1
January 10th, 1008,
That was the best sleep I’ve gotten since this whole mess started. Not even a single nightmare. Maybe it’s because Figaro cuddled up to me - by being his comfort, he’s comforting me. We even had a very lovely day yesterday. It was my one ‘day off’ before the hell I have to suffer through tonight.
Or maybe it was because I actually got something done. I got the chance to fight back, even a little bit. I’ll admit that some part of me wanted to keep my hoof down on that pudgy stallion’s throat until he turned purple and stopped flailing, but that wouldn’t have solved anything. As it is, I’m surprised Abacus hasn’t woken me up in a fit of rage. I’m almost afraid to see what kind of repercussion I’ve earned for my ‘insubordination’.
It’s starting to matter less and less, though. I’m gaining the upper ground. I have friends even she can’t touch.
Or do I?
I’m not sure how far I can trust this ‘Pick Pocket’. Even his name rings with an unscrupulous tone… but then, what’s in a name? If names were anything to go by, I’d be a wintery weather pegasus.
What a nice, calm, boring life that would be.
Deorsa seems to trust him, and I trust Deorsa. He might’ve gone behind my back on this one, but his intentions were good. Then again, Primrose did the same thing, and look where it got me-
No. I can’t keep doing this to myself. I’ve got to trust somepony in this city. Pick’s already proven to be helpful. I was going into that building expecting a trap and a hearty laugh at my gullibility - instead, I have a thin shred of hope. And Deorsa has never given me any reason to doubt his loyalty.
Loyalty… such a simple concept that can become complicated. Maybe I should bring Bolt Buck the next time I meet with Pick - they’d get along great. That’s a pegasus who’d bend over backwards if I demanded it of him.
And speaking of loyalty, where do the Rinds fit in all of this? That stallion mentioned meeting outside of the Rind shop. Is it coincidental? Or… are they involved with the Red Hoof?
And are all of them? Julius Rind seems like the only one with any morals left- No, that’s not fair. Valen follows his brothers because he has nothing else to do. If I can just get him to think for himself…
In fact, I think I’ll go pay their shop a visit. I have questions that need answering, and Julius Rind is going to answer them.
Old sires can be stubborn, but so can I.
-Snow Storm.
2
“Ha!” Snow Storm thrust her forehooves out in quick jabs, strafing circles around a very well-worn mannequin. Not that it was the first one she’d tormented, however. Off in the corner of her private exercise room was a large pile of broken, battered, and splintered wooden ponies.
Of course, most of them had been destroyed only in the past few days.
Bolts of pain shot up her leg whenever she struck with her bandaged hoof, but it only served to spur her on. Work with it. Not against it. Yes, that was key. The pain was becoming familiar to her; she could ignore it and continue striking.
She stumbled a moment, her rear legs becoming tangled as they adjusted to the weights attached to her fetlocks, and she admonished herself for the mistake. One stumble is all it took for her to lose the advantage.
“Ma’am?” a familiar voice called out, “I’ve brought you something to drink.”
Deorsa placed a tray on the table nearby, a pitcher of ice-cool lemonade tempting the tired mare. “You might burn out if you don’t take a break every now and then. I know you want to rescue them but you won’t accomplish anything if you’re too tired to fight at the end of the day.”
“Thanks,” she breathed out. “Come on, have a drink with me.” She collapsed into the chair, pulling her headband off and wiping away the sweat. “I just might have to step outside to cool down soon.”
Deorsa nodded as he sipped his drink, staring at the floor. “We’re doing everything we can, Snow. I just wish we had more info for you.”
“You know…” Snow Storm stared at her drink for a moment. “I’m only trusting him because I trust you.” She picked her gaze up, locking her eyes with the Fulake. “Can I trust him?”
“You can. He just acts like that because it’s the only life he’s ever known,” Deorsa said cryptically. “But when it comes to intelligence gathering… well, he used to work under Princess Luna herself.”
Snow Storm raised an eyebrow. “Luna would want a… brigand like that?”
Deorsa shrugged, “He’s good at learning things. Valuable things. Though eventually that tongue of his got him thrown out of Canterlot altogether… you ask, and he’ll tell you he’s a Manehattan stallion, born and raised, but he’s actually from a lot further afield.”
“Mm…” The mare downed half of her glass. “Lemonade, but… do I detect the smallest trace of one of your nightfruits?” she asked, licking her lips.
“If there was even a trace in there it’d be overpowering. A couple drops on a lemon and you could eat it raw if you wanted… Fulake fruits are ridiculously sweet.”
“I’ve always wanted to try one,” she admitted, smiling a bit. “I’ve just never been brave enough.”
“I’ll bring you one from the grove once all this is over. After all, we’ll need to celebrate once your parents are back…” Deorsa paused for a moment in thought. “I doubt Mr. Orange will be happy with Figaro being here, though. He hates dogs…”
“Dad hates dogs? I never knew that.”
Deorsa sighed, nodding. “Always has. Doubt he’d let a Diamond Dog stay especially. Those things get dangerous once they’re fully grown, y’know.”
“Well…” Snow Storm chuckled weakly. “That’s kind of the idea…”
Deorsa grinned, “Hah! You’re as sly as your mother, that’s for sure. We wouldn’t need guards with a Diamond Dog patrolling the place…”
The Fulake drained his glass, smiling at her. “I hope we find them soon.”
“We will, Deorsa.” She downed the rest of her drink. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go pay somepony a visit.”
3
“En garde,” said Lieutenant Murdoc, training his horn at his cadet and firing a beam at her.
Amber Shield’s face was taut as she struggled to keep up a magical barrier. After a few moments it shattered, the mare grunting and shaking her head.
“I’m sorry Sir, I’m just having trouble keeping up today… I’ve got other things on my mind.” Other ponies.
“That’s obvious,” Murdoc said, a little more harshly than he intended. “But every unicorn in the Guard must learn at least a basic shield spell. Why your uncle never taught you baffles me.”
“...Sir, I’ve already explained my relations to other members of my family are strained,” she replied, a trace of frustration in her voice, “and it’s starting to bother me how every conversation we have always seems to lead back to them eventually. I’d prefer to be seen as just another cadet, if I may request that of you.”
“Of course,” Murdoc conceded. “But you’re going to need to get over this mental block sooner or later. You must concentrate. Focus your shield. It may someday be the difference between life and death.”
Amber closed her eyes, imagining a green bubble around herself. She did her best to empty her thoughts. Empty. Empty… empty like her house when she got home. Free of that annoying stallion. The stallion that had already found another mare.
Amber gritted her teeth, the shield around her crackling angrily, expanding out beyond it’s normal limits. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she wondered how she could have thrown the only stallion that had bothered to talk to her away… and how easily she had been replaced.
A beam cut across her face, stinging her cheek. “A better attempt,” Murdoc said. She could see he was panting and sweating as well. “But you’d still be dead.”
Amber glared at him, and for a moment her shield shimmered, his beam reflected back at him. She gasped, the shield shattering as she rushed over to him. Even though he was barely phased, there was a glint of shock in his eyes. “S-Sir! Are you alright?”
“I’ve had worse,” he said, rubbing his left foreleg. “My father was the one who taught me. I’m convinced he took a certain pleasure in aiming for me…”
Amber bowed low, “I’m sorry Sir. I… there’s something very important I need to tell you.”
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow while levitating a towel to Amber.
Amber smiled weakly at him as she wiped her face, sighing. “Pelleas came to my place a few nights ago. He mentioned something about a plan to bring down the Red Hoof with a few new friends of his… he asked me not to get the guard involved, but something about it all feels… off.”
“Did he, now?” Murdoc’s face tightened. “Did he say where? When?”
“That warehouse, the one that everyone’s been talking about in the Barracks… as for the day, he said it was all happening tonight, and that I should come alone.”
“I see. Did he say anything else?”
“Not much. He mentioned he had already found someone else, but more than that, he seemed… different. I’m not completely sure it isn’t a trap…”
“It may very well be,” Murdoc agreed, pacing around the training room. “But we’ve been noticing recent activity down at the docks. What you’re telling me may very well be true.”
“...Can a squad be dispatched without drawing their attention? If they were sent out early enough they might be overlooked…”
“We will let the Captain worry about strategy. But I can assure you they won’t ever know we’re there. Now, then, I believe it would be prudent for you to give your report to the Captain.”
“Understood. Oh, and apologies for letting my anger take over, I’ll make sure my concentration doesn’t slip again, Sir.”
4
The Rind shop was quiet, as it usually was these days. Julius sat, idly recounting his days of youth when there was barely enough time to keep up with all of the customers. Now he could see them only as ghosts of a far-off time, and in their place was dust and the occasional spider.
He was pulled from his musings by the creaking of the stairs behind him. Nopony’s supposed to be up there… he thought, grabbing a splintered baseball bat he kept beneath the counter. He turned towards the stairs, watching them carefully.
“Business seems to be booming,” the Mare do Well said, coming into full view.
“What are you doing here?” Julius Rind frowned, not quite ready to put the bat down just yet.
“I’m interested in getting a couple of oranges.”
Julius Rind’s frown deepened. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Is that so? Because I overheard something interesting last night.”
“You’re the city’s superhero. I expect you hear some interesting things every night,” he retorted with a smirk. “Now could you please get to the point? I have customers to serve.”
“Is your family working for the Red Hoof?”
“I am not,” he said at once, with more conviction than expected. “I want nothing to do with the mob.”
“That didn’t exactly answer my question,” she said coldly.
“I no longer have any say in the family business. I’m not even a figurehead at this point… if you want to waste your time with deception and thinly-veiled insults, speak to my worthless sons. Other than that, if you have nothing you wish to purchase you may as well leave.”
“If I find out your family has been working with him, the Guard will know about it.”
“I’m as in the dark as you are,” he said simply. “I have no love of what my sons have done with my business. Frankly, if I knew anything that could have them put away then I’d have alerted the authorities long ago.”
“How convenient for you.”
“Convenient?” he snarled, his face turning into something sour. “Being forced out of my position because of my age is inconvenient. Siring a bunch of worthless, corrupt sons that consider you a relic is inexcusable. Come back to me once you’ve been betrayed by someone you loved.”
“Fine.” She turned back up the stairs, stopping only to look back at the old sire. “Just make sure your family stays out of my way.”
The words that followed were chilling in their sincerity, as Julius Rind turned to her one last time.
“... What family?”
5
“What’s going on back here?” Amber Shield demanded, stepping into an alleyway and blocking its only exit. Down near the end, a large stallion had cornered a mare.
“Nuttin’ you need concernin’ yourself with, missy,” the stallion said, leering over his prey. “Me and the lady was just havin’ ourselves a chat, that’s all.”
“I don’t think she wants to talk to you more than anything else does, now either get out of here or face arrest. I won’t ask twice.”
The stallion turned around, coming face-to-face with Amber and standing at least twice as tall as her. “And who’s gonna make me? You, pipsqueak? I ain’t afraid of no pint-sized guard.”
Amber grinned, charging towards the stallion, blocking his first punch with the shield spell she had been practicing. Before he had a chance to throw a second she struck his jaw with a powerful left hook, shouting out to the mare, “I’ve got this, run!”
The stallion staggered backwards, snarling. “No mare hits me!” He pivoted, bucking at her with both hind legs.
Amber winced as her shield splintered, absorbing only half of the shock. She snarled, horn glowing as she fired a bolt of energy at his left shoulder.
“You can’t do that!” he shouted, looking shocked at her attack on him. “That’s assault! Brutality! I have rights as a Manehattan citizen!”
“You have the right to remain silent,” she growled, her horn glowing threatening again as the mare fled the scene. “On the ground. Hooves behind your head. Now. “
“Or else what!?” he challenged, staring her down. “You gonna murder me? You’re all corrupt enough to do it!”
“I don’t have time to listen to your whining. I know exactly what you had planned for that mare, and anypony sick enough to even consider such a thing doesn’t deserve any goddamn rights. Now put your hooves behind your head and get on the ground!”
Instead, the stallion tried one last desperate attempt at attacking Amber, throwing his whole body at her in a tackle. The mare winced as she went flying from the force of the blow, hitting a wall. He was too close to prepare another spell, and he started kicking her, stopping her from picking herself up. Damnit, not like this!
A flash of light blinded Amber, and she felt the vicious stallion being quite literally pulled away. Blinking the spots from her eyes, it took her a moment to realize she was looking out through a barrier. Looking up, she saw Lieutenant Murdoc standing in front of her, furious.
“I’m sorry, Sir… they just wouldn’t cooperate. I even tried scaring them with a spell, but I guess I’m just not intimidating…”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, cadet,” he said gently. “You, on the other hoof…” He gave a death glare to the leg-locked stallion, who was squirming and shouting nonsense about assault and lawsuits. “You have much to be sorry for.”
“She was asking for it! Not my fault she was playing coy… then this miserable mare scared her off! Ruined my whole night…””
“I’ll be sure to make your night even worse,” Murdoc said, his tone icy.
Amber shook her head as she got up, looking ashamedly to the floor. “I still have a lot to learn. If you hadn’t been there I’d be dead by now…”
The mare that had been cornered now sidled up to Amber, hiding behind her from both the arrested stallion and Murdoc. “Is h-he caught?” she asked, wincing when Murdoc turned his head their way.
Amber turned to her, smiling gently. “Yeah, he won’t be bothering you anymore. I’m going to need to ask a few questions if you don’t mind. Protocol and all that.”
“Of course,” she said, watching with relief as the two stallions left.
“Firstly, I’ll need your name, ma’am.”
“Oh, right, yes, well… name.” She squinted for a moment as her mind finally began to calm down. “Petunia! Just Petunia. I raise flowers.”
Amber jotted down her name on a piece of paper, smiling at her. “Alright Miss Petunia, could you describe the events leading up to your harassment this evening?”
“Well…” Petunia pawed nervously at the ground, clearing her throat. “I was making a delivery. I own my own shop, you know. I’m the only one there but I do deliveries and catering and- oh I guess that’s not very helpful? Well I was making a delivery. To him, actually - not that I know him, but he ordered a bouquet and wanted them delivered, so I did. But it was some kind of… I dunno, romantic gesture for me? When I told him I wasn’t interested, he got mean. He threw the flowers right back at me and chased me out here. I thought I could get away in this alley but I guess I didn’t realize it was a… dead end.” She winced at the last words, as though they had almost become too literal.
Amber Shield gave her a strained smile. Sweet Celestia, she could talk the wings off a pegasus. “I see. Well, you won’t need to worry about him again, though I suggest taking a bodyguard with you when dealing with new customers in future. Oh, and how much money were the flowers he ruined?”
“Don’t worry about that.” Petunia smiled weakly. “I always get my money upfront. If they don’t like it, they don’t get flowers, right? Heheh…”
Amber Shield shook her head. “It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve been through today.”
“I really don’t need the reimbursement, but…” The mare fumbled around in her bag for a moment, pulling out a card and giving it to Amber. “It’d be really great to see you again. Off-duty, even! Come here tonight, if you can make it. Equinimity is a great little bar.”
Amber blushed, grinning sheepishly as she took the card. “S-sure. Take care out there, Petunia.”
6
It was unusual for Snow Storm to wear her suit out during the day, but then again this had been a particularly unusual day. Hours after her encounter with the old sire, she had simply wandered aimlessly from rooftop to rooftop, helping out wherever she could.
In fact, she was restless. She had to do something. The day seemed to crawl by, taunting her with its deliberate slowness. She had hoped more than once that Abacus would just tell her what to do right now instead of later.
She sat on a building, looking up into the sky. Weather Pegasi flew by, some of them waving at her. She, of course, had heard a loud scream from this direction, but by the time she arrived the Guard had taken care of it.
She could’ve gone back to being a directionless vagabond, killing the time, but now it was as if she were waiting for something.
“Huh. Didn’t think I’d say you out this early,” a familiar voice called out from behind her. Bolt Buck floated behind her, wearing a uniform she hadn’t seen before. “Anything the matter?”
She turned around, smiling - not that he could see it. “To be honest? Everything’s the matter right now. What’s with the getup? You become a garbage horse?”
“Not quite,” he chuckled, brushing his unkempt forelock out of his eyes. “I’m just working on a trial basis with an old friend of mine. Can’t really talk about it just yet, but it’s the sort of job I could do just as easily elsewhere…”
Bolt Buck sighed for a moment, frowning. “I don’t feel like there’s much left here for me. Has… has she tried contacting you at all?”
“You mean Primrose?”
“...Yeah.”
“Not since that day, no. And I wouldn’t care if she never did again.”
“She did it for me, so in a way I’ve managed to hurt you once again. I’m so angry with her… do you want me to take her away from the city?”
“I don’t want you to leave the city,” Snow Storm said bluntly. The words came as a surprise even to herself. “You’ve managed to become a friend I can rely on… strange as it sounds.”
Bolt Buck turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “Funny how much things can change, isn’t it? Though I get the feeling this is just the beginning… But, you never actually told me why you’re out so early, Mare do Well.”
“I had to go see somepony,” she said. He nodded in understanding, knowing better than to pursue it any further than that. “And now I’m just waiting for midnight. You wouldn’t happen to have a time machine with you, would you? It’d solve a lot of problems.”
“Midnight?” he asked, cocking his head and raising an eyebrow. “What’s happening tonight? Anything important?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. The Red Hoof’s little harlot is sending me out again. But… It’s different tonight. I can feel it. I’m done with her. I’ll find a way to one-up her. Or die trying.”
“Where are you heading, anyway? I could back you up. Still got a little fight in me if I need it.”
“I’m meeting her near the stone fountain down in the park. You could… tag along, if you’d like,” she offered hopefully. Abacus said no guards. She never said anything about a random stranger who happened to be there. “Make sure I stay out of trouble.”
Bolt Buck nodded. “Sure. I’ll keep an eye out around midnight, and try and reach you if I can. Be careful,” he warned her before taking off.
7
The sun had set early as it always did in the winter, leaving in its wake a chilled night. Amber Shield stared at the neon sign of the bar, looking around the place. It was mercifully less seedy than she had expected, though she still felt somewhat uncomfortable just being there. If Murdoc ever found out… she winced at the thought, strolling inside.
It was a lively place, that was for sure. Ponies - almost all of them mares, Amber noted - were jumping and dancing to the rhythm of the typical club music. She looked around for any sign of Petunia, but the mare was nowhere to be seen. Amber herself began to receive plenty of looks. Probably just usuals checking out the newbie, she thought to herself, sidling up to the counter.
“What’ll it be, sweetheart?” the bartender asked over the music, leaning on the counter and looking at Amber curiously. She was a thick, muscular mare who could’ve probably given most of the guards a run for their money. “Say, you’re new here, aren’tcha? I haven’t seen you before.”
“A friend asked me to meet them here, but it seems they forgot or something… I’ll just have a cider, please. I have work soon, can’t afford to get too crazy.” She smiled nervously at the bartender.
“A friend, huh?” the bartender asked, pouring Amber a large glass of frothy cider. “I know everypony who comes to this joint. Who’s the friend?”
“A quiet mare called Petunia. Saved her from a attack earlier today, some shithead stallion was getting frisky with her. Figured it’d be nice to make a friend around here, y’know?”
The bartender tipped the jug a little too far, spilling cider on the countertop. “Petunia!? So you’re the Guard she wouldn’t shut up about! All your drinks are on the house, honey. We owe you a big one for saving our little flower girl. She’s very well liked in here.”
Amber smiled at her, “Thank you, I should really pay though… I was just doing my job. The poor thing was up against a real jerk, too. Managed to knock me around a fair bit before we brought him in.”
“You made it!” A familiar voice cut across the room. Before she knew it, Amber was caught in a tight hug by Petunia. “I’m so glad! I was afraid you wouldn’t wanna come to a place like this.”
Amber grinned, wheezing a little as she was squeezed tightly. “I’m just glad you remembered. Thanks for inviting me out here, by the way. I haven’t had much of a chance to relax since I arrived in Manehattan…
“The usual, Petunia?”
“Mmhmm! So, you’re not from Manehattan? What brought you here? What do you think of our fair city? I guess you might have a jaded view, being a guard and all… I promise we’re not all bad! Not even all stallions… though the one with you was kinda scary.”
Amber snorted, “Oh, him? He’s a very noble sort, he just likes to make criminals think he’s dangerous. And I really didn’t come here with any assumptions about you guys, to be honest… as for why I came here, I suppose it was to make a name for myself.”
“Oh! I never even got your name before! I completely forgot to ask!”
“It’s…” She hesitated for the briefest of moments. “Amber Glass. Pleased to meet you, Petunia,” she smiled warmly, extending a hoof.
Petunia took the hoof, holding it for a long moment. It’s so coarse... “I’ll just call you Amber. How’s that? Mm no offense but you could really use a hooficure. Tomorrow, maybe!? My treat!”
“That sounds great…” Amber said, turning back to her nearly-empty glass
Petunia cocked her head. “What’s wrong, Amber? You seem distracted. If you don’t wanna be here, it’s okay. I understand. I mean I should’ve asked if you were… well I mean of course you’re not-”
Amber shook her head, “It’s not that, it’s just that I have something big going down at work tonight… honestly, if we could reschedule this for afterwards I’d appreciate it. I’m going to need a chance to unwind after tonight’s shift is over…” Assuming there even is a tomorrow for me…
Petunia’s ears drooped. “But… but… you’re a dayguard! You don’t work nights!”
“It’s not that simple. I’d tell you more but it’s something only a handful of the guard are permitted to know about, and it’s all happening tonight. I swear I’m telling the truth, Petunia.”
“But… but why does such a nice mare like you have to risk herself?” Petunia’s eyes grew wider and mistier, and Amber noticed her bottom lip beginning to tremble.
Amber smiled gently at her. “I risked my life to save yours today, didn’t I? And if my superior officer hadn’t saved me I might have lost it. But, as a Guard, it’s my duty to protect the innocent. And I know that the Red Hoof is involved in all of this. For a chance to foil one of his schemes, and potentially save a lot of lives? I’d say that’s something worth risking my life for.”
Several pairs of eyes darted their way at the mention of the Red Hoof, as well as a few murmurs. “The Red Hoof, eh?” the Bartender cut in, giving the two mares a fresh set of drinks. “He’s been trying to worm his way into this place for years. But I won’t have it.”
“Yup,” Petunia agreed, nodding. “One of his lackeys threatened to burn down my flower business if I didn’t go with him. I told him to try it and see what happens. It’d be a race to see if us or the Mare do Well got to him first.”
“You guys are lucky the Mare do Well would never stand for that. Now there’s a mare!” Amber declared, followed by a series of cheers.
“If we could get her in here?” The bartender smirked. “Every mare in this city would be knocking my doors down.”
Amber raised her glass. “To the Mare do Well, an inspiration to mares across the city!”
“Here, here!” Petunia and the bartender both said, raising their glasses and drinking.
“Hey… Amber?” Petunia looked at the Guard, still seeming as though she were on the verge of tears.
“What is it, Petunia?” Amber asked, setting down her glass.
She reached forward, hugging Amber and giving her a quick peck on the cheek. “Stay safe out there.”
Amber blushed, smiling weakly at her. “Keep my seat warm- I’m coming back once I’m done out there!”
8
Snow Storm had decided to return home for the evening when the snickering came. She peeked over the side of the building, spotting a triplet of young stallions strolling down the street.
Rinds, she thought, watching them go by. The eldest, Kabosu Rind, scooped up a wad of snow in his magic, throwing it at a random stray cat. Two of them laughed as the cat hissed and bolted away, its tail straight in the air.
Now what are you boys up to…? Snow Storm thought, resisting the urge to confront them right there. They were walking as if they had purpose, and to show herself would throw them off. She couldn’t allow that.
“Come on,” Valen whined, lagging behind, “when’re you gonna tell us what dad wants?”
“For the last time, we find a certain stallion, we get the package and we get out of there.” Kabosu grunted angrily, glaring at his younger brother. “Ask again and you’re staying home next time, shrimp.”
Package, huh? Guess I’ll have to follow- Snow Storm felt a tap on her shoulder. Pick Pocket stood behind her, his expression one of curiosity. “This is a little earlier than I expected…” he whispered. “I’m impressed you managed to pick up the trail yourself.”
“Trail?” she asked, keeping an ear on Pick and an eye on the Rinds. “I didn’t know there was a trail. I just know those boys personally.”
Pick stared at the three of them, watching as they worked their way downtown. “I knew it. The docks were too obvious… we might well discover one of their safehouses tonight.”
“Docks? What about the docks?”
Pick shook his head. “Nothing, it’s just a hunch for now. Hey, this is Market. They must be going to their shop...”
“You there, old timer?” Kabosu demanded, glancing around. As far as he could tell, Market Row was empty save for his brothers. “I’m waiting. And I don’t like to wait.”
“He sent you pipsqueaks?” an indignant voice cut through the darkness. After a moment, the fat poker-playing stallion Snow Storm remembered from a few nights before limped into view. It was clear that he’d taken a rather nasty beating since the last time they had met. No doubt for failing Abacus…
“You boys should stay out of grown up’s affairs,” he suggested nastily. “You have no idea what could happen.”
“It doesn’t look like you know any better,” Kabosu shot back, unlocking the door to his family’s shop. “Please, come in.” Not that the stallion had much choice, as Suma forcefully muscled him inside.
Pick cursed under his breath, “We’ll never hear from out here, but getting in… there’s only the one entrance.”
“Not true,” Snow Storm said, getting up and pointing across the street. “There’s a window on the second floor that leads into their office. They never bother to lock it.”
“You sound like you’ve used it before-” Pick winced, his ear flicking. “Damnit, I hear screaming… I can handle things here, you go check it out. Heroics are more your game anyways.”
“Alright,” she said. “But… if you somehow get Valen by himself, don’t hurt him too badly. He’s just a misguided kid.”
“I’m not planning on hurting any of them. Dumb kids are still kids, and I do have some standards. Besides, violence is for amateurs.” He gave her a wink at that. “If I do my job right they’ll never know I was there, now go, quickly!”
* * *
Kabosu smacked Valen on the back of the head - not for any particular reason, but because it had been his favorite sport since the latter was barely out of diapers. “Go make sure the upstairs is empty,” he demanded. “We’re not taking any chances. The big guy could have somepony waiting for us.”
Valen sighed, heading upstairs in silence. He stared around, not particularly bothered by the idea of his brothers getting caught in whatever horrible scheme they were plotting. Even if he was arrested himself, at least they’d be as miserable as he was.
He shivered, noticing the window was open a crack, and shut it quickly, looking around the room carefully for signs of intruders. I wish I was at home, at least I could talk to Grandpa…
There was a creepy feeling on the back of his neck, as though he were being watched. That’s silly, he thought, giving up his half-hearted search and just reclining on the office chair. Besides, the real reason he was sent up was to be out of the way, which was just fine and dandy with him. He figured he at least had a couple minutes of peace and quiet - as quiet as Kabosu could be, at any rate.
Pick Pocket frowned, silently cursing that the kid had shut the door, blocking his only means of reaching the lower floor. Even with his impressive hearing, the thick walls of the place muffled much of what he could hear.
“...suitca… obbed… excuses…”
Pick sighed quietly, shaking his head. There’s nothing I can take from this. The whole night was a bust. Here’s hoping she’s having more luck...
Valen felt the sensation again, as though a pair of eyes were trained on him. “Is somepony there?” he called out, sitting straight and looking around. All of the shadows seemed to move whenever he looked at them. Possibly taunting him. The old creeping fear he’d had of the dark his whole life was slowly overwhelming him. The shouting match downstairs did nothing to nullify it. This is creepy…
Pick Pocket froze in place, standing perfectly still in the rafters above the colt. You’re kidding me, right? The great Pick Pocket isn’t about to be rumbled by this pitiful excuse for a foal!
“Screw this,” Valen said, getting up at last and heading towards the door. He had begun to feel the walls close in on him, and that was too much. Besides, there was nopony up here with him. Nopony at all.
* * *
Downstairs, Kabosu glared at the pudgy stallion. “You don’t seem to have a suitcase with you. Why’s that?”
“I was robbed at the poker table, alright? That bitch in the suit gave me a shakedown. I had more than enough before she showed up!”
“Excuses!” Kabosu snapped, his horn glowing angrily. “The big guy doesn’t like excuses, does he, Suma?”
“Heheheh, yeah!”
“He also don’t like infighting between his guys, and incase you’ve forgotten, you still ain’t officially a part of the gang. You hurt me, and you’re making a big statement, kids. Remember that.”
“Fine,” Kabosu conceded, easing back. The worst part was the fatso was right, and that pissed him off. “He wants you to try the south side this time. The little gangs there are pushovers - even a jellyfish like you could handle ‘em. Got it?”
The stallion nodded.
“Good. This is your last chance. He knows you’ve been skimming some bits off the top. He doesn’t like that. Now get out of my dad’s shop. You’re stinking it up in here.”
“Oh, and one thing I don’t get… if the Mare do Well’s working for the Red Hoof, why the hell did she beat me up? The Boss never got his money cos’ of her.”
“Even a good dog will bite every now and then. You just gotta beat him to show him who’s boss. She’ll get hers.”
The stallion turned to leave, sighing as he noticed Valen slowly working his way downstairs. “Can I give you brats some advice? That one’s dead weight. Ditch em’ as soon as you can, kids. G’night,” he muttered grumpily, leaving the shop.
Kabosu rounded on Valen, snarling. “What took ya?” He was in the mood to inflict some pain, and that fatass had denied him the chance. Now his sights were squarely on his little brother. “Having a tea party up there?”
“The place was empty,” Valen said, shrugging boredly. “I guess the Mare do Well has better things to do than to spy on us.”
“Or maybe she was there,” Kabosu growled, getting in his brother’s face. The little guy had been a huge pain in his ass the last few weeks, and he was getting tired of it. Especially when Valen mouthed back. “And you’re just getting friendly with her. Is that it?”
At this, Valen actually laughed. “You think the Mare do Well would waste her time with me? Please. If she was here she’d have dropped in and interrogated us by now. Or summoned the guard to burst in or something… I’m the last pony she’d consider useful.”
“Y’know,” Kabosu sneered, “you may be right for once. Nopony would ever waste their time with you. Now get home - me and Suma have other business to take care of.”
Valen nodded and left without another word, glad to be rid of his brothers for a few hours. If he was lucky, dad would be passed-out drunk and he could just crawl into bed unnoticed. He liked being unnoticed.
9
“Hope your time was better spent than mine,” Snow Storm grumbled, perching next to Pick Pocket. “Stupid mare managed to nearly fall out of her own window. So who gets to save her from going splat? Me.”
“Well, I can tell you these kids are in way over their heads,” Pick Pocket said, shrugging. “Aside from that? Really nothing you don’t already know. Sorry about that.”
“It’s fi- look.” She pointed down at a pair of strolling stallions. “Only two of them. Looks like Suma and Kabosu. I’ve seen this before - there’s no need to tail them now. They’re just going to get themselves wasted. They never invite Valen for that, of course.”
“Hmm… I wonder if they’re dumb enough to fall for me pretending to be one of the Red Hoof’s guys?” Pick Pocket grinned. “Might be able to make some lemonade with tonight after all…”
“Go do what you have to. I’m going to try and make a new friend.”
* * *
Valen Rind started as the Mare do Well landed in front of him, looking menacing in the moonlight.
“Hello there,” she said gently, feeling pity at the way he recoiled from her. This’d be so much easier if I could show him my face. I must look frightening.
Valen squeaked, backing away until he crashed into a pair of trashcans in an alleyway. “W-w-what do you w-want?” he asked timidly.
“I just want to talk, is all.” She took a tentative step forward, ready to back off if he looked like he was about to bolt. “I won’t hurt you. You don’t deserve it.”
“Talk? About what?” he asked, his eyes darting about. It was clear he was looking for an exit route, desperate to get away from her. Oh, he’d heard the stories about her, alright. How she could break a pony in two with no effort. How she mercilessly hunted her enemies.
“I’ve been watching you for a long time,” she said. Longer than you could know. “It’s not fair, what your brothers do to you. How they abuse and berate you at every opportunity. Family shouldn’t do that to one another.”
“Y-you don’t know anything about me!” he said, becoming defensive. He raised a trashcan lid up to her like a shield. “I don’t want to talk to you!”
You’re using the wrong tactic here. Think about it from his perspective. You swoop in and try turning him against his siblings, but he might be the only Rind kid with any semblance of loyalty to them.
“That’s fine,” she said calmly, sitting on her haunches. Just like working with a frightened animal. “You don’t have to talk to me. But you should talk to your grandpa. You… do like him, don’t you?”
“Y-yeah, I do… but why are you talking to me? I don’t understand…”
“To be honest? I’m a friend of Snow Storm’s. And she’s worried about you. She knows you’re not like your brothers.” The Mare do Well paused for a moment. “She wants to help you, but she doesn’t know how. Especially with her own family troubles.”
“Snow Storm? But why would she… listen, my brothers are responsible for themselves. I don’t want anything to do with them, but if I don’t go along with their stupid schemes…” He shuddered, not wanting to think of what they’d do to him. It was bad enough being their ‘friendly’ punching bag. If he went against them? It was unthinkable.
“Then why don’t you leave? Run away?”
“I’d have nowhere to go, nowhere they wouldn’t find me…”
“You and Julius could both go. Look, kid, a lot of things are going to happen soon. I know your family is involved with the Red Hoof somehow. They’re going down, and I’d hate to see you go with them.”
“But where? This city’s all I’ve ever known. I can’t just abandon it, can I?”
“Once I find the Orange family, you could go to them. Snow will vouch for you. Work their grove, get some bits, get your own place. You’d be free.”
“Yeah… with most of my family behind bars. I don’t understand why they went so wrong, Mare do Well. Why does it have to be like this?”
“If I could answer that, I could fix a lot of things. Stick with your grandpa - he’ll keep you safe and straight.”
“I w-will. I gotta go,” he said quietly, turning and running off in the direction of his house.
Snow Storm sighed, pulling off her mask and letting the air cool her face down. I think I just made another friend, she mused, sneaking into an alleyway to change into her normal clothes. She gave the kid a lot to think about, at least. That was good. The more friends she could make, the better her position would be. There was nothing left to do but go home.
Now you just have to survive tonight.