Denuo Fortuna

by Firecaller

Chapter 28 - Regrets

Laying on her back on the bed, Sunbeam stared up at the wooden ceiling. The street light outside cast it’s light in through the single window in between the beds, illuminating the room in a pale yellow-orange light.

Rolling her head, she watched Rarity sleep in the bed next to her. On her side and facing towards the wall, she had her back to Sunbeam. In the yellow light, Sunbeam could see the slight rise and fall of the blanket from her breathing. She watched Rarity for what felt like both seconds, and an eternity. Rolling her head back, so it looked upwards, she stared at the ceiling again.

Her ears flicked, following the hoof steps of a pony walking past their room, until the sounds died away.

She tried closing her eyes again.

‘I didn’t mean to ...’

They snapped back open.

After laying there for several more minutes, staring at the ceiling, Sunbeam took a deep breath in and rolled out of bed. Moving silently, not even aware of herself stepping over a squeaky floorboard, she headed towards the door.

Sunbeam paused, her hoof on the door handle. “Miss Jackie D, your wayward child needs you to tuck her in tonight.” She whispered.

Opening the door only just enough so she could slip through, she walked into the corridor. The sounds of the key turning, and a brief white glow around the door, marked the door being locked behind her.

Apart from Icefang and her two colleagues, the bar was empty. Clean Glass stood behind the bar, all but asleep on his feet. A gentle tug of magic on his apron brought him round enough to open his eyes. The sight of Sunbeam looking at him intently brought him to full wakefulness in a heartbeat.

Remaining expressionless, Sunbeam watched the innkeeper flinch as he saw her. She gave him a second to recover. “Jackie D. Bottle of.”

With a hesitant nod, Clean Glass reached under the counter and placed a bottle down on the bar.

“How much?”

Icefang yelled out from her table before Clean Glass could answer. “Awww, give it to her for free won’t you Cleany, just for little me, pwwwease. Besides, any mare that needs a drink this early in the morning obviously needs it, and therefore shouldn’t have to pay.” Sunbeam could hear the smirk.

Closing her eyes, rubbing them with a hoof, Sunbeam’s smile faded. She tried again in a whisper. “How much? Please.”

“F-free…”

Clean Glass was engulfed in a white glow and yanked towards Sunbeam. Looking him in the eye, she growled quietly. “Look you little bucker, I want to pay. I am not Icefang! How…”

Clean Glass had a clear view of Sunbeam blink slowly, twice, before letting him go. Tossing some bits onto the bar, she walked away with the bottle, her mind now clearly somewhere else.

Clean Glass watched Sunbeam go. ‘That mare is terrifying. And trying to be nice makes it so much worse…' He winced at a laughter coming from the table. “...And Icefang doubled over in laughter at me isn’t helping either.’

Sunbeam stared out the window in the bedroom. Seated in between the beds, Rarity still sleeping, Sunbeam brought the bottle up and took a swing.

‘Really should have remembered to get a glass.’

She stared out onto the street below, the orange-yellow light making everything seem murky in the wooden street below.

She brought the bottle up in a toast. “To all those poor buckers in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She whispered before taking a big swig.

Lowering the bottle and looking back out the window, Sunbeam could see, on the other side of the street, a yellow pony, seated with its back to her.

Sunbeam lay on the floor, shivering, but still holding onto the bottle of Jackie D tightly. She kept her eyes fixed on the floor, away from the window. It might be there at the window, looking in at her... As she lay there her back started to crawl, like somepony was watching her.

‘It’s not there, it’s just in my head, it’s all in my head… It’s not there, it’s just in my head, it’s all...’

Rolling over, Rarity stretched. ‘Ugh! Still dark, I wonder… Why is Sunbeam curled up on the floor?’

“Sunbeam?” She gently called out. No response. Sunbeam remained curled up on the floor, almost protectively, around a bottle.

A blue aura lifted the blanket off Sunbeam’s bed and draped it over her.

‘Poor thing, she’s shivering.’

Looking over the fallen trunk of a tree, her hooves resting on some dark green moss, Icefang carefully watched the caravan set up for the night in the woodland. The drizzle was limiting the visibility and was muting the colours on the brightly painted wagons. Not to mention slowly soaking her as well, her ragged brown cloak was already soaked and was clinging to her torso unpleasantly. Ears twitching as droplets formed and fell into them, she carefully watched the guards hurry to and fro, from wagon to wagon.

Sinking down to the ground behind the trunk, she could feel the cold, damp earth sucking the heat out of her belly as it rested on the sodden earth.

Looking to her left two pegasus ponies she couldn’t remember the names of, were crawling towards the caravan. Their expressions hidden in the shade, but she doubted they were enjoying being on the ground in the wet. To her right Silver Strike, Blunt Object and another earth pony she’d seen around but didn’t know the name of, were already in position. The rest of the group were on the other side, awaiting the start of Silver’s attack to join in.

The information they’d been given was correct, the caravan had pulled up exactly where it said it would have. Their objective: The magical ‘thingy’, as Blunt Object had put it, in the blue wagon.

‘I hope he knows what it looks like…’ Her stomach growled in hunger. ‘Ugh, focus. While he’s looking for that, and the others for valuables, maybe I could grab some food…’ Icefang wiped away some droplets that had formed on her eyelashes.

Watching Silver Strike, he made the signal to advance. Keeping low, everypony started creeping forward in the drizzle. The springy earth below Icefang’s hooves made her all but silent, she was more that willing to accept the price of having her belly and legs coated in mud for that advantage.

She stopped as a guard from the caravan walked into the woods and started heading directly towards her. Sinking down she watched him intently, calculating distance and attacks. The guard himself was hunched up, the collar of his coat pulled tight around his throat, trying to stop the insidious creep of the drizzle from getting under it. Keeping his eyes downward, watching where he was treading, he wasn’t looking into the forest; and even if he had, she was just another green and brown object on the ground, fuzzy in the drizzle.

The rest of the group had stopped and were laying flat on the ground, trying to make themselves as small as possible. Glancing at Silver Strike, Icefang saw him look at her, gesture with his head at the guard, then draw a hoof across his throat.

Nodding, she pulled a long dagger from under her cloak and started creeping forward again.

‘Right, time to prove myself. Don’t mess this up! You’ve trained to do this.’

The guard squatted behind a tree and gazed into the woodland with an unfocused look. Fortunately, not in her direction. Creeping forward she closed the distance, a dagger in her hoof. All the while trying to ignore the droplet of water forming on the end of her nose.

‘Nearly...’

A waft of cooking eggs and spices caused her stomach to growl, loudly.

The guard looked up and stared directly at Icefang. For seconds, they both just looked at each other in shock.

Icefang blinked, then lunged towards him. Her dagger outstretched in her hoof as she went for his throat.

The guard flung himself to the right. Fast enough that her dagger missed his windpipe, but not fast enough to prevent her tearing out the side of his neck.

Slamming bodily into him, her free hoof jammed itself into his mouth as they fell both onto the muddy ground, both sliding several feet from the force of her impact.

Pulling her foreleg with the dagger back, she aimed for the throat again. With the guard thrashing around beneath her, spraying mud in her face, she missed the centre of his throat again. This time, she sliced open the other side of his neck. She flinched instinctively as something warm and sticky sprayed over her face.

“Will you please just die!” She snarled.

The third attempt was spot on if a little redundant by this point. The guard was already dead, he just hadn’t died yet, his movements lost their strength as she continued to pin him to the ground.

Laying there panting on top of the body, she found herself to be totally soaked now. From the drizzle, her own sweat and the mud splashed up by the struggle. She jolted when Silver Strike tapped her on the flank. “Damn girl…” He whispered. “I know I wanted him dead, but you didn’t have to try and hack his head off.”

Icefang stared at him for a moment before looking back at the guard, then down at herself. Most of the mud she was covered in was red.

‘Oh… Okay, not the clean kill I was hoping for’.

Silver Strike, watching the caravan for any sign of movement, wiping away any droplets that had formed on his face. “Looks okay, no movement, looks like no pony heard. Ah, isn’t drizzle wonderful for this kinda thing. Keeps ponies in, muffles sounds, reduces vision… And I still damn well hate it.’ He turned to look at her and the body she was still laying on, it’s throat nearly entirely ripped out. “Damn you’re a vicious little thing aren't you.” He ruffled her forelock. ‘I think I can make use that.” Silver Strike gently ran his hoof down her face and showed her the blood.

Blinking at him, Icefang found her voice. “I wanted to…”

Silver nodded, cutting her off. “Good! We can use somepony like that in our ranks, scares off competition.” Looking round he smiled at the others. “Right, we got a job to do ponies…”

Icefang watched Silver Strike move off. ‘...make it quick.’ she mournfully finished.

“Stop her!” Silver screamed out.

Turning her head, Icefang could see the mare galloping off up the muddy road away from the burning wagons. Pirouetting around her left forehoof as she threw her flank round, she landed with a splash in a puddle, legs wide, facing the way the mare was running.

‘Not even weaving, nice easy shot.’ Icefang lowered her head and aimed down her horn. ‘At least the rain has stopped. Breathe In, breathe out. In two three, out two…’

The beam caught the fleeing mare on her flank. Her rear half shattered half a second later. The front of her continued running on, balanced on two legs, for another couple of steps before pitching forward into the ground and rolling.

A scream from behind caused Icefang to turn as a captive rushed forward at her. Racing between two stunned guards, he charged her, rage burning in his eyes. Turning, the dagger in her hoof came up... the stallion impaling himself on it as he threw his forehooves round her throat.

With a puzzled look, she watched the light fade from his eyes as he held onto her. “Monster…” His grip on her loosened and he slid down but still looking up at her. “She was pregnant... you... mon… ster…” He fell the ground with a squelch in the mud, the mud quickly becoming stained red.

Looking up from the body, she found captives and fellow mercenaries alike, were all looking at her with a mix of fear and horror. Only Silver Strike looked pleased.

Walking up, he threw a hoof over her shoulder. “Oh yes, my little Icefang, soon your name alone will inspire fear. Nopony will mess with us once this gets around.”

Icefang stared up the road to where the mare lay in pieces. All she could focus on was the pleasant damp earth smell of the sodden forest … with a hint of copper.

She could taste blood. The taste was filling her mouth. She couldn’t...

Gasping for a breath, Sunbeam sat bolt upright in the taverns’ guest room. Unable to breathe, she grasped her chest as her confusion rapidly slipped into panic. Reaching out to Rarity, her hoof fell short, her hoof-tip only just brushing the side of her bed as she continued to choke.

Panic gripping her, she thrashed around on the floor pounding her chest with both hooves, one last desperate act.

A tiny exhale…

A stuttering intake of breath...

Struggling and in tiny breaths, she could breathe again…

Slowly, her breathing returned to normal. Heart pounding in her ears, she lay on the floor and rubbed her face with the soft fur on her wrist. “O-oh buck! I’m actually sweating.”

A mirthless giggle followed as an only slightly trembling hoof wiped her face again.

Keepsake let out a sigh of relief as he made it to the safety of the kitchen. Even keeping to the walls, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, Icefang had noticed him. The taunts hurt; how she’d found out that he preferred stallions he had no idea, but she made sure everypony she met knew. The day when she stood on the table in the crowded bar and outed him publicly was forever etched in his mind. The looks everypony gave him…

At least the kitchen was safe, nopony went into the kitchen, apart from Clean Glass, who proclaimed he didn’t care what he did, as long as the job got done. Calling him a ‘waitress’ though, even in jest, was unkind he felt.

So running into a customer, sat at the central table drinking coffee, was unexpected.

“Umm…”

Sunbeam glanced up at him over her coffee. “Needed coffee. Nopony was here, so I made it myself. Mr Glass is apparently needed at the bar for Icefang’s personal attention.”

“I don’t think customers are supposed…”

Sunbeam’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes fixed on something behind him. “I... needed... coffee...”

Keepsake took a step back. “The customer is always right…”

Sunbeam watched Keepsake with a raised eyebrow for a few seconds before snorting. “You’re being serious! Oh, that’s adorable, you’re actually being bucking serious.” Slamming her coffee down, she doubled over the table, her free hoof pounding on it as snorts and guffaws came from the mare.

Nonplussed, Keepsake watched Sunbeam until she calmed down.

“Oh please, don’t do that.” Sunbeam eventually forced out. “My sides actually hurt… I waitress tables myself. I know exactly how some customers are…” Her mood darkening somewhat as she reached for her coffee, she added. “They think that they are so better than you, they think that you are there for their entertainment. Even got my flank slapped once don’t you know.”

Keepsake watched as Sunbeam got on the roll. “And why is it that the richest ones are worst tippers… Mr Filthy Rich, I’m looking at you. Oh, you get some good ones, but you remember the bads ones… You know the types: morons; mutants and mouth-breathers. The ‘I’m so important the world revolves around my flank’ ones, The ‘I don’t make mistakes, it must be you’ ones…”

Sunbeam’s eyes glazed over as her voice went up in pitch.“The ones that bring ignorant righteousness to new levels. The ones that: even if I was sitting on them, screaming at them, dagger raised, would find it physically impossible to admit to being wrong!” Sunbeam tailed off as she noticed Keepsake expression at her rant. Shifting uncomfortably she reached for her coffee and brought it up to her muzzle.

‘Just as well I’m such a nice pony then. Otherwise...’ She smiled at some inner vision as she sipped her coffee.

Gawking at Sunbeam, Keepsake finally managed to close his mouth. The fact he was slowly nodding at some of her words he found to be quite shocking. The fact he couldn’t work up the enthusiasm to really find fault with her statements, even more so.

Sunbeam put down her coffee. “On a side note, the one that slapped my flank, he got mugged that very night.” Sunbeam pushed her mug around on the table, not looking up. “Terrible business. Both his forelegs got broken. They never caught who did it either.”

“...And act interested, even if you want to gnaw your own forehoof off to get away. You usually get a bigger tip that way. ” Sunbeam tapped her chin. “Oh yes, smiling works as well. I do get bigger tips from ponies when I smile at them… Although Quick Service says it's more me intimidating them… Such slander, can you believe the nerve of some ponies? Sweet, innocent little me being intimidating?”

Keepsake carried on cooking while he tried to work out if her shocked expression was genuine or not. Bringing his full attention back to the scrambled eggs, he made sure they were the way that Icefang liked them. With the coffee was done, even if it was in danger from Sunbeam, it was nearly time to go out and face her.

Looking out the kitchen, Sunbeam pointed a hoof at the bar area. “Looks like the morning rush is starting.” Turning back to Keepsake she raised an eyebrow. “Breakfasts or drunkards?”

“Icefang doesn’t like to eat breakfast alone…”

Sunbeam rolled her eyes. “She’s really got this town in her pocket hasn’t she.”

‘I wonder if I could have done this…?’ Sunbeam shook her head to clear the through.

Keepsake poured put the scrambled eggs from the pan onto the plate. Putting the pan in the sink first, he picked the tray with the plate of scrambled eggs and coffee on it. A knot of fear formed in the pit of his stomach. Staring at the door to the bar for a few seconds, he strode onto his own personal battlefield.

Sunbeam watched him go. After the door had swung shut, she toasted him with her coffee mug.

“Better pony than me...”

Standing up, she went over to the door, opening it just enough to peek through.

Keepsake snaked his way through the tables towards Icefang. She had noticed his approach and was pointing at him to the other two at the table. Sunbeam frowned at the evil grin forming on her face as he got closer.

Keepsake stood by the table and went to put the tray down. Before he could, one of Icefang’s legs shot out, straight into Keepsake’s forelegs. His foreleg folding up, Keepsake went down, the scrambled eggs and coffee spilling onto the floor as he did so.

Icefang got up and stood over Keepsake. “Awww, did little poofie drop my order… better make me some more. Better make sure that it goes on his tab Mister Glass.”

Clean Glass noded reluctantly from behind the bar.

With a grimace, Sunbeam closed her eyes and turned her head away. ‘Don’t get involved… Don’t...’

See could see herself as Icefang, standing over herself as Sunbeam while wearing that damned uniform that Bar Service wanted her to wear. Icefang’s laughter at Keepsake became her’s, mocking her attempts at being Sunbeam. The laughter morphed into Listed Scroll’s barking laugh. ‘You’ll always be mine, now be a good little filly and...’

Sunbeam wasn’t even aware of herself leaving the kitchen.

Icefang lay on the floor, shaking her head from the punch while Keepsake was scrambling to get up and away. The silence in the bar was total as Sunbeam looked at her outstretched hoof with a confused expression. ‘What did I..? You bucking stupid… Attack now!’

Rearing up on her hind legs, Sunbeam brought them down hard on the edge of the table, violently shoving it backwards into Icefangs two colleagues, who were seated on the other side. Both folded over the table, spittle flying, as the edge of the table impacted hard into their forelegs and chests. The bottles, glasses and playing cards that were on the table, were all thrown into the air from the sudden shove.

Still landing from the table push, the air now filled with fluttering playing cards, Sunbeam found her world blurring past sideways as she toppled. Icefang had caught one of her forelegs with a wild kick from her position on the floor, causing it to buckle as she put her weight on it.

Her right elbow slamming into the floor, taking the brunt of the fall, sent the shock straight into her shoulder. Sunbeam screamed in pain as her shoulder moved in ways it shouldn’t.

Unsteadily standing up, a glow surrounded Icefang’s horn.

Through the tears of pain, Sunbeam could see the glow and instinct took over. With a swipe of her left foreleg along the ground, an unbroken bottle on the floor was sent hurtling towards Icefangs general direction.

Going high and to the left, it still made Icefang duck to the right. Breaking her concentration and losing any magic she’d pulled in. The glow faded.

Getting to her shaky legs, Sunbeam lip’s pulled back in a mix of pain and a desire to hurt Icefang. Halfway up, holding her right leg under her, she could see Icefang, glare at her, snarl and charge forward.

Throwing herself to the left, her left foreleg taking all her weight, Icefangs right shoulder met Sunbeams already abused right shoulder. The impact sending them both spinning off in opposite directions.

Icefang got to her hooves first, Sunbeam was still laying on the floor, whimpering, cradling her brutalized shoulder.

Limping forward, her horn hesitantly glowing, Icefang got closed in on Sunbeam, close enough to lean and whisper into an ear. “Any last…”

Swinging out in a wild back-hoof strike, Sunbeam’s left foreleg connected squarely with Icefang’s charged horn before she collapsed back down on the floor, now in her own world of pain.

Icefang head snapped to her right with the hit, a look of shock on her face as she realized what was going to happen. She reached up to her horn. “Nononono…”

The stored magic backlashed into her.

A high pitched scream sounded through the bar as Icefang fell to the ground, holding her horn. Eyes wide.

Both mares now lay on round, both rolling in agony, both their coats soaking up spilt beer and picking up shards of broken glass in the process.

Woken by the noise, a sleepy Twilight, accompanied by Greywing, came down to investigate. “What the hey?” Twilight paused halfway down the stairs, gawking at the scene.

In a small area in between the tables, the floor covered in spilt beer, shattered glass, and playing cards, lay Sunbeam, whimpering, holding her shoulder. Icefang, inches away from Sunbeam, was holding her horn and shivering in agony. Her eyes wide open and only able to let out short sharp breaths instead of the screams of pain she wanted to.

It took Greywing pushing past her and galloping down the stairs and up to Sunbeam to bring Twilight back. Sunbeam, now rocking on the floor with desperate little whimpers as she clutched her shoulder, didn’t notice him kneel next to her. Greywing looked around at the other patrons which, annoyingly to him, were just stood around the edges of the bar doing nothing. “What the buck happened?”

Clean Glass pointed to Sunbeam. “She punched Icefang when she tripped up Keepsake, they fought. She hit Icefang’s horn when it was charged.”

Rushing up next to Greywing, Twilight winced at the thought of an impact on a charged horn. “In which case, Icefang will be okay, eventually. She just needs some rest as won’t be able to do any magic for a while now.” She looked at Sunbeam.

Greywing spoke before Twilight could say anything else. “Well, Sunbeam here needs a doctor. Looks like she’s damaged her shoulder.”

Turning back to Sunbeam, neither noticed the effect of Twilight’s words had on assembled ponies. They all become very still as they stared at Icefang. The collective thought. ‘No magic?’

Clean Glass called out, never taking his eyes off Icefang. “Keepsake, take them to the Bandage twins. They'll be able to look after your friend. We’ll look after Icefang.”

Twilight looked up. “Thank you sir, very noble of you to look after a pony in pain, especially after what she’s done.”

Clean Glass slowly nodded, his eyes never leaving Icefang. “Oh yes… We’ll take proper care of her.”

Lifting up Sunbeam with her magic, Twilight turned to follow as Keepsake stood by the door. Greywing was looking hesitantly between Twilight and the stairs, trying to decide if he should get the other or stay with Twilight. Applejack appearing at the top of the stairs solved this for him.

Greywing called up. “Twilight is taking Sunbeam to get medical attention.” Applejack eyes widened before she nodded and back off to get the others. A questioning sound, that could have only come from Rainbow, was heard a moment later coming from upstairs.

Twilight trotted out, levitating a whimpering Sunbeam, as she followed Keepsake into the street.

The rest closed in on Icefang.

Sat in the reception area of the doctors, Twilight watched as the pink unicorn, Pink Bandage gently tapped Sunbeam’s shoulder, eliciting a whimper from the mare.

“Dislocated all right, plus some muscle and or tendon damage probably. Nothing we can’t handle, right Blue?” The blue unicorn across the room nodded before turning back to her task. “Before you ask about the names… Dad was expecting colts, he never was good with off-the-cuff stuff. Everypony asks eventually.”

Sunbeam whimpered. “Painkiller.”

Rainbow shook her head. “Wuss.”

Applejack just about managed to stop her nod as well at Rainbow’s comment. “I’ve done similar bucking trees, just need to pop it back in.”

Sunbeam’s glare landed on Applejack before flicking to Rainbow. “Please tell me that you two are not those types ponies with high pain thresholds.”

“Well…”

“Sorry Applejack, Rainbow, I have to hate you both now. Out of general principle. What’s more…” Sunbeam went to lift her right foreleg to point at Applejack. All colour drained from her face before she curled up around her shoulder. “Ah! Ah! Hurts! Hurt!”

Pink Bandage sniggered. “We’ve got a spell that will accelerate the healing, but you need to be immobile for about four hours to let it work properly.. Sedated is usually best.”

Fluttershy knew the look Sunbeam was giving Pink Bandage. It was the same look that wounded animal would sometimes give her, a look that meant it was going to be needed to be held down for their own good.

Fluttershy cleared her throat. “Umm, Sunny… You do need to rest to heal properly.”

Sunbeam turned to look at Fluttershy and opened her mouth.

Fluttershy arched an eyebrow, her gaze becoming hard.

Sunbeam blinked, then threw her good foreleg over her eyes. “I give…. I give….”

To the side of the desk in the reception was a doorway to a corridor that led to six rooms. Each done in a pale blue, every room had a bed, a side table, and a window. Sunbeam, being levitated by Twilight, was carefully navigated down the corridor and put in one. It was next to only other room in use. The one next to stallion that ‘ran into the wall’ so recently.

Sunbeam lay on the bed staring at the ceiling as the pain numbed. Blue Bandage, having administered the injection a few minutes ago, had gone off to dispose of the needle and had left her to Twilight’s tender care.

Twilight looked down at Sunbeam; keeping a careful check on her, examining her irises and such like, as Blue Bandage came back in.

Sunbeam smiled up at Blue Bandage as she came back in. “Pain is gone, starting to feel relaxed. Some good stuff you’ve got there.”

Blue Bandage smiled back. “The sedative should start kicking in soon, it takes the pain away, then relaxes the patient first.”

A puzzled expression crossed Sunbeam’s face. “I feel… strange. Feel heavy… so heavy...” She started looking around the room at the ponies assembled with a curious expression.

Twilight leaned in close as Blue Bandage’s expression became worried.

Sunbeam looked at Twilight and with great solemnity, reached up with her good hoof... and gently bopped Twilight on the nose. Falling back into the bed, Sunbeam descended into giggles. “Alicorn. Purple Alicorn… Purple wings, purple horn...” More giggles followed. “Fly free my little purple alicorn… must be so light to fly… I want to fly…”

Twilight sat back in shock, blinking rapidly, as her friends tried to hide their mirth.

Blue Bandage nodded. “It’ll knock her out soon enough, just until then… Ugh! Looks like she’s having one of those reactions…” She paused, looking at Sunbeam, who stuck her tongue out at her. “Right! She’s gonna be a little loopy for a bit. Quite a lot loopy actually.” Blue looked uncomfortable. “I think it might be best if we leave her alone. Right now in fact! She’ll be saying all kinds of things… Things that she’ll… Look, best if we give her some personal space. Like right now”

Twilight looked at Sunbeam, who in turn blew a raspberry back at her. Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “I think we need to speak about the ingredients of this sedative Miss Bandage. C’mon girls.”

As they filed out, Twilight stopped Greywing, after making sure Blue Bandage had already left. “Can you watch over Miss Happy-Sunshine here for a while? I am uncomfortable leaving a recently medicated patient alone. Whatever Miss Bandage says.”

“Yes Prin… Twilight.”

Greywing watched Twilight leave, before leaning over Sunbeam. Who promptly bopped him on the nose before sticking her tongue out at him. “Heavy pegasus. Needs to lighten his load to fly properly.”

Greywing shook his head, rubbing his nose. “For some reason, I thought you’d be good in a bar room brawl.”

The smiling face changed into a scowl. “Hate face-to-face, hoof-to-hoof combat… all that noble horseapples. Give me a sneaky kill every time.” Sunbeam smiled up at him before waving her hoof around. “Whee… feel lighter saying that…”

Greywing stood there frozen, trying to process what she’d just said.

“I want fly Greywing, must be so good to fly… Lighten load, need to lighten the load to fly.”

She smiled up at Greywing.

“I was good at that you know, the sneaky stuff I mean. Most ponies didn’t even know I was there until…” Sunbeam drew a hoof across her throat, rolling her eyes up and sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth as she did so.

She reached out and tapped Greywing’s chest, a silly smile on her face. “Feeling so light now…” She pursed her lips. “Not enough... must lighten the load, want to fly… Must be so good to fly...” Sunbeam seemed to ponder something for a second before her expression became serious. “You know, I hate Icefang.” The smile returned. “Oh, that feels good…”

Greywing managed a nod. A distant part of his mind added. ‘Yes, looking like her must have been awful. Even being a killer like you, it must have been bad to be mistaken for her.’ Greywing could feel the lead weight land in his stomach as the realisation set in. Sunbeam continued on, oblivious to Greywing’s crumbling walls of denial.

“Icefang-Sunbeam, Sunbeam-Icefang” She sang in a high pitched voice before scowling at Greywing’s lack of attention to her. Greywing reeled back from the punch to his shoulder. He found Sunbeam glaring at him. “Hey! I became a killer because of her. You could at least listen to me.” She paused and stared into the distance. “Lighten load, want to fly...”

Her ears fell flat to the sides, a pained expression crossed her face. “Singing Flower... Little Singing Flower, so sweet and innocent. All she wanted to do was sing… make ponies happy… see them smile...” She swallowed, her voice cracking. “Listed Scrolls took that away… Took it all away.” Her jaw trembled for a moment. “H-h-he had no right to…” Her eyes started dropping, her voice distant. “I miss her. He had no… right…” Sunbeam closed her eyes.

Sitting there, Greywing stared at Sunbeam. In one quick motion, he brought a hoof down on the side of the bed, just short of Sunbeam. The impact on the mattress made her bounce around on it.

“Why? Why did you have to...” Bringing a hoof up to his eyes, his voice sounded strangled. “Why did you have to confirm it? Why did you have to do that?”

Sunbeam just lay there.

“Just suspicions, that’s was all it was… just…” Greywing closed his eyes. “I don’t know who this ‘Singing Flower’ is, but sounds like you… because of…” He shook his head. “Aaaargh! Whatever! My duty demands I act… I have to, I can’t ignore... I’m so sorry Sunbeam. I have no choice now. Neither of us have…”

Twilight watched Blue Bandage leave the reception room and go into her office. “Well it seems that Sunbeam is going to be okay, despite questionable medication she’s been given.” She turned to face her friends. “All she needs to do is keep still as the spell mends her.” Twilight sighed. “We’ll need to take turned looking after Sunbeam though. The medication has some interesting side-effects it appears.”

Applejack sniggered “Interesting? That’s certainly one way to put it sugar. Sunbeam looked like she was quite enjoying herself there.”

This brought a few sniggers from Rainbow, earning the disapproving looks of both Rarity and Fluttershy.

Rarity pointed to Rainbow. “The poor dear is probably going to be mortified…”

Twilight shook her head. “It usually has similar side-effects to drinking lots of alcohol. On which it’s based I might add, with a few ‘extras’ thrown in.” Twilight frowned. “Certainly extras not allowed in Equestria.” With a quick shake of her head and Twilight continued. “Her memory will be hazy at best… most likely will it’ll just be blank from just after…”

A solemn looking Greywing walking into the reception room got Twilight’s attention. “Greywing?”

With an obvious swallow, he looked around at the girls. “It’s about Sunbeam…”

Fluttershy brought a hoof up to her mouth. “Oh my… is she okay?”

Greywing shook his head… “I… I need to tell you all something… before I falter…again” He rushed the next words out. “Sunbeam is a killer!” He lowered his head. “And so am I.”

The silence was uncomfortable as Greywing listed what had happened, finishing with Sunbeam’s drugged confession.

His head hung low, his ears flat back and his wingtips almost touching the ground, Greywing was a sorry sight. “I’m sorry Princess. I didn’t mean to… I was confused, she helped me… I should have told you straight away.”

Twilight rubbed her eyes. “Important decisions should be made calmly, not in the heat of the moment. Where it is possible.” It sounded like she was quoting somepony to Greywing.

“Greywing, I… We’ll discuss this when we get back. I think it would be for the best if we didn’t do it right now. I’m sorry if you thought you couldn’t tell me this.”

Greywing flinched.

Twilight glanced round at her stunned friends. “Right now, the mission hasn’t changed, neither has the fact that Sunbeam is the only pony here that knows what wheat-thorn actually looks like. We’ll…” Sitting down, Twilight looked lost. “I don’t know what to do…Sunbeam is… is…dangerous.” She turned to Greywing “Greywing what do you think about Sunbeam? Please, be honest.”

He flinched again before answering. “From what she was saying, before the sedative kicked in, sounds like something happened to somepony called ‘Singing Flower’ which set her off. From what I’ve seen she’s been trained and got experience, but with it being such an odd mix, it’s definitely not guard training.” He paused for a second. “Being in a mercenary group would be my best guess.” Greywing kept looking at the ground.

Rainbow folded her forelegs as she hovered. “Whatever she was, she got her flank busted saving Scoots, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle. I say we can’t just leave her hangin, not after doing that.”

Applejack nodded. “Darn right sugar.”

Rarity spoke up. “Twilight dear, might I suggest something. Now this might be a little underhoofed, but… as you said, ‘important decisions are best done with a clear head’. Now I do believe that we are all of us are under considerable stress at the moment, and as such, things could be said… things that couldn’t be unsaid. Bad decisions and all that.” Rarity pointed to Rainbow. “And I agree with Rainbow that Sunbeam deserves a chance.”

Rarity took a deep breath. “Getting the cure is of paramount importance, for the Princesses and all those affected. Sunbeam is the only pony here that, as you said, that knows what the cure looks like. What I propose is that we wait until after we get back before confronting her with this… In a non-threatening manner of course.”

Rarity turned to Applejack and raised an eyebrow. Applejack closed her eyes and nodded. “Sounds sensible. I hate concealing things…” Applejack tilted her head, working things out in her mind. “But we’re only delayin’, not trying to stop or change it. To help others an’ all.”

Rainbow flew up to Applejack and tapped her on the shoulder. “The only reason you hate concealing things is that you’re so terrible at it. Well! I’m with AJ and Rares. Sunbeam deserves to be chilled out when she explains.” She tapped her chin and looked down the corridor. “And have a clear head, I guess, would help.”

Twilight turned to Fluttershy. Fluttershy’s ears drooped. “I think she deserves a chance to calmly explain. Right now, she’s injured and stressed out with all that 'Icefang' business. Lots of creatures, ponies included, react badly when suddenly cornered like that. They might lash out without thought. I think we should wait, if that’s alright with you.”

Twilight turned to Pinkie. “Pinkie?”

Pinkie was looking at the floor, her voice as distant as she spoke. “She looked so lost when she didn’t get the job at the spa. She’d planned it all out, get to Ponyville, get a job as a masseur and settle down.” Pinkie looked up at Twilight. “She’d had a few to drink when she told me, that was her entire plan: Get to Ponyville and fade away. She’s made friends here now Twi. Which I don’t think she’d even considered could happen. She needs us Twi. Without us she’ll…” Pinkie twitched in an odd manner as some scene played out in her head. “Not good, it wouldn’t be good Twi.”

Twilight nodded. “I think we’re agreed then. We don’t do anything to let her know that we suspect. We finish the mission first. Once we’re back we can speak to her in a calm environment. We’ll tell nopony else until that point. Any objections?”

Greywing looked up. “Princess, I don’t think that’ll be a good idea. The not telling anypony thing. It might be prudent to have some guards on standby when you confront her… in case…” His head dropped. “Just in case.”

Twilight trotted up to Greywing.

“Please, Greywing. I need you to promise me that’ll you’ll tell nopony. We can handle it.”

“Princess this is your safety, I’ve already compromised it…”

“Would an order work?”

“Princess, my orders to defend you come from Princess Celestia herself.”

Sitting down, Twilight took a deep breath in. A determined expression settling on her face.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. ‘Oh poor Greywing, Twi’s getting ready to use logic on him… I know -that- look on her face. He not gonna have a chance…’ A cheering outside distracted her. Flying up next to the window she looked out as the others watched as Greywing’s arguments starting to get surgically dismantled. None noticed Rainbow lose all colour in her face as she looked out the window.

“Twi…” She whispered.

Twi and others were still engrossed.

“Twi…”

“Twi...”

“Hey!”

They all stopped to look at Rainbow, who was still looking at something out the window. Rainbows words were hollow.

“They've just hung Icefang and the other two…”

The unicorn looked up at Icefang as she gently twisted the in breeze, a stunned look still on Icefang’s face.

“Dammit. This is not going to go down well. Go and get a magical asset. This should have been a simple pick up.”

The pegasus next to her nodded despondently. “Going back empty hooved is not going to go down well. Perhaps ‘small fry’…”

The unicorn waved him away. Looking down at her meter again, she shook it. “Dammit, something around here is still clouding the readings.” Pointing it around it suddenly clicked loudly.

She blinked. “Uhh, the needle just buried itself… off scale. Even at minimum sensitivity, even against the background level.” Slowly she pointed it around until it clicked again as the needle bounced off the max reading. Looking up at where the meter was pointing, she found herself looking at Twilight and her friends.

All of them stood outside the doctors, staring open mouthed at the tree at the end of the street.

Pink Bandage looked up at the stallion stood at the reception desk, trying hard to hide her dislike. “Mr Spade, your son is sleeping at the minute. He had a slight concussion, but he is going to be fine, you don’t need to...”

Blunt Spade leaned over the desk at Pink Bandage, causing her to lean back. “Look, I’m going to go see my son. I don’t care what you think. Certainly no… mare, is going to stop me.” He leaned in a little more. She leaned back a little more. He smiled at that, seeing any mare that had the nerve to think themselves important get put back in their place was a good thing. Especially if it was a needle-headed mare.

Pink squirmed, glad the desk was between her and him.

“I am going to see my son, and that is all there is to it.” With that he turned and marched through the door towards the rooms..

Applejack lowered her paper and watched him head off with a scowl. She’d of prefered to go and comfort Twilight, but Twilight had asked her to stay with Sunbeam, she was still undecided about Greywing. After a brief glance at the door where Blunt had gone, stood up and followed him. He’d been lying about something.

Blunt walked into Sunbeam’s room. Walking quietly up next to the sedated mare his face contorted into a scowl of pure rage. He leaned in close to one of her ears and whispered into it.

“Bitch! No pony, certainly no needle-headed mare hurts my son.” He spat out.

With a leer he pulled out a saw from his saddlebags. “Needed to cheat with magic to fight him didn’t you, lets see how you get on without that horn of yours.” The leer became more pronounced. “I’m going to wait outside your window. I want to hear your squeal when you see your precious horn laying next to you on the pillow. Yes, lets show everypony see how useless unicorns really are when they can’t use any of their fancy magic.”

Placing the saw against Sunbeam’s horn he took hold of the top of the horn with his other hoof. He pulled the saw back, the teeth bouncing off the horn, then with glee, he pushed it forward, biting into the horn.

Twilight lay on her bed, staring off into space. Rarity came up and sat down beside her.

“Twilight, I don’t believe you should hold yourself accountable for what happens in this barbaric place.”

Twilight didn’t look round, her words flat. “I could have stopped it, I gave her to them. I might as well have put the noose around her neck myself.”

“Twilight dear…”

Twilight lifted her head and buried her face into the pillow.

Fluttershy seated herself next to Rarity. “Twilight, from the looks of the ponies I’ve seen, they were just looking for a chance to do that. One day I found a fox in with the hens, must have jumped over the fence that night, but caught a leg in a hole and broken it. I found it in the morning. The hens had pecked it to death.” Fluttershy shivered at the image. Words had been said to the hens. “You are no more responsible than that hole. No even less... Sunbeam was the hole. I mean… Not that Sunbeam is a hole, or you are less...” Fluttershy stuttered into silence. “I mean…”

Twilight lifted her head and looked at Fluttershy and tried to smile. “Thank you Fluttershy. I know what you are getting at… It’s just that this is just one of the lessons that Celestia taught me… tried to teach me. Small, ill-thought out actions when a princess… can have big effects. Ponies can and do get hurt over things you didn’t think mattered.”

Twilight buried her face into the pillow again.

Rainbow landed on the other side of the bed. “Hey c'mon egghead. We need you. The Princesses need you, you gonna leave us all hangin?”

Twilight twitched at the word. The others threw Rainbow annoyed glares, as she shuffled her hooves in realization of what she’d said.

“Err, I mean are you going to leave your checklist for this mission go incomplete?”

Silence.

Rainbow opened her mouth.

Twilight rolled off the bed, her face eerily calm as she looked around at her friends. “My feelings are immaterial at this point. Thank you Rainbow, you are right, the mission needs to be completed. My feelings are secondary at this point. Ponies are counting on us… The Princesses are counting on us.” Twilight swallowed. “When I get back I can…” The calm expression faltered. “But right now… We need to focus entirely…. entirely on the mission.”

Sitting down, Twilight clapped her hooves together. “The clock is ticking people…”

Blunt pulled the saw back again, enjoying himself. He never heard the gasp from Applejack as she stood at the door. He did hear her hooves as she galloped towards him. He even had time to turn his head to see a two hooves approach his ribs in a classic apple-bucking kick. Apple trees would not have made the crunching sound as he flew into the wall opposite though.

Applejack leaned over Sunbeam, a noticeable notch in her horn, near the base, was evident.

“Pink Bandage, get your flank in here!”

“I should have been quicker.” Applejack lamented.

Rarity put a hoof around Applejack’s neck, her eyes never leaving Sunbeam’s horn as Twilight examined it. Pink Bandage had examined it for physical damage, pronouncing that it was not in any danger of snapping off. Twilight was examining it to see if it would affect Sunbeam’s ability to cast magic. Rarity wasn’t even aware she was holding her breath as Twilight looked up at them.

“Superficial. Not deep enough to affect her casting. But it will be a permanent mark, as Pink Bandage said.”

Rarity let out her breath, her hoof leaving Applejack and touching her own horn. “How beastly. Now Applejack, I don’t want you holding any regrets about what you did to that… that… little piece of horseapples.”

Her hoof flew to her mouth as Applejack gave her a wan smile. “He’s messed up, but gonna be okay. Pink Bandage been fixin’ him. Mind you if Pink Bandage hadn’t stabilized him so soon he’d of…” Applejack grimaced. “I nearly… nearly…”

Rainbow flew up to Applejack and put her wing over her back. “Don’t worry about him AJ! He’s gonna be okay, not that he deserves it. As Rares said, you did the right thing.”

Applejack lowered her head. “I know what he was trying to do. Why doesn’t it feel like it I did the right thing.”

Rainbow’s wing tightened over Applejack’s back as she felt some shivers go through it. “Well, you don’t have to worry about him now. Twilight’s put a spell on him to keep him on the bed. He’s no longer our concern.”

Applejack looked round. “So, who’s gunna tell Sunbeam when she wakes up? I don’t think she’s going to be happy.”

Blunt Spade groaned, something was tapping one of his rear hooves. Magically restrained to the bed, all he could do was lift his head to see what was disturbing him.

Seated at the bottom of his bed, wearing her cloak and saddlebags Sunbeam smiled at him.

“Hello. Just wanted to give my respects before we set off. My shoulder is all better now thank you for asking.” Sunbeam rolled her right shoulder. “Now, do you know, I sneaked in here? Everypony else is out celebrating it seems... so no pony even knows I’m in here. With you.” Her smile seemed strangely off to him.

Lifting her hoof, she ran it down her horn. The click as it passed over the notch, sent a shudder run through her and the smile fell. Her horn lit up in a white glow and Blunt instinctively tried to recoil, but Twilight’s spell held him fast to the bed.

A small brown grocery bag, stained at the base, was levitated up and placed on the table next to the bed. Sunbeam stood up and walked over next to him.

“You know, I did not react well when I was told what your tried to do.” Sunbeam’s hoof came up and touched her horn again. “Threats were made. Cutting bits off you, pulling bits out… You know, the usual stuff…” Sunbeam waved a hoof nochantaly. “So I decided to have a little walk to try to think what I could do to really hurt you…”

Sunbeam tapped her chin. “You know, I was at a loss. Of course the obvious response seemed so… well, boring to be honest.” Sunbeam leaned over and whispered into his ear. “So on my walk I found myself in your son’s room. He was asleep… just like me… On his back, legs wide open, like any normal stallion, when I spotted them…” Sunbeam lifted a hoof and pointed at the stained bag.

“They were just laying there. It was obvious that nopony was ever going to want them, so I decided to help myself. After all I thought, I’m sure he’s not going to need them.”

Blunt stared at the mare as she sat back, the grin forming on her face would have done Discord proud.

“Nurse!” Blunt screamed.

Sunbeam polished a hoof on her chest and waited for Blunt to finish screaming before leaning in. “Oh, I placed a sound suppression spell on the room… no pony is going to hear us. Now then, what did I have planned next? Oh I find it so hard to think on an empty stomach…” The stained bag levitated over to her and she looked into it. A small, dark purple orb floated out. Sunbeam leaned forward and grabbed it with her teeth before chewing on it, her expression became thoughtful.

“Off-season I think…” She turned to look at Blunt, the grin becoming wider. “Got a spare one here, hey, why don’t you tell me what do you think?”

Blunt cringed back into the bed, his eyes never leaving the levitating bag as it floated close to him. His mouth was forced open as a white glow surrounded it. A second purple orb floated out of the bag and shot into his mouth. Tears formed in Blunt’s eyes as the white glow around his jaw forced him to chew. His eyes shot open as the taste hit him.

Sunbeam leaned back and levitated out a third purple orb. “Yep, I do think that this pickled beetroot is off-season.” She smiled pleasantly down at him.

It took Blunt a few seconds before he could wheeze anything out. “You bucking sick needle-headed…”

The smile faded and an expression of sadness formed on Sunbeam’s face as her ear fell to the sides.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, “I had hoped that little prank would be enough to satisfy me... I’m really sorry about this... It’s not.” Her face became blank, her eyes dulling as she stared down at him. Slowly she reached out a brushed the tip of her hoof down the side of his face. Her tone becoming emotionless as she tilted her head to one side, studying him. “You tried to cut my horn off.”

Pulling her hoof back, she slowly she reached under her cloak and pulled out a dagger. Pointing the dagger upwards, she examined the tip as she gently twisted it to and fro.

She looked down at him with empty eyes. Blunt started struggling against the magical restraints on the bed. Slowly, and with exquisite care, Sunbeam leaned over him and placed the tip of the dagger on his forehead, the blade nearly flat on his nose. Those dull eyes looked into his and Blunts struggles slowed to a stop.

There was not a sound in the room as both looked at each other, both still at statues.

He became aware of two colts playing hoofball outside the window. He could hear them clear as a bell as they argued about how wide the goal should be.

The blade tip started moving slowly downwards, travelling in between his eyes, then down the length his nose.

One of the colts was saying as it was his ball, so the other should be in goal.

The blade tip fell from the tip of his nose onto his top lip, it pulled the bottom lip down briefly as it passed over it and then it went onto his chin.

Those cold eyes staring into his never showed any emotion.

The silence in the room started to swallow the noise from the two colts. He could still hear them, but there were starting to sound further and further away.

The blade tip traced the underside of chin then down his throat, stopping at the hollow at the base of his neck.

Those eyes staring at him never blinked. All he could focus on now was those cold, empty eyes... and the pressure of the blade tip on his throat.

The blade started moving again, down his chest.

The colts outside sounded so far away now. They were giggling, repeating a curse word they’d heard, giggling when one of them said it. He could hear them so clearly, yet they sounded so very, very far away.

The blade tip stopped on his stomach, Sunbeam’s foreleg pulled back in a perfect position to thrust forward with the dagger.

Blunt’s awareness shrunk to two things, her eyes and the pressure of the blade tip. The colts outside faded from his hearing. The pressure began to build in the blade tip. It would puncture his skin any moment and slide so easily into him.

Only her eyes existed in Blunt’s world now, even the pressure from the dagger faded. Only those cold, empty, dead eyes existed, staring at him like he wasn’t a pony… Like he was just an object, ready to be...

Sitting back, Sunbeam pulled the dagger away from him and slipped it back under her cloak. Motionless, she stared at him as he stared back at her. Without a word, she turned and walked out the door.

Blunt stared at the open doorway Sunbeam had left by. A jolt ran through him… then another. Within seconds he was shaking uncontrollably. A warm sensation around his hips caused him to look down. Helplessly, he could only lay there and watch as his bladder emptied itself all over him.

Sunbeam looked up at ‘Icefang’ and tilted her head.

“Goodbye… Icefang. Oh, that feels weird.” She rubbed the back of her head. “Talk about mixed feelings… I…” A look of confusion spread as she looked up. “Why?”

‘Who were you? Why did you do it?’ She looked around. Picnic tables had been set up, with red and white checkered table cloths. It looked like everypony in town was here, celebrating.

Sunbeam looked down at her chest as a tight feeling made itself known there. “I was never like that.” She whispered. “I could have been…” She looked around at all the celebrating ponies and left the words unfinished. Just a rueful shake of the head.

“But I prefer living personally.”

She turned and walked away. Twilight and the others were waiting for her. They understood that she had to see Icefang for closure, even if they didn’t approve. They’d said they’d wait outside town, they didn’t want to be round the tree, or the celebrations.

Sunbeam walked down the centre of the street, humming to herself when cheering started up behind her. Looking behind, she could see a group of adolescent ponies had started throwing stones at the bodies.

The cheering changed subtly, she could feel the hackles rise on the back of her neck in response. She’d heard that type of cheering before.

Hope’s Hill Village; Silver’s Mercenaries had taken quite a few casualties trying to take it intact. Silver Strike’s exasperated cry of: ‘Screw this! Wipe this bucking thing off the map!’, swiping his foreleg sideways as he said it, was met with those type of cheers. She’d cheered just as loudly as the rest. A simple marker stood on ‘Hope’s-End Hill’ now.

Looking fixedly ahead,Sunbeam continued to walk down the street..

The cheering got louder. Ponies had started moving past her, their gazes’ fixed on the bodies. They were picking up anything that could be used as a weapon. She could see the look on their faces. The ponies from villages around Hope’s Hill had the same look when they had chased Silver’s Mercenaries for mile after bloodstained mile.

Sunbeam’s walk became very stiff. There was no pony in front of her now, all the cheering was from behind her. She was all alone in the street.

Her walk became a trot.

The cheering died down… then a hushed silence.

The end of the street looked so far away, she fought the urge to gallop.

The silence continued....

A single loud cheer from all the ponies behind made her jump.

Applejack, hesitatingly, put a hoof around a madly-panting Sunbeam’s neck as she looked at the ground. “Heh, sounds like you ran the ‘Running of the Leaves’, twice, there partner.”

Still panting, Sunbeam looked up at Applejack then back towards at the town.

Sitting down, she brought a hoof up to her eyes for a moment before slowly putting it back down.

‘I looked round! Why the buck did I have to look round for?’

Even firmly placed on the ground, even with her weight on it, she could feel the trembles in her hoof. She looked back at the town.

‘Horesapples, -I’m- the one who’s supposed to be crazy...’’