pony with dark gray hair. “Octavia.” There she was, on stage. It was her group on stage. There was Symphony, that light olive and purple hair, playing her violin. And the light brown, light tan maned pony, with those green eyes; Frederick on the piano. Octavia was probably the most famous pony that Copper had ever come across. There wasn't a pony or griffon that he'd met that didn't know who Octavia was. Capable of playing any and practically every instrument that Copper could think of. He enjoyed her music quite a lot. Yet she was here, in what was obviously some sort of sleazy, dirty bar. But there was no questioning her skill. She still played amazingly, as did her company. But...she did not look the same. “Ah, Copper. Long time no see. The usual?” He turned to see the rough pony behind the bar. “Nnnno,” he said slowly, looking him up and down. There was a vague familiarity for a moment, but no name came to mind. “Hey Argus, when's the band finished?” Scootaloo said as she got onto a bar stool. “Ah, got your little chaperone, eh?” He picked up the glass he had been cleaning. “Shame that.” Copper sat down at the bar, looking at Argus. “When is the band off, Argus?” Argus shrugged, not bothering to look at them. “Who knows. Whenever they stop playing.” This wasn't getting them anywhere and Copper turned back to watch the band. There was most definitely a difference. They looked...battered. Roughened. None of them looked as regal, or well-kempt. It was disheartening to see such magnificent performers thrown down... “What happened...” Scootaloo was arguing with Argus. “Why are you being so difficult? It's a simple question!” No need to sit and listen to this. Copper got up and moved around the bar towards the front. He took a seat at a front table. They did not look any better at this distance. And it looked like Octavia had been...crying? Her eyeliner had run, there was no questioning it. The piano looked like it had taken more than a few bottles, as did Frederick from the look of him and the black eye. Symphony looked as though she'd been sleeping in a ditch. Yet the music was fantastic. It was just as amazing as it always had been. He watched as Symphony caught his eye, his eyes locking with her gray green eyes and slowly she shifted across the stage and nudged Octavia. Her eyes opened and the music stopped as she stared at him with her gray purple eyes. Only Frederick kept playing. “Copper,” she said faintly. There was a few seconds of silence and some thought drove Copper to raise his hands up in surrender. “I'm not drunk,” he said instinctively. “Sure you aren't...” she mumbled, she was glaring tiredly at him. “I have a job. I need a band to play at The Cat’s Cradle. Tomorrow night,” he said, speaking slowly and carefully. She was obviously quite upset with him, but too tired to truly express it. Symphony however, was fully capable of a full glare. “What a load of bull. I can't believe you would come in here after months and start spouting crap like that.” She moved partially between Copper and Octavia, as if one of them would attempt to strangle the other. “It's true. Took a job from Don Burrasca.” He noted how the entire bar fell silent. “Ms. Heartstring needs a band. The best band.” Frederick had not stopped playing. He was staring at his piano as if his world would collapse if he stopped. But he muttered something. Something that Symphony heard. “And so you come crawling back here. The nerve you have...” Copper took a deep breath and stood up. He watched Symphony tense. But he turned around, looking out at the bar. “Talk it over amongst yourselves. I'm...” The words caught and then came out on their own. “I'm trying to help.” And with that, he walked back towards the bar. “Let's go Scootaloo.” She turned around. “What? But I-” she stopped as she saw the band, staring at him. “I'm gonna have to keep better tabs on you,” she muttered, glaring up at him. “I'll be outside if you change your mind,” he said and walked towards the door. There was a moment where it looked like the doorman wasn't going to move, but he took a peek out the slot, before opening the door and letting them out. Copper wanted to scream as the door slammed behind them. Instead, he spun on Scootaloo. “Don't you ever do that to me again,” he snapped and she immediately backed against the wall. “If you're going to walk me into a situation where I'm going to be interacting with ponies that I have previous history with...you tell me ahead of time.” He spun away and headed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He was actually mad. The feelings that were rushing through him: sorrow, regret, pain and fear. It was not pleasant. And worst yet, they weren't his. He rounded the corner and slumped against the wall, sliding down till he was sitting on the ground. It took quite a while for Scootaloo to make it up and she found him staring up at the sky. “I'm sorry,” she said softly. “I...I forgot that you don't remember things.” “What happened?” Copper said, looking at her. He watched as she moved to the wall opposite and took a seat. “They were gonna be famous. They signed a contract that they thought would have made them a lot of money.” She sighed heavily, shaking her head. “But their manager took the money and ran. They put everything they had into it. Especially Octavia. Apparently she had sold everything but her instrument. They were stuck bar hopping for cash. I don't know all the details...but you and Octavia are, or were, friends. You...I guess you promised to help them out, but...never did.” There was pressure. It felt like someone was squeezing his chest. “I'll do everything I can...I'll make sure you get another chance...” he mumbled. The words came from somewhere inside. Some part that wasn't actually him. They heard the door slam again and some ponies making their way up the stairs. Symphony almost tripped over him. “The hell you doing on the ground?” He looked up at her and then stood. “Thinking. And waiting.” “This better be for real,” Frederick said, glaring at Copper. “I don't think Octavia can take another one of your false hope excursions.” Apparently he had done more than say he would try. Behind them, still coming up the stairs, was Octavia. She was dragging her cello case up the stairs. Every thud it made against a step made him feel worse. Especially the hopeful look that she gave him when she looked up. “You...” He hesitated a moment and then helped Scootaloo get up. “I said I would help. It...it just took a lot longer than I hoped.” “You're telling us,” Symphony said, glaring at him still. But the look that Octavia was giving him made his heart sink. Things had gotten a lot worse it seemed. Scootaloo started walking and they all followed him, Frederick picking up Octavia's case. She looked weak from hunger. “I wouldn't believe it either,” Scootaloo said, looking at the group. “But the Copper we have now may be a bastard...but he's a bastard who knows what he's doing.” He couldn't help but chuckle and smile a bit. “Just because you don't like how I deal with things, doesn't make me a bastard.” “No, interrupting a conversation between Ms. Heartsring and Burrasca and telling them you can pretty much do anything, is what makes you a bastard,” Scootaloo said, unable to help but smile. Copper couldn't help but glance back down the street towards where the figure had been. But it was unsurprisingly not there. “Well, let's get back to The Cat’s Cradle and make sure I fulfill two promises tonight.” ~ “You cannot be serious,” Don Burrasca said, watching Octavia and her group set up. “You said get a band. I got a band. Just wait till you hear them play,” Copper said, watching Octavia, who was trying to help and was mostly managing it with Scootaloo's assistance. “Yes, but we wanted a good band. Not something you scrapped out of the gutter,” he said, frowning. Copper could see the gears in his head turning, trying to work out the joke. “They look a bit rough, but you didn't say they had to look amazing. Just wait till you hear them play,” he repeated. It was obvious just looking at them that their attitudes had completely changed. They wouldn't doubt him again. Not now. “But I mean...what is wrong with that fellow?” He pointed at Frederick. “What happened to him?” “Someone threw a beer at his piano and he dove off the stage,” he said; they had been talking a little on the walk and the subject had come up. “It was a short fight. But truly, just wait till you hear them play.” “Just because you keep saying that, does not mean that they are miraculously going to be good,” he said as he turned towards him. “You are wasting my time, Detective Feather. It was not a very hard task to accomplish, but it seems to have been...too...much...” He stopped, staring at Copper. They had begun to play.