“Look, Sheriff, we're working as fast as we can to clear this here rubble but your pesterin' isn't going to make it any easier.” An earth pony in a hard hat spoke up with a thick southern drawl. His hard hat had the word “Boss” written in badly stenciled spray paint with both 's' backwards. His lips curled to the side spitting out a thick brown substance. He was in charge of the grew of ponies hired by Gold Mine's lawyers to remove the rubble of his burned down estate from his property. They had begun on the fourth morning since the night of the fire. Their first goal was accomplished; find Diamond Mine's body. Now they were to simply load wagons and carts to be taken to a landfill or sorting center to see if anything could be reused.
“I don't care about what you can do I want you just to do it faster, why is that so hard for you types to understand?” The sheriff didn't care much for the lower end ponies. His town was full of the Upper Middle Class and Elites and he wanted to ensure that they didn't stay longer then they needed to be. Tin Star stomped the ground in front of him then pointed a hoof in the direction of the burned down manor. “I just want your work done so the hotel can be filled with respectable ponies instead of the cider swilling, loud, uncouth ponies like your selves. Now get back to work.”
The foreman of the workers was about to turn and buck the sheriff. He wasn't caring if he saw a jail cell this pony crossed the line insulting his workers. His actions were cut off when a young colt pegasus came swooping around the western corner of the house. “Boss! Boss!” The excited pony exclaimed aloud landing down with a force that caused his hooves to skid across the ground sending dust and pebbles upwards into the faces of the sheriff and foreman. “Ya know ole' four left hooves? He found something that you got to see!”
The foreman and the sheriff took a hateful glance at each other then went galloping to follow the air born pony. To the western side of the house the two ponies were lead to find a group of workers crowded around one spot near where the wall used to be. They had discovered a sunroof of sorts setup for an area within what was once the wine cellar. The fire had broken the glass over the window allowing access down. A rope ladder lead downwards that the earth and unicorn ponies setup since they couldn't just fly down safely or fly up to be able to climb over the edge.
The different ponies around urged the foreman and sheriff to go down and see what they found. They were spooked at what they found. The group separated to allow the two ponies to gradually lower themselves down into the hovel below. The foreman was the first down and the first to gasp at what he saw. The fire had not damaged much below the foundation. It kept much of the lower areas intact. The first small room they entered was the bedroom. While filthy, it appeared to have been lived in recently. Once the sheriff came down, the pair then came into the main room to look about. The foreman was shaken to his core with a feeling hardening in the pit of his gut. “By Celestia. Some pony was living down here.” He whispered to him self glancing at the remains of broken toys, moisture damaged books, and old furniture.
Tin Star came next. He felt the blood leaving his face, a cold chill rushing through him, and a sudden realization sparking his mind. His thoughts returned to a time almost twelve to thirteen years prior. The mare that screamed that Gold Mine was keeping a foal down here. His hooves tapping the stone floors as he followed behind the foreman. The sight was breath taking, the thought of a pony being forced to reside down here robbing him of his breath. Nausea coursed through his belly. Was he partly responsible for not stopping this sooner? No, he was not to blame for another pony's actions. Tin Star came over to the foreman and kept his voice low for the other workers not to hear if the echo should reach them. He had a town to consider, and he had a reputation to protect. “Foreman, if you don't want to wind up in a jail cell with charges I recommend you and your other workers don't speak a word of this.” His words were coated with venom. “I'm more than happy to put a few rough neck ponies away if it means my town stays where it's at.”
The foreman gaped at the pony besides him. How one could be so cold towards another pony's plight to further their own ambitions was beyond the him. He could not argue with the Sheriff knowing that he and his crew were in a foreign territory than their normal routine. The foreman wouldn't let it leave just like this, even with the forewarned punishment. Some pony would learn of this one way or another.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Two bowls of cheerileos, a plate with a bagel and a sliced grapefruit, three glasses of milk, and three pieces of toast was set out over the dining room table for three ponies to eat breakfast. No words were spoken between them. The silence only adding to the tension between the three. Well, between two of the three. One of them was blissfully unaware that she should have been embarrassed over events that occurred last night. The unaware pony? Vinyl. Vinyl hadn't yet donned her trademark glasses, opting to wait to choose the color of the evening before leaving. Octavia couldn't even look at Eclipse. Her cheeks seemed to be stained red never to return to their gray tones. Eclipse had many questions, but questions were needed to find out if she could ask the questions and those questions would lead to only more questions. Starting the chain of questions was the question on her mind currently. The three ate without saying a thing until one pony finally broke the stalemate.
Octavia slid a sour piece of grapefruit past her lips suckling the juices before swallowing it down. Purple eyes finally took the time to look at Eclipse before her words were decided upon and she spoke. “Eclipse, about the situation you witnessed last night. I understand that you may have questions about what Vinyl and my self were doing.”
Vinyl slid her hooves beneath her bowl bringing it to her lips gulping down the cereal flavored milk. Eclipse watched then mimicked the actions identically leaving behind a white mustache across her upper lip. The pony with the treble clef cutie mark sighed, she would have to teach Eclipse manners again later. Octavia felt concerned, it had only been two days and Eclipse was picking up bad habits from Vinyl.
The gray filly finally decided the best course of action. Sliding her tongue outwards wiping over her lips, she brought in a breath then spoke out. “What ha..happened last night? I do..don't remember anything.” Ah feign ignorance.
Vinyl and Octavia glanced to one another then back to Eclipse. Perhaps the filly was sleep walking or simply not fully awake to know what she had seen. Vinyl bought this but Octavia didn't; though she was thankful that this discussion could wait until later. The cellist wasn't convinced. She wanted to ensure that the filly wasn't traumatized nor ask a question at an inappropriate time. “Are you certain, Eclipse?”
“Geez, Octy, if you're that worried if she saw us let's just invite her next time to watch or join in and we can teLLL.” Vinyl words hit a high pitch when a hind hoof struck one of her hind shins. The DJ's right eye shut right, the left twitching, her jaw clamped shut biting back from hollering at the pain that shot forth.
Eclipse giggled at the display. She knew perfectly well what just happened to Vinyl. She had seen the two of them act just like this all day yesterday and it never ceased to amuse her. Octavia composed her self, reaching her hooves up to adjust the red bow tie around her neck. After, she let her hooves comb down over her straight, black mane. “Alright then, I will accept this response. But, Eclipse, if you do have any questions or feel the need to ask about something that you may or may not have witnessed last night, please ask us in private rather than among other ponies who would not comprehend the actions.” Octavia rose from her chair, one plate stacked onto the other then raised on her hoof to balance, her empty glass the same. “Today you'll be joining me when I go to my practice. I wish for Vinyl to return from her duties from her next club sober this time.” The last words were icey in their presentation partially aimed to Vinyl. Hoof steps brought Octavia into the kitchen placing her dishes into the sink, but returned shortly after to conclude her words. “I'm afraid it may not be as exciting as the clubs Vinyl performs but I assure you that the music is far better and will enlighten your senses in a way that isn't akin to baboons beating on tree trunks.”
The bread stuffed down her gullet in one push, her beverage raised with magic to guzzle down the last of the liquid, and it ended with a belch as her hoof pounded her chest. Vinyl was now finished eating. Eclipse watched the unladylike, uncivilized display Vinyl did and did the exact same save for the belch at the end. Her right front elbow propped against the table, the electric blue maned pony tilted her head over the back of her chair grinning at Octavia. “Ah, Octy, if you want her to get lock jaw from yawning so much we could just show her the art exhibit you took me to last week!”
Electricity sparked in the stare the two marefriends glared at one another. The tension could be cut with a knife. Eclipse didn't like this. This wasn't like the fights they had before, their words seemed to try and cut at one another more out of annoyance than playful poking. What she didn't know was that these fights came as often as the playful ones they did. It helped them keep each other on their hooves. They would push at the boundaries but never cross the lines that would truly ruin the wonderful blessing they had. The filly glanced between the pair, her wings ruffling to make noise but it did nothing for the conflict.
“Tomorrow, Eclipse,” Octavia began to speak again, never leaving her visions from the DJ's red eyes. Neither was going to relent until a silent truce was made. “Vinyl and I will take you to the department stores to pick things up for you. I was thinking a new saddlebag, accessories for your mane and wings, bathing supplies, and I was thinking, since you enjoy reading, a few books.” This was it, both Vinyl and Octavia looked at Eclipse at the same time.
Vinyl waved a hoof in front of her face. “That's all well and good but we gotta get this filly right and ready for the club scenes too. Maybe some earrings and music to listen to so she can get right with it.” Gray magic circled around Eclipse's dishes and her own pulling them to a hover then letting them dance across the air to the kitchen. Another look was exchanged between Vinyl and Octavia. At the mention of introducing music to the filly, they each had their own plans in store.
“Yes, introducing her to music other than what we can do at our mutual establishments would be a rewarding endeavor for her.” The couple managed to agree on something even if they each held their own goals quietly away from the other. Octavia came over behind Vinyl, raising to her hind legs and draping her forelegs over her lover's shoulders. “Now, Eclipse, before we go out on our day is there anything you wish to know about? I am certain that between the two of us we can answer any question that can come to you. And it doesn't mean to pertain to events that may or may not be remembered.”
The twinkling maned filly tilted her head to the side thinking of something she had wanted to know but could never get an answer for. Innocent glowing eyes, so full of life and peace looked out the window while her lips moved to speak, “What's a wing boner?”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns was seeing an unusual amount of activity for the normally busy academy. Unicorns were immersed in matters that were occurring in Ghastly Gorge. Rumors were surfacing of an unusual energy flowing from the deepest crevice. Lore of old and ancient texts were unearthed from Celestia's library seeking information on the gorge and the magic flowing forth. At present, it posed no danger to the land nor ponies but Princess Luna had insisted it be investigated.
Iron Mind arrived and was welcomed by scholars, teachers, and students alike. He was well known among the ponies here for his own accomplishments and those of his wife, Split Atom. His face held a somber emotion. He held knew news he wished not to share with the mare he swore his life to, but an order from Celestia was an order he could not refuse. White armor gleamed in the sunshine giving a radiant glow that seemed to surround his entire being. Each hoof guard, bladed at the fronts, clinked against the cobble stone walkway beneath him. Black mane and tail were tied back and bundled to keep from becoming a distraction during his duties. He passed beneath the archway of the Energy Division science building.
The design of the building was similar to a large gymnasium with smaller rooms broken off with long hallways to keep experiments separate. The main room's ceiling was covered in pipes holding either water pumping, wires sparking with electricity, flows of wind, or waste being taken out to be reused someplace else. Each pony either wore a lab coat or clothing to protect from the elements. Iron Mind felt sorrow for the ponies in protection. If they were assigned to work with his wife, they would wind up in the hospital at one point or another.
The various ponies greeted Iron with a smile or a courteous nod. Each was returned when Iron came to pass them. He came to the center hall of the west wing, the longest hall that connected to a building painted with magical wards, coated in steel plates, and had rabbits at each window to stop intruders with the power of cuteness. The last protection was Split's idea. Guard ponies were stationed at the start, middle, and end of the hallway. They did not question Iron Mind's arrival knowing his position and whom his wife was. The closer down the hall he came to the off building, the hotter the corridor became. Surely, Split Atom was experimenting with some new device or output machine to achieve a goal that no one would understand but her until it was finished. Iron Mind was forced to stop at the final door to the experimentation room. Thick iron doors and two guards blocking his path. A test was underway and he would have to wait until it was concluded.
“Throw the switch!” Iron Mind could hear the voice of his wife shout out. “Perfect! Now, put that under there and move that there. Now don't flinch too much!” Lights flashed beneath the heavy steel doors baring his journey into the structure. The pained cries of a pony caused Iron to cringe. He felt sorrow for the subject of Split's newest experiment. The door opened giving way for a thick mist to flow as water across the ground of the hallway. A gray pony with bubbles for her cutie marked help a pony with an hourglass cutie mark out of the room. The poor stallion was twitching at random intervals. Iron's heart went out to the test subject. If he was meant to be or not it did not matter, the poor stallion did suffer.
“Split?” His voice spoke out entering into the large building. Electrodes, spinning fans, and machines a plenty covered nearly every inch of the room. The orange coated pony was busy working on an odd chambered twice her height. It was cylinder shaped with glass walls, a metal base and top flashing with lights, power cords connected from every direction, and smoke flowing forth from its swinging door. Other scientists were avoiding going near the device fearing that they would end up being the next test subject for the crazed scientist's ambitions.
Her red mane tumbled over her eyes when she turned her head at the sound of her husband's voice. She twisted about, moving towards him as her magic snatched something inside of the tube out. “Perfect, I was waiting for you to arrive. Electric Conduit and I have our bags packed and are prepared to leave at lunch for Fillyton. I suspect you did plan to pack light so I prepared your suitcase as well.” Split Atom moved around her husband with what she retrieved flying behind her. What was it that she had prepared and willingly allowed another pony to be hurt to create? Equestria's perfect heat gem.
“Your information network in the castle, as always, is impressive but I have no plans to take you nor our son with me. But, if you have already made these preparation then I should assume that you have already asked Princess Celestia to order me to take you both.” His head shook giving up on any arguments he might use against her. “But was it necessary for you to put a pony to harm to create that? I would imagine you wouldn't normally put some pony in the machine with the stone, would you?”
“Of course. I couldn't let the stone rest on the floor of the machine nor could I just set it on anything that would cause it to take on unwanted properties. The good Doctor was willing to help after a bit of black mail.” Split Atom trotted to a container to hold her gem to show later. The other scientists finally came out of their hiding places or distance away to join in the short celebration of their accomplishment.
“Well then, we leave at noon.” It was two days prior that Iron Mind received the news of the death of his mother and the manor's burning. As with the other events that came on his parents over the years, he had originally not wished to deal with the problems they had gone through. This morning, Princess Celestia ordered him to go to Fillyton to check on his family. He should have known his plans to go there and be back within less then a days time would change. He couldn't hide anything from Split Atom. Gifts, surprises, or even an attempt to sneak up on her were always known about before he could even finish planing. She had spies everywhere, for what purpose he never wanted to ask lest he became one of her subjects to help with testing. Iron Mind feared no pony save her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The mystery that had plagued Eclipse had finally been solved. Though Octavia was horrified, Vinyl took it upon her self to inform the glowing eyed filly the answer to her question. The DJ was descriptive in manners that only the hippest of ponies could figure out. An interpretative dance, crude drawings, and an audio cassette tape were used, but Vinyl's method of teaching failed. Dreadfully, Octavia was forced to translate each act when Vinyl repeated every portion of it. The lesson finally took root allowing Octavia to give her blushing cheeks time to cool before Eclipse and herself departed.
It was noon when the two ponies left to go to Octavia's practice hall. Vinyl walked them to the door, gave Octavia a kiss, Eclipse a hug, and said her goodbyes to, as the DJ put it, her two favorite mares. Side by side, the cellist and the runaway trotted together down the streets of Manehatten. This was the first time that Eclipse had the opportunity to walk in the day light here. Everything was different than at night. The ponies that were dressed wore clothing of a different style. Carriage taxis rushed through the streets cutting off one another in desperate attempts to beat their deadlines. The only wild animals were the smallest varieties of birds, squirrels, rats, and lawyers. One thing persisted even when the sun shined and the moon slumbered; most every pony was rude.
“I hope that Vinyl isn't a problem for you, Eclipse.” Octavia began. Her flank bouncing to adjust the large cello case she lugged with her. “She has the tenancy to act as a foal would when she becomes excited.”
“Nn..Not at all.” Eclipse shook her head dismissing the idea that there was a problem. “It makes me feel ha...happy. B..both of you are so ni..nice to me.”
“You should have heard Vinyl when we discussed what we should do with you. After the paranoia of being arrested had wore off, she was adamant in aiding your situation. I doubt that any reasoned argument I gave would have convinced her to stop.” She winked to the fellow gray filly. Their approach to the concert hall was nearing its end. The large building was almost in sight. It was a Victorian design built in the last hundred years. Towering spikes and stained glass windows gave it an religious appearance similar to a cathedral. “I truly doubt I would have been able to turn my back on you after learning what you have been forced to live with.” The doors leading within were at their front. Towering slabs of oak pressed with brass handles, rims, and decorations depicting the sun and the moon. “Vinyl and I will take care of and help you in any capacity we can.”
Her heart felt close to bursting with the warm feelings that pumped through her. Since her escape, she had the chance to meet so many kind ponies willing to help her. The one called Rainbow Dash, the Nightmare Moon's Angels, and now these musical ponies had taken in a complete stranger. She felt tears brimming to escape but forced them back. Instead, she leaned her neck over to rub it against Octavia's. “Tha..thank you, Miss Oct..Octavia. For ev..everything.”
A tinge of red touched her cheeks. Octavia thought that Eclipse really was too naïve for her own good. She set a fore leg around the other giving her a quick hug. Her case rolled to the opposite side of her body, and was quickly corrected with another quick bump of her plot. “You're very welcome, Eclipse. Now, when we get inside I'll show you to the audience seating. I'm afraid you'll be stuck there for several hours.”
The interior of the music hall kept with the design of the exterior. The craftsmanship antique even with remodeling done to place electrical power, additions such as a ticket booth and a place for refreshments were made retaining the original quality and feel of the building. The ponies gathered inside were each of the musical sort. Some had cutie marks directly associated with their instruments, others musical notes, and some had nothing to do with music at all. Maybe they were workers or here with the musicians?
One pony stood out from the rest, more so because she was coming directly towards Octavia and Eclipse. A unicorn. Her coat was mint green, her tail and mane a lighter shade with the left side white in her mane and the center white in her tail. Her flank was designed with a golden lyre. She smiled a bitter expression, narrowing her eyes at the earth pony and alicorn. “Ah, do the token Earth Pony has finally arrived at the rehearsal. It's good to see that the conductor still wants to reach out to ponies who normally shouldn't play instruments.” The words were meant to cut to the bone, heated to seer the flesh.
“Ah, Lyra, I was lead to believe that mediocrity had been removed to ensure that those within the audience wouldn't feel the need to escape the sound or enjoy bleeding from their ears.” Not a beat nor cue was missed with Octavia's rebuttal. She locked eyes with the other mare, leaning forward prepared to butt heads, literally, if need be.
Eclipse's brow furrowed, worried at what was next to come. She tucked her tail between her legs, shifting her self a bit behind Octavia. She didn't much care for this situation. It wasn't like when Octavia and Vinyl argued or exchanged harsh words. This felt longstanding, a grudge that was brewing from a time that Eclipse would never know. The assured fight was broken immediately when both broke into a smile and a fit of giggles.
“At least we know that we can still fight and have it appear convincing.” Octavia spoke before she and the one called Lyra broke into a fit of giggles. “How is Bon-Bon? Your letter said you two are expecting. It is amazing how unicorn magic can work, hm?” She inclined her head peering at the mint green one.
Lyra waved a hoof dismissively fighting off a blush. “She's due in five months, a month after the music festival. Speaking of which, are you and Vinyl still going to stay with us during it?”
Octavia bowed her head then tossed back to free her face of irritating black hairs. “If you will still have us. But since you're here I need to ask if you both will have a room for a third.”
“A third?” Lyra tilted her head wondering what this third pony could be. She hadn't heard of anything dealing with Eclipse and Octavia having a child through magic nor adoption.
The cellist shifted her self to the side a bit to stop Eclipse from hiding behind her. Her hoof waved for the darker gray filly to come up besides her. “Yes, Vinyl and I have taken in a runaway of sorts. She'll be staying with us for sometime it seems. Eclipse, this is my friend Lyra. Lyra, this is Eclipse.”
Placed in the spot light, glowing eyes were brought quickly to look at Lyra. She hadn't expected this to turn into a meeting among friends with how they openly engaged one another seconds before. “It's a pl..pleasure to me..meet you, Mi..Miss Lyra.” Mismatched wings gave a flutter when she smiled.
She wasn't sure how to react to this pony. The number of things different about her than other ponies led her mind astray for what to ask first. “A pleasure to you as well, Miss Eclipse.” She settled on this approach. Octavia would fill her in, she was certain. She gave her attention back to the cellist. “Of course we'll have room for a third. Octavia.” She waved a hoof for her to come close to Lyra. Her voice low as she whispered to her ear. “What's wrong with her?”
“Let me show Eclipse to the seating and I'll tell you all about it as we prepare.” A sage nod she retreated back over to Eclipse setting a hoof to her shoulder. “Come with me and you'll be able to hear real music instead of the deafening, drug fueled noise.” She visibly shuttered thinking of having to return to one of those clubs. But she'd go back for Vinyl's sake. That was the punishment that came with love. A temporary farewell to Lyra and the two ponies went towards the audience seating. Up front, center, Eclipse took her spot. Octavia told her where to reach the restroom if she needed. They'd have a snack in a few hours at the break. The musician left her guest for now to go back and prepare. She'd tell Lyra what she knew of Eclipse's tale and ask but a simple request; don't bring it up to Eclipse unless Eclipse does. It wouldn't be right to trouble her until she was ready to converse freely.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The sight of Celestia's personal chariot brought the pony folk of Fillyton out of their businesses and homes to see if the Celestial Princess had come to their home. The golden, twin wheeled chariot was being pulled by two, pure white pegasus guards. Many were disappointed when it landed. For it wasn't royalty that would grace them, but the captain of Celestia's guard and his family. Those who knew who it was did not depart but ones unaccustomed with the higher ranking military left to return to their normal lives.
Iron Mind departed first turning to offer a hoof up to Split Atom. Her magic was entwined to carry two small bags with her. Then, he reached with his forelegs to help a foal down. The foal had a neon yellow coat. His mane neon green in a spiky fashion letting the bangs dangle over his eyes. His tail was short, neon green with a black stripe down the middle. This was their child, Electrical Conduit, five years old, hyper as a Pinkiepie on coffee, and already helping his mother with her experiments. They arrived thirty minutes after the noon schedule. Chasing down Electrical Conduit from running through the halls of the castle had them leaving fifteen minutes late.
“Sodadarewegoingtogoseetheplaceyouvisitedasafoaltooandbeabletoplayintheforest?” The rambled words were met with a calm smile from his father. Conduit wiggled free from Iron's hooves and began bouncing at every spot close by. He sniffed every plant, poked every pony he could find, and chased every bug.
The rest of the bags were taken with a bit of Iron's magic. He took hold of the bulk of them. The pegasi guards were nodded away to return to Canterlot. They would return in four days to retrieve them unless some other order was given. The family went to first check in at the inn. Their bags left at the room. The first stop was the hospital that contained Gold Mine. Iron Mind was dreading having to see his father for the first time in almost eighteen years. The reception room and waiting room were joined together while emergency services were in a separate door.
Iron Mind departed from his wife and child leaving them in the reception room. He acquired the room number, third floor room thirty seven, then made his way up the stairs to reach it. He felt no emotion when he reached the door. Showing none since he entered was part of his training as a guard. Not let your opponent read you and they cannot learn you. Hoof steps halted, a breath was taken in, and he let his magic open the door for him.
The guard captain saw what he had expected to find. His father, an older weaker colt than he had left him, laying in his bed staring down at a folder of papers. Magic held each sheet up for him. The aura around the paper was weak, barely visible brown. His power had not returned since the night Eclipse had gotten her cutie mark. Tired visions raised to the open door, the old stallion near snarling at Iron Mind's entrance.
“Over eighteen years and the first I see you is after your mother's death? If you've come believing there are bits waiting for you in her will there is none. I have it all.” Gold's words were embittered with venom. Every syllable rolled from his tongue threatening to strike at Iron's heart if he so pleased to. Much of his golden mane was bone. Either cut away by nurses or singed by the fire. “I have no wish for you to be here. Leave.” He dismissively waved a hoof to his estranged son.
No regard was given to the accusation. Instead he made his way to the side of the bed. Eyes trailed down his father's form then back to his face. “I have no desire nor need for even a single of your dirty bits. I never accepted it when I attend the University and I wouldn't accept it even after mother or you passed on.” He trotted a trail to the front of Gold's bed, raising a clipboard medical chart to his eyes. The doctor's found him to be paralyzed from the waist down, magic power still not returned since attack nine years prior, and a heart condition he gained from what is believed to be drug use. Iron Mind smirked at the list of issues. It was as if some great karma and come down and bestowed its divine punishment on the horrible pony. “The Princess ordered me to come and ensure that mother had a proper burial and to visit you. If not for her, I would have just ignored all of this.”
“When did you come to change so? When did you come to resent your own family?”
“Truthfully? It's always been there. When you struck mother and my self for your own failures. When you took and took and took from others until there was nothing less then destroyed them proclaiming it was superiority that gave you a right to do so.” He came back to Gold's right side keeping his flank to the door. “It's amazing the things I've learned since I was away from you. Now, I plan to take my son to view the sights of Fillyton. He's shown signs of interest in my childhood. My wife wishes to have words with you. Oh? I forgot to mention to you and mother. I am married with a five year old son.” This was one of the only times his character seemed to break into enjoying the pain he may have caused his father. It was the only time he saw some pony in pain and felt nothing.
Mouth gaped open, eyes wide, and his blood coming to a boil. Gold Mine felt his rage boil over. All the plans he had set for his son were thrown to the ground and trampled. He had nothing he could say in retort to. His son left him alone, leaving the way he had entered. A hoof slammed next to his body bouncing against the cushion.
No time was spent dallying to meet with his wife and son. This trip was going to be far too long. Split Atom could be heard laughing just from down the hall. Conduit was raising quite the disturbance with his boundless energy and curiosity for all things were driving the nurses near madness. Approaching Split, Iron Mind slapped a hoof to her's 'tagging' her to exchange jobs. She would now go see Gold while he would take Conduit away from the hospital and the rundown nurses.
Finding it best to simply leave the hospital, Iron Mind brought Electrical Conduit out to see the sights of Fillyton. Canterlot did not offer as much in nature as this hamlet did so it could easily be seen as a learning experience. A watchful eye was kept on the neon green foal as he zipped in every direction. Nothing was safe from Conduit. Those ponies who knew Iron Mind or knew of him gave a courteous nod or hello. The ponies who did not would either scoff or complain about his child's behavior.
“ 'Ey, Buddy? Got a minute?” A southern accent caught Iron's ears from an alley he passed. Black eyes shifted, gazing sideways at the pony who spoke up to him. He appeared to be a simple worker pony. A hardhat with 'Boss' written across the front of it. “Ah heard from some of these here pony folk that you're a guard in Canterlot, right?”
The sunlight hit his coat in just the right manner to give a glaring reflection off the steel silver color. A hoof stomped the ground three times to signal for Conduit to rush back to his father's side. He gave his son much freedom to explore but if he gave one of his signals, the foal knew it was time to return. “That I am. What can I help you with, sir?”
“Ah can't tell ya much here, and ah can't have ya showin up at the site with meh in tow, ya see.” The pony shifted his eyes away from Iron to glance up and down the streets. The coast was clear for now. “The sheriff is watching me and my boys like a hawk and if he gets word I'm tellin ya this we'll be seein the inside of a jail cell. Look, just come to the sight of the Mine Manor fire. Check out a broken window on the west side on the ground. Check inside and ah think you'll understand.”
It was a cryptic message as Iron had ever heard one. He had made plans already to go to where the house once rested, to check on the progress of finding his mother's body, but now with this information he was determined to go without delay. He would let the pony go without a further word. He seemed worried but not for him self. This 'boss' pony was more concerned with the job site and his workers. Iron Mind gazed down at his son while his mind went into thought. He had often wondered why his mother and father went into seclusion after his mother had miscarried but what would he be finding down there?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Get out of my room! Who are you?” Gold Mine shouted when an unidentified unicorn barged into his personal hospital room. The mare who entered bore a candy apple red mane cut in a bowl cut. Her coat of range appeared as a blur when she moved to the edge of Gold Mine's bed checking his medical papers. The unnamed mare noted the problems he was suffering from. Her actions took her next to perform some quick medical checks on the bedridden stallion; blood pressure, heart, and eyes.
Once she was satisfied, the mare moved to the edge of the bed gleaming a bright smile. “Forgive me for not introducing my self sooner. My name is Split Atom. I am your son's wife. Which would make you my father in law.” Split took ten paces near the door, turned about face to stare at Gold Mine. She was smiling still. It was eerie the happiness that never wanted to stop. “I've had my sources do an investigation into you. Well, I should say,” She placed a hoof to her chin tapping it thoughtfully, “I've been looking into you since I first met your son. Quite a number of irregularities in your life. Eighteen years ago your wife had a miscarriage, five years after an employee sprouted off accusations after her termination, three years an attack on you directly after a mine collapsed killing dozens, and now you end up here after a horrific fire. Pray tell, what caused this fire?”
An interrogation? She was his son's bride yet she was acting as a law enforcement officer. He huffed at the nature of the question, more importantly, the manner that she knew of his past. “I told the Sheriff all that he needs to know of that night. I found Diamond bloodied and dead in her study, when I woke from a nap. There was a fire already burning so I went to escape as quickly as I could.”
“Is that so. My informants came across something that, frankly, seemed odd. Right after your wife's miscarriage you hired construction crew from Las Pegasus, the other side of Equestria, to perform work on your home. Sadly, they were under contract to speak on what they did but I feel that will come out soon enough, hm?” She again showed her flank to him trotting to the door. “I do love a good mystery and your actions for the last seventeen, eighteen years next spring, will truly be a wonderful ending.” A coy giggle escaped the orange coated unicorn as she departed.
Gold Mine was left with a sick feeling in his stomach. He reached a hoof down to the intercom for the nurse, once Split was gone, he spoke. “Nurse, contact an associate of mine, a griffin named Handy Candy. Have her come here immediately. You will find her in the homes outside of Fillyton.”
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“Yes, I don't believe she'll be a problem for Vinyl and I. On the contrary she's been nothing but a perfect guest. I hope she enjoyed what she heard during the rehearsal.”
“Wait, Vinyl got her drunk, then you two took her home? Someone could take that the wrong way.”
“Nothing I am not aware of. I made Vinyl sweat under the suspicion that one may contact the authorities with that she had done.”
The two were deep in conversation while they finished collecting their sheet music and packing their instruments. They proceeded to get Eclipse from the audience. Having feared the time she had spent with Vinyl had already ruined her, Octavia was expecting to find the filly fast asleep in her chair. On the contrary, she was active and filled with questions and praise. She had often heard this kind of music through the flooring of where she was kept. The times she heard it signaled times of enjoyment and festivity. The trio left the audience room to depart for their respective homes or hotels but were stopped by two ponies blocking the door.
One pony was a stallion earth pony with a diamond ring cutie mark, dark blue mane, and boysenberry colored coat. He appeared cocky and self sure, a stallion who wouldn't leave the house if even a hair was out of place. He was toned in the right places, but wouldn't be able to hold his own even if he was threatened with death. As many would consider him; a self entitled douche. He stood in front of a mare who obviously was the alpha of the pair.
The mare in front of him, a unicorn, was pine green on her coat and sand yellow mane and tail. She smirked at the three stepping forward to fully block their escape from the building. “Oh, two filly foolers and what? A third to take advantage of? You deviants make me sick.” She spat at the ground in front of Octavia and Lyra. Her cutie mark depicted a building on fire with a fiddle in front of it. She was the third of the string section of the orchestra. “It's demeaning to have to play with two halfwit ponies who find it acceptable to do the things they do.” She raised a hoof up brushing back a bit of her mane from her face. “I hear in the old days they used to just execute freaks for it, why they stopped I will never know.”
A dual sigh from Octavia and Lyra followed by a glance in each others direction. Every time they came in contact with this particular pony they had to put up with her insults and accusations. Octavia took a defiant step forward smirking in self assurance. “Ah, Burning Fiddle, new toy to hold on your leg? Have you already gone through the other stallions in the city? Please, step aside and let us pass. We have no time to deal with you. If I recall, it took a special favor for you to even be considered for this position and you're still playing third to Lyra and my self.”
There was that feeling again. The dark eclipse of kind emotions caused Eclipse to shiver. She moved behind Lyra and Octavia to keep out of the line of sight of the two offending ponies. Her eyes flinched closed, pushing out the words as they were spoken. She shifted her wings over across her face and body blocking her twinkling hair and glowing eyes.
“Please, the earth pony was brought in to appease the filthy masses while the other was brought in for some other reason I can't consider. Both of you are no where near my expertise. I think we should show them why they're nothing but insects compared to ponies who know the natural order of things.” The stallion grinned when Burning gave him the sign to act. Octavia and Lyra took a few steps back away causing Eclipse to stumble to not cause them to trip. The other ponies began to whisper. They didn't want any trouble so kept their distance.
The stallion reached a hoof up to smack down Octavia first. She stared him down, not showing any source of being intimidated. She'd dealt with their types before. Show them fear and they know they have won. A spark. A flash of light came from behind the two mares. A burst of electricity came forth surging through the hateful ponies. Their bodies danced and some would swear they saw their skeletons before they fell in a heap, panting and smoking, on the floor. All eyes, Lyra and Octavia's included, went to stare at where the source of the magic came.
Wisps of magic flowed openly from her glowing eyes. Her mane and tail was raised standing at its ends, her wings extended outwards at either side of her. She felt something coursing through her body, her mind twisting and contorting the reality she saw. Eclipse was the very source of what stopped the stallion. Eyes saw something entirely different than what was actually occurring. No longer was Eclipse in the theater but she found her self in a time of the past. She was surrounded by ponies calling for blood and the death of the abnormal one. A moment was taken to look at these unusual surroundings. She was in a field or a clearing perhaps. When she gazed at her own body, in this memory illusion, she saw her self again, but grown. “You will not touch my friend.” She spoke in both the illusion and real world. When Eclipse tried to look behind her at the pony she was protecting, she saw only a black cloud. As she attempted to see whom it was, a sharp pain struck her mind.
“A freak! These fillyfoolers brought another freak with them! Some sort of creature pony. Look at her wings! Her horn!” Burning Fiddle staggered to her feet. The tips of her mane, tail, and coat were singed and smoke still raised from her. The stallion was out cold twitching as the currents of electricity still ran through him.
Octavia moved over quickly to come next to Eclipse. She sat her forelegs around the smaller filly hushing her softly. “Eclipse. Eclipse, it is alright now. Calm down. No pony is hurt.” Well, only the ponies who deserved it were hurt. Her hoof ran down Eclipse's magic infused hair. She took note of Eclipse's horn. The portion that was missing was restored with what appeared to be energy of magic.
Calm came to her mind with Octavia's embrace. The brightness of her eyes died down, her mane and tail returned to normal. She pulled her wings back to her body. The magic that brought about her glowing horn vanished into a fine, gray mist. A motherly smile was offered to her when she gazed at Octavia.
“Someone call the police! We need to arrest this freak this instant!”
“Would you shut your mouth?” Lyra stomped her front hooves down in front of Burning. She pressed her body forward butting her head against the scared mare's. Once the green unicorn stumbled back, tripping over the fallen stallion, Lyra moved once more now to stand over her. “If you call her a freak again I'll buck you out the door.”
“Zat iz enough!” A commanding voice spoke out from the crowd of musicians that were watching the scene. He was an older pony. A handlebar mustache curled at the end. A conductor's baton for a cutie mark. The pony wore a perfectly pressed suite jacket. Mane and tail white from age as his coat was now a pale rust tone.
Burning stood quickly pointing an accusing hoof at the three mares. “Did you see what they did? They attacked us! I demand they are arrested and thrown from the orc..” The glare that the conductor flashed quieted her quickly.
“Zat will not occur. I had warned zou zat ze way you have acted will not be tolerated.” He stomped a hoof to ensure that he had the attention of the offending pony. “If zou wish to continue these belligerent actz, zou will be cut from this production!”
“Why are you defending them? They're deviants!” Burning Fiddle tried to protest waving her hooves back and forth frantically. “They attacked me!”
“Only when your ztallion friend tried to attack them! And Zi will have zou know that mine zizter is a, how you put it, fillyfooler!” He turned his back away from Burning giving a 'hmph' and a raised nose. The conductor came over to Octavia, Eclipse and Lyra. His head bowing in deep regret. “I apologize for ze actionz of the ztupid mare. If I had known zhe would ztill act zis way zhe would have been removed zooner.” He clapped his front hooves together. “I will make it up to zou three, ya? Zou three go to the Middlemist Red. Enjoy dinner and I will tell them zat I will pick up ze tab. Miss Lyra, Miss Octavia, I hope that you both will bring thiz charming young filly with zou to tomorrow's performance. I will have my perzonal box prepared for her and the gueztz of your choozing.”
The two friends and Eclipse departed quickly. They didn't want to stay around here for long. Lyra's mouth was salivating at the chance to eat at one of the most expensive restaurants in the city, Octavia made sure to stop at a payphone to dial Vinyl to meet them there, but Eclipse was not in such high spirits. Her mind continued to go back to what she had saw. The visions occurred again, but this time it lead to her attacking a pony. Sure, the pony deserved it. Yet something deep in her mind bothered why. Why couldn't she what pony was in the darkness?
For now it did not matter. Lyra began to talk to her, praising her protecting Octavia and herself. She showered Eclipse with compliments about her special mane, tail, and eyes. Her wings were noted as such a unique feature that she should do something more to show them off. If Eclipse could take one thing from the experience today, she had gained the feeling that she did belong with these ponies. They defended her, and she did the same for them. Dinner was filled with jokes, Vinyl boasting about Eclipse, and teasing Lyra about not having her squeeze here. It was a blessing to see such a sour note turn into a beautiful sympathy. The night ended on a blessing.