//------------------------------// // Midnight Begins: Chapter 13 // Story: Midnight's Shadow // by Ponibius //------------------------------// Midnight’s Shadow Midnight Begins: Chapter 13 I woke with a cough that made me worry I was going to hack my lungs up. It took some time for me to return moisture to my parched throat. The light of day momentarily blinded me when I opened my crust-filled eyes, and it took a moment to take in my surroundings. I recognized the interior of Red Steel's cottage and smithy from my brief visit there the previous night. The militia captain had a spartan taste, probably born out her pegasi heritage, and the Striker Clan had been known to be austere even by the standards of the other clans. I could not see an object in her bedroom that did not have some utilitarian purpose. Even her furniture lacked the decoration and sense of warmth typical of most earth pony homes I had seen. Only the large bed with its soft mattress was a concession to comfort. I had heard that pegasi used to sleeping on clouds had trouble resting on the relatively firm mattresses. Sitting next to the bed was Gale while Stalwart stood vigil by the doorway. Gale placed a gentle hoof on my shoulder and asked, "Midnight, art thou awake?" I opened my mouth to speak but was instead overwhelmed by another cough. Gale picked up a canteen and held it up to my mouth. I drank slowly, not wanting to cough the water right back into Gale’s face. “Better?” Gale asked after I had a few gulps. “Aye, a little.” I cleared my throat and took the canteen. My throat no longer felt as parched, but it was still very much sore. I noticed that my body was dotted with bandages from the various injuries I had suffered the previous night. No single injury was a concern, but all together they did make for something of a dreadful sight. I briefly wondered why I was sleeping in Red Steel’s home. Vague recollections remarked that  I had been lodging within in the mayor’s home. Then came the memories of my accidently burning down her house and of the battle surrounding the incident. Then I remembered the rest of that terrible night. My ears wilted as I realized I was sleeping in a dead mare’s bed. Something about that felt profane in character. Stalwart took a quick glance out the bedroom window before addressing me. “Are you well, milady?” I took another quick sip of the canteen. “I wished to asked the same of you.” I tried to make my words humorous, but my heart took the mirth from the attempt. Gale rubbed at my shoulders. The familiar touch made me relax a bit. “We are all well. A few bruises and cuts here and there, but otherwise fine.” “What happened after we were separated?” I asked. Stalwart rummaged through his saddlebags and produced a bag filled with trail rations for me. “Not long after the passageway closed, the trees broke through the gate. We withdrew further into the fortress in order to escape them, and hopefully find another way to you.” “Considering thou didst not find me until after our battle with the hags, I take it that plan did not go ... as planned?” I finished lamely. I was still too tired to be witty. Instead I took the trail rations and popped some of the dried fruit into my mouth. I was not very hungry, but I knew it had been some time since I had last eaten. Perhaps eating a little bit would revive my appetite. Gale shook her head. “Neigh. The hags closed the other doorways to the room we entered, trapping us inside. We were just lucky that the one doorway left open to us was too small for those trees to easily follow us.” She gave me a grin with a savage edge to it. “They all ended up stuck in the gatehouse with one another trying to get to us. Seeing an opportunity, I used the rest of Butter’s alchemical fire on them, and set the whole room of them alight. It became a bit warm, but we survived.” “The golems were a bit more difficult to destroy.” Stalwart rolled his shoulder stiffly. “But we managed in the end.” “That is good then.” It took me a few moments to summon the courage to ask my next question. “And the townsfolk?” “The vast majority are accounted for.” Gale sat back and her tone became more subdued. “Though not everypony. We think most of the ponies still missing, seven all told, were probably sacrifices used by the hags. Another pony was also killed along the trail by a mountain cat on the way to hags’ fortress.” “Oh...” I fiddled with the bag of trail rations. How many ponies had died because of the selfishness of one pony over the years? I did not think we would ever find out the whole number. Grandmother Carrot had shown no regard for the sanctity of life and her treatment of others reflected that. “Midnight.” Gale wrapped a leg around my shoulders and pulled my head to her breast. “Many ponies are alive because of thee.” “But not Red Steel,” I said bitterly. Gale winced at that. I sighed, it had not been my intention to hurt Gale. She had seemed close to Red Steel, though I knew not all the nuances of their relationship. “I wish to see her.” Gale nodded and offered me a hoof. “She is at the courthouse.” I took her hoof and stood up from the bed. Severe vertigo hit me when I did so and Stalwart grabbed me to keep me from falling. “Are you sure you are ready to walk, milady?” Stalwart asked with great concern. My poor bodyguard had been put through much on my account the past few days. Too much, really. I really needed to reward him later when I had the opportunity. “Aye, just a brief bout of dizziness is all,” I assured him. “Some walking and fresh air should be good for me.” I cough and cleared my throat. “And I wish to...” “Say goodbye?” Gale offered, her own spirits diminished. “Aye, that.” I waved for Stalwart to let me go and made my way to the front door. Gale opened the door for me and lead the way. “We shall take thee to her. Thou canst say whatever words you wish to her there.” The three of us walk towards the courthouse. My legs ached as we walked. Though the sun was high in the sky by the time I had finally awoken, it felt as though I could have crawled right back into bed and slept straight through the rest of the day and into the night. Thankfully the courthouse was not far from Red Steel’s home. We were within sight of the building when Gale spoke in a reluctant tone to me. “Did she die well?” I could hear a hint of desperation in Gale’s voice, and readily saw what she wanted. She needed to know that Red Steel’s death had been worthwhile. The question is what I would tell her; looking back at the battle, I had made so many mistakes, and Red Steel more than a few herself. If she had but struck Grandmother Carrot instead of her third eye, or if I had not been so weak to be unable to aid her at the end she might be alive this day. But that is not what happened, and Red Steel was dead. Still, my friend sought comfort, and it was poor manners to speak ill of the dead. Especially after Red Steel had given her life to bring the threat to her town to an end. I chose my words carefully. “She fatally wounded Grandmother Carrot ere she fell. She died very bravely in battle.” Gale made a grim nod, satisfied with my answer. “As good a death as any warrior can hope for, then,” she sighed. “Aye, I suppose so.” I climbed the courthouse steps, feeling a painful twinge in my knee as we climbed the steps. “Though I wish I could have saved her life.” Gale’s gaze dropped to the steps as she kept pace with me. “As do I. She may have found a good death, but I would have much preferred a good life for her.” I opened the door and ushered Gale inside. “It seems life had been far too cruel to her.” Crippled by her brother, her clan and all of Pegasopolis destroyed, the great disharmony between her neighbors, the murders in Appleton happening right under her nose, and now even her very life had been stolen from her. She had been too young for all of that to be leveled on her. “Aye. She suffered far too much.” I sensed the guilt in Gale’s words. She had brought Red Steel to the earth ponies to live a life of peace, and instead it had been one filled with hardship and pain. And in the end, her death. Stalwart took a position by the doorway. “I will stand guard here, miladies.” It was clear that he wanted to give us space to talk, something for which I was grateful. “Thank you, Sergeant.” I entered the courthouse and took in the sight before me. Flowers had been gathered and placed around the interior of the building. A casket had been placed at the far end of the room. It was closed, though I knew Red Steel must be lying inside. It would not be an open casket funeral, as the manner of her death would not allow for it. Incense burners were alight on either side of the casket, though it if was to deal with any smells that might come from the casket or because of some earth pony custom, I did not know. The two of us stopped short of the casket, neither one of us wanting to get too close too quickly. We stared at the casket for a long while. It was a plain thing, without any of the decoration that I was accustomed to in Canterlot. Certainly not what I thought Red Steel deserved to be buried in, but was probably all the earth ponies of Appleton could make for their dead, either because of poverty, lack of skill, or due to so many needing burying in swift order. Whatever the case might be, the poor arrangements I saw before me did not sit well with me. (1) 1. It should perhaps mentioned that due to the disparity of wealth between the ponies of a city Canterlot and a poor rural settlement like Appleton, Midnight's views might be a bit skewed on this matter. The average yearly income of a Canterlot blacksmith was usually about four to five times what their Appleachian cousins could earn. "Did she never try and join the Guard?" I asked. "Even if she did not have wings, she still had skills the Guard could have used. I have seen Guard blacksmiths attending to the army's needs." Gale sighed as she sat next to the coffin. "She was of two minds about military service. And ... I think she feared she would be known in the Guard. In this small town, nopony need e'er know she was naught but another earth pony. That, and she did not wish to serve under the pony who slew her father." I could understand the latter reason readily enough. I would be greatly wroth with anypony who slew my mother. Likely I would go forth, find that pony, and then bring a bloody vengeance down upon her head. Though the former reason for Red Steel's self-imposed exile was another question. "She did not wish for anypony to know who she was?" I sat down next to Gale and pressed my side to hers. "Was her shame so great that she wished for nopony to know who she was?" "She thought it best that Swiftwing Striker died with her family." Gale placed a hoof on the casket and gave it a forlorn look. "A fresh start on her own terms, rather than living under the legacy of her mutilation and a traitor family." That caused me to grunt in acknowledgement. "I think I can understand that. I know how difficult it can be living under my mother's infamy." Gale hummed in agreement. "And for all her numerous faults, your mother is at least loyal to the realm and never mutilated you." I found myself fidgeting by straightening some of the flowers. "Aye, I could not imagine her doing something as horrid as cutting off my horn." What could have driven a young stallion to do such a thing to his own flesh and blood? Had Steel Striker's education of his son been so wanting? It seemed that it would be up to scholars to debate and decide for themselves. (2) 2. Indeed the reason for Swiftwing/Red Steel's mutilation has been no small subject of controversy among historians. Reasons cited for the incident have included it just being a horrible mistake by a young stallion, to it being a cultural issue with Pegasopolis drawing from its ancient past, and Hammer Striker preemptively removing a competitor to him becoming paterfamilias for the Striker Clan while he could still overpower his younger sister. The truth of the incident that led to the Lunar Rebellion will likely never be known, considering Hammer was forced to commit suicide shortly after the incident. Gale closed her eyes and rested her forehead on the casket. “Should I bury her in the way of Old Pegasopolis?” “I think that is how she would have wanted it.” While Red Steel might have been denied her birthright in life, I thought it appropriate for her to have her honors in death. She had earned that much with her sacrifice. (3) 3. In the typical pattern of Pegasopolan austerity, pegasi were buried in a simple grave with a marker that only stated their name and “For Equestria.” “Aye, and she was a fine warrior, who should be remembered with honor.” Gale’s shoulders slumped as though some burden weighed her down. “And if I repeat those words to myself enough times, perhaps they will dull the pain in my heart.” I wrapped a leg around her shoulders and nuzzled her. “How well didst thou know her?” Gale leaned against me and returned my nuzzle. “Well enough that her loss pains me.” I had suspected something for quite some time now, and decided to confirm my suspicions. “Thou knewest she lived here before we left Canterlot.” “I did,” she admitted. “I maintained a correspondence with her. 'Twas she who warned me of the dangers threatening her hometown.” “I see.” I frowned as I contemplated that. Gale had said previously that Mayor Casserole had been the one to contact the government about the disappearances.  Mayhaps it had been the both of them. One letter from the mayor to plead to the royal government and another more personal letter from one friend to another asking for badly needed assistance. "So why didst thou retrieve me to help in Appleton?" Gale was slow in answering my question. "Many reasons. First and foremost, because the ponies of Appleton needed our help." That much was obvious. Even discounting the hags we had not known about, we could hardly have allowed the earth ponies to descend into violence again. There had already been far too many deaths as a result of those blood feuds. "What other reasons were there?" I asked. "Second, to aid a friend in need," Gale said. "Third, because I wished to see thee on thy first quest." She continued when she saw my questioning look. "I have become too important to my mother to go on adventures anymore, Midnight. She needs me by her side. Frankly, Mother is coddling me by allowing me to come out to a remote village such as this to assist thee, and she made me promise that I would be diligent in my duties after this." "I suppose that makes—" A violent hack overcame me, pulling me from my thoughts. Gale rubbed at my back as I worked the coughs out. "Art thou in need of aid? We can return thee to bed if need be." I let out a final back before speaking with a hoarse voice. "I admit, I worry what sort of disease Grandmother Carrot may have inflicted on me." I would have hoped some rest would make me feel better, but if anything I felt worse than I had the previous morning when I had woken, even discounting my various wounds from the night before. “We do seem to have inconvenienced ourselves by slaying all the healers in Appleton.” "Whate'er it was, mayhaps it would be best if we took you back to Canterlot to recover?" Gale touched my forehead, and she frowned. "Thy fever is not improving. Mayhaps we should take thee back to see if a unicorn chirurgeon can heal thee with magic?" “I would have thought that thou wouldst wish to wait until after Red Steel’s funeral,” I said. Gale ran her hoof along the top of the coffin. “Aye, but I would not lose another friend if at all possible.” She let out a sigh. “The dead can wait until the living have been attended.” Wrapping a wing around me, she assisted me to my hooves. Something I was thankful for as the world swam from the sudden movement. I felt guilty that my condition was taking us away from Red Steel’s funeral. Deep down, it felt like a betrayal of the mare who had given her life for so many, mine own included. But Gale was right, it would do no good to let me die of plague if my sickness was as terrible as we feared. I know I would not wish for anypony to die in such a way on my behalf. “If thou art sure that thou dost not wish to stay,” I hedged. “Stalwart and I can go and leave thee behind.” Gale shook her head. “Our travel will go much faster if there are two pegasi pulling the cart, and I would spend all my time fretting if I did not know that thou wert being attended to by a healer.” “Thou art a good friend.” We headed towards the door when a bout of melancholy caused me to stop short. “Now that it is all over, I cannot help but feel at least partially a fool.” “And why wouldst thou feel so?” she asked, squeezing me with her wing. I leaned against her, feeling comfort as she held me. “I should have been ... better—at everything. I could have stopped the hags far sooner if I had been smarter, faster, stronger...” My ears wilted. “I feel the fool. A naive child seeing the world for the first time, but not understanding what she is seeing.” “And if I were perfect and all powerful, I might have struck down the hags without sweat staining my brow,” she chastised me. “Do not judge thyself so harshly. Thou didst good work here, and against difficult odds. Nopony will fault thee for going up against a greater foe than anypony realized was here.” “I suppose that is true.” Some part of me knew she spoke the truth, but I did not feel it in my heart. “Midnight, listen.” Gale poked me in the nose to make sure she held my attention. “When one is given authority such as we are given, sooner or later, somepony will die because of a decision we make.” The look in Gale’s eye became touched with sorrow as she continued. “Many ponies have died because of orders I have given. Either because misfortune doomed them, because there was no choice but to accept casualties to achieve an objective, or ... because I made mistakes. All we can do is learn from our mistakes, honor the sacrifices of those that have fallen, and seek to do better next time.” I was silent as I thought over Gale’s words. What she said was the truth, that I knew. One could hardly fault a general for suffering casualties in a war. Not when such things were inevitable, and it was little different when one hunted down warlocks or dangerous monsters. The best one could hope for was to end the threat quickly and decisively. Nice words, but not terribly comforting at the moment as I glanced back at Red Steel’s coffin. Gale followed my gaze and sighed. “Red made her own decisions, Midnight. She chose to help us, knowing what the consequences might be. Do not cheapen her death with thy thoughts.” “I will not.” I lowered my head, feeling sufficiently chastised. “Still, I do not look forward to speaking to Mother about what has transpired here.” Gale grunted and I felt her wing twitch. “If she so much as lays one hoof upon thee...” I regretting bringing up the subject of my mother. This topic only caused me grief when discussed with Gale. “I can face Mother alone, Gale.” “Thou canst, but thou needst not.” There was an edge to her tone I did not like. One that hinted at violence behind a carefully placed veil. I found myself grinding my teeth and made myself stop. “She has not struck me since that day.” Gale’s eyes narrowed. “Yet.” I shrugged off Gale’s wing so that I could face her. “Couldst thou please end this feud with my mother? For a decade I have had to deal with it, and I am tired of having the burden of my friend and my mother sniping at one another at every opportunity.” She brought herself to her full height to face me squarely. “She has more than earned my antipathy, and done nothing to deserve the love you show her.” “She is my mother.” I was about to say more when a cough overcame me. Gale waited for me to recover before she said, “She is hardly deserving of the term. She acts not as a proper mother should.” “She is my sire and blood,” I insisted to her, feeling my choler rise. “She raised me, made sure I had want of nothing as a child, and she has been better to me than some parents I have heard of.” She stood in silence for a long moment before she finally said, “But not so good as thou deservest.” There was something about how she said those words that caused me to feel shame and lower my head and look away from her. It was no secret that my mother, while a superb politician and powerful archmagus, was found wanting as a parent. I knew this, I could hardly be so deaf as to not hear the infamous rumors surrounding her. Many of them were false, but I knew some to be true, and there were things she had done that I was sure few if any but myself knew about. I loved Mother, but her love is a difficult thing to find, sometimes. It was ever a pain upon my heart. A long, painful silence lied between us. Whatever was in Gale’s mind, I could not perceive behind that stoic expression of hers. Mayhaps she regretted her words, or she knew her words had gone too far and did not press further. Either way, she kept her council. “I would like to lie down,” I finally said, the quiet becoming too much for me. “I do not feel well.” Gale nodded and leaned down. Before I could object, she lifted me onto her back, causing me to squawk in surprise. “Gale! I think I can still walk!” “Aye, but I can carry thee.” She opened the door and headed outside. “Thou art sick and should not exert thyself.” I let out a grumble, knowing I would not win this argument. “Very well...” I was not looking forward to walking back to Red Steel’s home anyways. My knee still ached, and I was drained from illness. Stalwart fell into place as we headed out of the courthouse. Apparently his ward being carried by the daughter of his commanding officer did not warrant a response from him. Either that or he knew better than to make any hint of what he thought of the matter. Probably a good habit to get into for a soldier. We were halfway to Red Steel’s home when I felt compelled to speak. “I do not seek disharmony with thee, Gale. ‘Tis just...” Gale gently shushed me, not losing a step. “I know, the last few days have been hard on thee, and ‘twould be unfair to expect thee to maintain a perfect continence after thy trials.” “My thanks.” I did not expect we had seen the end of our troubles, especially when my mother was concerned, but at least I was confident every conversation would not result in an argument between us. That was something I did not think I could bear right then. I did not wish to lose anypony else. We were in the process of packing what of our possessions had survived the past few days into our cart when I saw a group of ponies approach us. I suppose I should not have been surprised by the fact that Mayor Carrot Casserole, Carrot Root, Subtle Song, and Silent Forest had sought me out before I left Appleton. It truth, it would have been rude of me to leave without speaking with them, and so fortune had smiled by bringing them to me. Thankfully, none of them seemed to be injured in any significant way. Silent Forest was walking with a slight limp and Subtle Song had a painful looking bruise around her left eye, but otherwise they were hale in health. So were the ponies of Appleton now that I thought about it. Now that I was paying attention, the townponies had a subdued aura about them, but they were going about their business as normal and as though the events of the previous night had not happened. I was not sure what I had expected of them, but this all felt slightly queer to me. Mayhaps it was merely part of earth ponies' general desire to get on with their lives, whatever greater events try and shake their world. "Leaving already?" asked Subtle Song, giving me an inviting smile. Gale shot Subtle Song an unamused look. "Magus Midnight is feeling unwell, and so we are taking her to see a healer to treat her sickness." Subtle Song pucker out her lips in a pout. "That is disappointing. I was hoping we could have spent more time together. We were getting along so well." "Mayhaps our paths will cross again some day." That seemed like the polite thing to say. Those words turned Subtle Song's pout into a smile. "I would like that. There is no reason my trail cannot lead back to Canterlot.  I am sure we can be very good friends with one another." Gale's mouth curved to form a disapproving frown. "Midnight is very busy with her studies and duties. Certainly too much for a wandering bard." I wondered what it was about Subtle Song that made Gale so hostile to her. Thus far Subtle Song had been nothing but kind to us. "I am sure that—" I was cut off when Gale jabbed me in the ribs with a knee. "She will be much too busy to see thee." Gale finished for me, even if those were not the words I was going to use, and the fact I was giving her an irritated look. "Also her mother would severely disapprove thy company. She takes her and her daughter's image very seriously. And sadly, Midnight is not likely to return to this area anytime soon." Carrot Root let out a shocked gasp and lept from his mother's back to run to me. "What?! You will not be returning!?" I winced as the child gave me the most pitiful look. It provoked a moment of weakness in me, but I steeled my resolve to tell the truth. "Aye, 'tis likely so. I am needed in Canterlot by my mother and Her Highness, and Appleton is far from there. It takes some time to get here by flight, and much longer by hoof." True, I had more magical means of travel, but I tended to reserve those for when speed is of great necessity due to the dangers of those methods. "Oh..." Carrot Root's ears wilted. Carrot Casserole placed a hoof on her son's shoulder. "The Magus is very busy, Root. She has to go and help other ponies like how she has helped us. ‘Tis what she does.” “Okay.” Carrot Root scuffed his hoof along the ground. “I will miss thee too, child,” I said, feeling sympathy for the colt. It was good to see that he was well after everything that had happened to him. At least I had done what was right where he was concerned. Well, except for one thing. “Though I must apologize for your home being destroyed.” Carrot Casserole let out a sad sigh as she ran a hoof through her mane. “Aye, I am happy that my family and everypony else is safe, but being homeless is not something I desire.” “I would hope that there is somepony willing to aid thee in thy time of need?” Gale asked sympathetically. The Appleton Mayor nodded her head. “Aye, we are staying with family while we figure out exactly what to do.” I considered in what ways I could assist my host during my stay in Appleton. “If we could get some paper I could get everything I need to fulfill a request with the government to get thee some relief funds for the destruction of thy home.” There was always some money set aside for ponies that had suffered some disaster, either due to weather, earthquake, monster attack, or other such things. Though such funds had been badly drained due to all the damage that had been done by the Lunar Rebellion and everything that had happened since the war ended. Still, I should do what I could for Carrot Casserole and her family after the role I had played in her home’s destruction. “I would be most thankful,” Carrot Casserole said. “That would do much to help get us back on our hooves.” Gale waved at Red Steel’s home. “There should be supplies inside that we can use. We can make what arrangements we need to before we leave.” “That sounds like a plan to me,” I said. “Though I do apologize for having to leave so quickly.” The reason for me leaving was accentuated when I let out another rough hack. Carrot Root embraced me with a hug when I finished hacking. “Thank you for helping me and my family and my friends and everypony else. I will miss you, Magus Midnight.” I hugged him back. "Of course, child, 'twas my pleasure to help everypony." 'Twas perhaps generous to say it was my "pleasure" to do my duty in this instance, but 'twas something I would do again if I were called to do so. To my consternation, Carrot Root shifted around within my hug as though displeased by my touch. "Is something wrong, Root?" I asked. He shifted around some more before finally looking up at me with a frown. "Um, my apologies, Magus, but your hugs are not very good." I blinked when he said that. "My hugs are not satisfactory?" Carrot Casserole cleared her throat and pulled her son away from me. "My apologies, it seems my son still needs some work to learn his manners." "Neigh, one moment." I looked to Gale. "Gale, is it true that my hugs are found wanting?" Gale also shifted in place as she fell under my scrutiny. She opened her mouth to answer me, but I cut her off. "And do not lie to me to spare my feelings. I want the truth of it."  "They can be a bit ... inconsistent," Gale finally admitted. "Inconsistent?" I asked incredulously. "What is that supposed to mean?" Gale's wings twitched as though she wished to take flight. "Many of thy hugs are fine. Others ... could use some work." I could barely believe what I was hearing. "My hugs are not desireable? Why did nopony tell me?" I turned to approach Stalwart. "Sergeant, hug me. I wish for another opinion on this." Stalwart tried very hard to meet my gaze. "I do not think that would be appropriate, milady." "Neigh? Why not?" I asked, stopping short of him. "Art thou saying that my hugs are that terrible?" "Neigh, 'tis not that." Stalwart stood very rigid as he spoke very carefully and deliberately. "'Twould be inappropriate for a sergeant to hug a magus. Also, I am a married stallion. I do not think my wife would appreciate me hugging a mare she did not know." "Very well then. I will not press thee further." Those seemed like logical enough reasons to reject my hugs, and I would not intentionally cause disharmony within Stalwart's home for this experiment. The problem is that I was left with few other options to test the quality of my hugs. Subtle sauntered my direction. "I would be happy to hug you, Magus." "Absolutely not," Gale immediately objected. Subtle let out an annoyed huff. “You are most cruel.” Gale only glared at Subtle. “Thy continued presence here serves no useful purpose, and is not desired. Be gone with thee, Subtle Song.” “So terribly rude.” Subtle shot me a pleasant smile as she turned to leave. “We must speak again when thou art in better company, dear Midnight.” I attempted to speak to give Subtle Song at least one polite word for helping us defeat the hags, but Gale put her hoof over my mouth and shook her head disapprovingly. I really was going to have to ask her why she disliked the bard with such vehemence. There were a number of things I could tolerate, but I did not like rudeness. I shot her a look showing my own disapproval. That caused Gale to sigh, and speak softly to me. “I do not trust that one, and do not think she has thy best intentions at heart.” My ear flicked with irritation. “I think I can judge that for myself, Gale.” “I am only trying to protect thee.” Gale closed her eyes and rubbed at her brow. “Let us make our final goodbyes and put her behind us. We should not see her again anyways. Please, I would have this be behind us. I will make this up to thee later when we are back in Canterlot. I promise.” Instead of arguing with Gale further, I turned to Silent Forest. “What of thee now that peace has been restored to Appleton?” Silent Forest shrugged. “Wait for orders.” As verbose as ever. Still, there were matters of propriety to attend to before I left. “Then I wish thee well, Corporal,” I said. “My thanks for thy help here in Appleton. Thou art a credit to the Long Patrol.” Silent Forest saluted me, and said a crisp. “Magus.” Considering it seemed unlikely I would get anything more out of the patrolpony, I next turned to Mayor Casserole and Carrot Root. “And may you have better fortune now that you have been freed of the influence of those hags. If there is any more trouble, you know how to receive help.” I gave the two of them a friendly smile, but to my surprise, that seemed to cause Carrot Root to wince and flee behind his mother’s legs. “Um, our sincerest thanks, Magus,” Carrot Casserole said, grimacing as she tried to look into my face. The attempt made it look like she was trying to stare into the sun itself. “Without you, well, perish the thought on what might have happened.” “Thou art welcome, but I think ‘tis time for us to go.” With how well my attempts at socializing were going, I thought it best to get moving before I provoked another mob into trying to lynch me again. Why did I never seem to have any good fortune with such things? We waved to one another as we departed company. Stalwart and Gale dragged our cart to the main street of Appleton in order to give themselves the best place to take off from. We were in the middle of preparing to leave when somepony pulled their own cart up next to ours. A family of earth ponies were gathered around it, and it seemed they had packed all their worldly possessions within the cart. I readily identified Applesauce, who was pulling the cart and giving me a baleful glare. Annoyed with the look he was giving me, I said, “Can I be of assistance, or have I so captivated thee with my beauty that thou canst not take thy eyes away?” Applesauce spit on the ground near my hooves. “Hardly. If Ah go through the rest of mah life without seein’ another magus, Ah could not be happier.” That provoked me to shoot the insolent farmer with my own glare. “That is not the proper manner with which to treat the pony that saved thy life.” He scoffed at that. “So you say, but Ah do not believe it.” I quirked an eyebrow, not quite believing what I was hearing. “Of course I did. Surely thou hast not forgotten the effects Grandmother Carrot’s fog had on thee? We slew her and the others responsible for the murder of thy son. That must mean something to thee.” “So you declare.” Applesauce’s features lost none of their hardness. “But Ah am not convinced. You say Grandmother Carrot betrayed us, but she was nothing but kind to me and mah kin. Ah have half a mind that you murdered her and the others and blamed everypony disappearing on them. That is how you royal scum do it half the time anyways.” I could hardly believe the nonsense that was being sprouted by this stallion’s mouth. He thought I had murdered somepony just to pin the blame for the murders on them? “That is a lie! If thou wert not so far below my station I think I would challenge thee to juris ungula right here.” The energy I put into my declaration caused me to go into another convulsion of coughs. Gale placed a restraining hoof on my shoulder and shook her head. “Leave him, Midnight. He is not worth the trouble.” I was considering following Gale’s advice when Applesauce opened his mouth again. “You are the worst thing that ever happened to Appleton. Everything was fine in our town before you showed up.” He spat at my hooves again. “Me and mah family are leavin’ this town for good. We are goin’ someplace where we will not have to deal with a bunch of dirty dealin’ royals such as you.” The sheer idiocy of that statement broke the bonds of my restrain. “Thou art an ungrateful cur! Red Steel died for thee and everypony in this town and thou art tarnishing her sacrifices with thy words and deeds.” I felt something cold and merciless build up within me as my anger became like a harsh winter storm. Feeling it reach a crescendo I declared, “I curse thee and thy descendants to forever wander the land until Princess Celestia herself gives thee a plot of land!” There was a flash of lightning despite there barely being a cloud in the sky, and I felt a cold shiver run up my spine. The sudden thunderflash caused nearly everypony to flinch and look up at the sky to see what had caused the sudden change in weather. Gale pulled me closer and whispered, “Midnight, what hast thou done?” I had to think what I may have done. ‘Twas possible that I may have accidentally cursed Applesauce and his family in a spontaneous moment of spite. Such things were rare, but not unheard of. Especially where more powerful magi were concerned. Magi that had been driven to extreme wroth by being wronged somehow... (4) 4. Long term magical entropy can indeed be caused by a variety sources. There is some proof that Midnight Sparkle managed to curse this branch of the Apple Clan. After considerable genealogical study covering eight centuries, there are a startling number of incidents such as farms bought by this family foreclosing within a year, homes burning down soon after being purchased, and a staggering number of strange incidents driving these Apples back to wandering Equestria. The only documented incidents they were able to settle down was when they bought plots of land being given out during royal land lotteries. The final group of these Apples were finally able to settle down when Princess Celestia personally gave them land to help found the town of Ponyville outside of Canterlot. It's incidents such as this that tend to make ponies wary of magi, especially the more powerful of their number. “Nothing. Probably. Most certainly,” I insisted, though my voice was shaky as I said it. “‘Tis not worth thinking about. Let us go now.” I stepped onto our cart and made myself ready to depart. It struck me as best to leave before I happened upon more misfortune. I had a feeling that Appleton was simply a town that disagreed with me. Gale frowned at me, but made no further comments, probably surmising as I had that it was time to put Appleton and its worries behind us. She and Stalwart tied themselves to the cart, and we took off for Canterlot. Once we were in the sky, I felt a terrible weariness overcome me. I felt hot with fever and every ache in my body asserted itself over me. Considering there was little else to do, I lay my head down and closed my eyes to let sleep come to me. The world around me burned. Images flashed before me, only there long enough for me to see them, but never to contemplate. Armies of all the peoples of the world marched. Ponies of all types, zebras, gryphons, diamond dogs, and more. They clashed in a chaotic maelstrom of violence that created a deafening roar. A great pile of diamonds were fought over, staining the precious gems with blood. I saw the silhouette of a skeleton in the pale moon, laughing as all the world descended into madness. There were the cries of pain of a mare pierced through over the chants of a dark ritual. A three-eyed gryphon, talons and beak dripping in blood, picked up the crowns of the fallen and added them to his own. The wails of a foal echoed as ponies were set aflame. A pony made of vegetation danced with fey-like grace as a village burned around her. Ponies with plague fell by the score as their love ones wept. A mare shining with brilliant light stepped forward, sweeping troubles aside with an easy wave of her hoof. All gathered around her in adoration, but none of them could see that the the light coming off of her was wrong, and that deep inside there was nothing but maggots and rot. Some day, they would extinguish the mare’s light too. It all came quicker and quicker, bombarding my senses with images and sounds. I was overwhelmed by it all as the heat intensified, burning my skin and making it impossible to breathe. Then a cool breeze swept over me and blew away the heat that scoured me. The images were carried away like so many snowflakes in the wind. I took in a huge breath of the fresh air and felt my pain recede. The sudden relief caused me to collapse, but somepony caught me. The pony gently lowered me to the ground and stroked my mane. “Rest now, my Midnight,” said the voice soothingly. “The troubles of the future are not here yet. Rest for now and gather thy strength. There is much for thee yet to do.” I closed my eyes as the voice sang a soft lullaby, and I drifted into nothing. I normally do not expect to wake up to find Princess Celestia, Sol Invictus, ruler of the three tribes, and a list of other titles beside my bed, but there she was in all her glory when I opened my eyes. Princess Celestia beamed down at me. “Good afternoon, Midnight.” “Afternoon?” I asked, having trouble putting together what sounded so queer about that. My head throbbed and my thoughts were slow in coming together. I must have slept deeply, but how long had I been asleep? I was rubbing my eyes when it fully dawned upon me exactly who was besides my bed. “P-princess! I-I—” I moved to get out of bed and bow to her, but the stiffness and aches in my body made it slow to respond to my commands. She gently placed a hoof on my chest to hold me down. “Let us not stand on formalities, Midnight. Relax, thou hast earned thy rest.” I knew that beneath the gentle restraint of that hoof lay a strength greater than that of steel, and that there was little purpose in trying to struggle against it. I lied back down on the bed and instead objected with words. “B-but I am not decent, Your Highness.” My coat felt filthy and I could feel sweat dripping down my body. I could feel the tangles in my mane and did not bear to think what sleeping must have done to it. Certainly I did not have an appearance appropriate for an audience with royalty. The princess removed her hoof, her calming smile never wavering. “I just spent several hours healing thee, Midnight. I think we can be a bit informal on this occasion.” She let out a soft chuckle. “Goodness knows your mother was when she asked me to help thee.” It took me a moment to absorb all of the information I had just been given. Mother had asked Her Highness to help me? From the sounds of it she had done so in a rather irreverent manner where Princess Celestia was concerned. Mother was normally a composed pony, but sometimes she did let her temper get the better of her, and she could swear as terribly as anypony I had ever known. How serious was my situation that Mother had been driven to such extremes? My illness would certainly help explain the strange dreams I had suffered while asleep. They were certainly more vivid than normal. “What happened?” I noticed that I was not in any room that I recognized. It was simply decorated with a bed, a stand with a washbasin, and a simple small painting on the wall. I would have thought I would wake up on the cart I had fallen asleep on, not wherever this was. “I admit, I think some events have transpired that I was not privy to.” “Gale and Stalwart escorted thee to the Sol Invictus sanctuary at Sunny Springs when your condition worsened, and Gale rushed to Canterlot to call for further aid for thee. Thy mother would have come herself, but I arrived faster.” Her smile took on a hint of amusement. “And I am a better healer than she.” “Her healing does tend to be ... severe.” Mother’s healing was entirely fire-based, and such healing magics were rarely kind in their application since it was conceived on the concept of renewal. While quite effective, it also tended to be quite painful. After all, for the phoenix to be reborn anew, it must first die. Thus, I usually attended to my own injuries when they were minor. A bandage was usually sufficient to treat a scrape or scratch, and did not come with the scorching pain of fire. I must have been quite ill for Mother to demand Princess Celestia fly out here to heal me. At least that would make sense along with the information that Gale and Stalwart changed our original plans. Sunny Springs was not that far from Appleton, if I remembered its location correctly. The Sol sanctuary was well known for its hot springs having healing properties, and the two of them must have hoped that the healers here could help me. Her Highness had not said so, but their talents must not have been sufficient to cure me if it had required her to come out here to aid me. It must have been a very foul disease Grandmother Carrot had inflicted upon me. “Fire is an element of healing, but it is not a gentle sort of healing,” she agreed. Her horn glowed, and I felt her scan me with a spell to make sure I had been properly healed.  “I owe thee my thanks, Midnight Sparkle.” “For what?” I asked. “I hope you are not this anxious to get out of the capital.” “For thy good service in the matter of Appleton,” Princess Celestia said. “Thou defeatedst a foe that was far more dangerous than you had any right to expect. A great many ponies are alive because of thee, and for that I am thankful.” “Oh, that.” I rubbed at my face as I tried to dispel the fuzziness in my mind. Her Highness’ magic had done much to heal me, but I was still regaining my bearing. “I was merely doing my duty, Your Highness. You asked me to help the ponies there. I could hardly have done less than what I did.” “Many would have.” She levitated a cup of water to me. “Thou facedst a threat far beyond what any reasonable pony would have expected. I am sure thy mother will tell thee that the prudent thing to do would have been to withdraw and request reinforcements.” My cheeks inflamed at my princess’ attentions and took the cup from her. I was not used to being complimented as such. “Aye, that is not a talk I am looking forward to, I confess.” I could already hear my mother’s criticisms for everything I had done wrong in Appleton. “Do not take offense if her words are harsh,” the Princess soothed. “They would come from concern over your wellbeing.” “Not that I think I will be able to argue with her.” I sighed and took a sip from the cup, feeling the cool water seep down my now healed throat. Not going around worrying about hacking up one of my lungs was certainly an improvement. Still, that did not improve my mood. “If I am to be honest... I did not do as well as I would have liked.” “Oh?” she prompted. I shifted in place, now very uncomfortable being the sole object of the sovereign of Equestria’s attention. “I made mistakes during my investigation. Mistakes that probably cost lives. I could have stopped the hags before they got as far as they had if I had been better.” Then maybe Red Steel would not have died before my eyes. I could sense her considering my words of self-condemnation before she spoke. “And which one of us is perfect?” “Nopony,” I relented after thinking the question over. Though the admission bought me no comfort. "Exactly." Princess Celestia lifted my head my the chin so that we met eyes. "Trust me on this. The proper course is always obvious in hindsight. I've read Gale's report, and I think thou madest the best choices thou couldst in the midst of a dangerous, fast-moving, and unfamiliar situation. By all rights, I cannot have asked for more." "My thanks for your kind words,” I said sullenly. "I swear, I did try my best. Only ... I wish to do better." She tilted her head in and inquiry ring gesture. "In what way?" I stared at my hooves as I considered my answer. "I think I want to be stronger, smarter, to be better than I am now. As I am now, I feel insufficient, ill-prepared." "I see." A slight smile crept onto her lips "You want more power." Power; there was a word that chimed within me. All too alluring after a lack of it had nearly resulted in disaster in Appleton. "Aye, power is what I desire. Power to use to fulfill my duties. To do what must be done." "Well, there are ways to get that," she said cryptically. "I suppose there are." I considered what options were available to me before I addressed Her Highness again. "Though I assure you, I have no intentions of becoming a foul warlock who will enslave the populace with spell and chains, raise an undead army to march at my beckoning, and deal with dark and seductive powers to increase my power, all while ruling from my dreadfort on top of a volcano and making the ponies of my dark realm quiver in fear at the sound of my name." I blinked slowly. "That would be evil." "Yes. Yes it would," she readily agreed. That was good. I did not wish for her to think I was one bad day from succumbing to the dark arts and becoming a terror to the land. "Still, I wish for power," I said. "The power to protect that which is precious to you?" I nodded. "Aye, exactly." "A worthy goal, and one I would support thee in." Princess Celestia took the empty cup from me and placed it on the dresser. That perked my interest. The royal favor was no small thing. "In what way, Princess?" She gave me a mysterious smile. "Oh, a princess has her ways." I frowned at her response. “You are being cryptic.” “I am allowed to do that from time to time,” she replied. “Aye, you are. Though I find it—” I bit my tongue before I could say something untowards to my sovereign. “Nevermind, I speak out of turn.” Clearly the princess was in one of her mischievous moods. Mother often complained to me when Her Highness vaguely hinted at future plans or knowledge that only she possessed. Usually while throwing in the word “destiny” somewhere in there. I knew there was little point in trying to needle the truth out of her. Princess Celestia gave me a knowing grin. “Regardless, thou seemest to be recovering well. On behalf of the ponies of Appleton, I thank thee for thy service.” I bowed my head to her, about as respectful as I could be while being restricted to bed. “You are welcome, Your Highness. It is my pleasure to serve.” “Is there anything else I can do for thee?” she asked, looking me over. “I admit that I am a bit hungry,” I admitted, feeling some of the pangs of hunger. “And am sorely in need of cleaning myself. Appleton was not as hygienic as I am accustomed to.” Of the things I missed in Appleton, a proper bathhouse ranked high. Being covered in mud, blood, and all sorts of other things I did not wish to think about only made my heart yearn all the more for the trappings of civilization. “I must look like I am in a dreadful state,” I said while giving my coat a disapproving appraisal. “Oh, not so bad as all that.” Princess Celestia gave me a polite smile as she stood. “I am sure we can make arrangements for that, and I will see that it is attended to.” “My thanks, Your Highness,” I said as she left my room. After a few minutes of waiting, a pony wearing the tabard bearing the heraldry of Sol Invictus came into my room. She smiled at me while giving me an appraising look. “Milady, the bath you requested is ready. If you wish, I can show you the way.” “That would be appreciated.” I groaned as I slide out of bed, my muscles popping in protest. “Please lead the way.” She bowed her head. “Of course, milady.” She lead the way and I followed. Outside of my room I saw that the building was made of solid stone, though carved smooth and painted white to give a soothing and clean impression to those that walked its halls.. Outside the door to my room stood Stalwart on vigil. I had to wonder how long he had been standing there, ever faithful in his duty. “Sergeant.” I nodded to him as I walked by him. “‘Tis good to see thee.” He fell in step besides me as we walked. "Magus, 'tis good to see that you are well and on your hooves again." "Aye, I am still recovering, but I feel much better than I did before thanks to the Princess." He had not said so, but he had probably worried for my life. I must have been in a dreadful state if he and Gale had decided to forego going to Canterlot in preference for the sanctuary. It seems my condition had been poor enough that I could not even be woken to ask for my own thoughts on the matter. I suppose the good news was that I was so sick that I was not conscious enough to experience my agony. Still, I did not think he would enjoy me bringing up his worries now that the worst had passed. "So I see," Stalwart said with the usual Kicker stoicism. We walked along for a while before I spoke again. "I think I owe thee something of an apology." His head tilted slightly. "Milady?" "I think I have made things somewhat difficult for thee, Sergeant," I explained. "I was not anxious to leave Canterlot for a backwoods town like Appleton and may have taken out some of my unhappiness on thee. Also, for my inexperience with dealing with the wider world." I blinked slowly as I thought about anything else I needed to apologize for. "Oh, and I apologize for dragging thee into a nearly suicidal battle against multiple hags that was likely to only result in us being horribly slain and our livers torn out and eaten by our killers. I despise thy calisthenics with an unbridled passion, but I wish thee no harm." Stalwart cleared his throat. "'Tis fine. I followed you willingly into danger and knew the risks." He gave me a smile that I could not help but call paternal. "In truth, you have an odd charisma about you that made me follow you." My head tilted as I tried to contemplate what he meant. "Aye, that is so?" “There is..." He seemed to struggled to find the words he wished to use. "There is something about you which draws me in. I have seen my share of leaders, and I think you have that same quality within you. 'Tis strange, when in so many ways you are unskilled in your dealings with other ponies, but ... aye, I would follow where you lead.” I was not quite sure how to reply to that, feeling embarrassed by his statement. I had never thought of myself as a leader of ponies. Not when I had been surrounded by ponies with far more charisma than myself. There were times when I felt like I was surrounded by giants that loomed over me with their presences. Between royalty, generals, archmagi, the high nobility, and the other great ponies of the realm that I saw on a regular basis, I felt very small and insignificant. The idea that others could look to me for leadership and follow me was a strange one. Yet it had been so in Appleton. Before the silence could become an uncomfortable one, the Sol acolyte stopped in front of a door and opened it for us. “Here you are, milady. All the supplies you need should be waiting within.” “My thanks,” I said with a nod. I entered and saw that the room was dominated by a large steaming pool of water. Light streamed in through a large window in the ceiling, lighting a meticulously groomed garden that surrounded the smooth stones that circled the pool. Bowls filled with fruit, a plate covered in sandwiches, and a bottle with a purple liquid had all been placed by the pool along with a couple of towels and some grooming supplies. It seemed Her Highness had arranged for me to enjoy one of the sanctuary’s reputed hot springs. The royal favor did come with many benefits, after all. Stalwart circled the pool, carefully examining the room. “I will be standing guard outside if you need me, milady,” he announced once he was satisfied that there were no lurking assassins in the room. “Very well then, Sergeant.” I suspected that he wished to give me some privacy while bathing. In truth, I could use some time to gather my own thoughts while I relaxed. The past few days had been most trying. “I will call on thee if there is any need.” Once Stalwart had taken station by the door, the acolyte gave me a hospitable smile. “Is everything to your satisfaction? If you have need of anything, I will retrieve it for you.” “I think everything I need is here,” I said. “Now if thou dost not mind…?” Taking the hint that I wished some privacy, she made a respectful bow of her head. “Very good then, milady. Enjoy the pool as long as you wish.” She departed and closed the door after herself, leaving me alone in the room. Seeing no reason to delay, I slowly slipped into the hot water. At first it felt uncomfortable, but as my skin warmed, it gained a pleasing sensation. I rested my head on the side of the pool as the heat worked its way into my tired muscles and cleaned me of the filth that had gathered on my coat. Resting there, I could feel why ponies said the pools had a healing effect on those that used them. The water was perfect for a weary pony such as myself. The sublime stillness of the moment was interrupted when I heard somepony slide into the pool alongside me. My eyes snapped open to see Subtle Song smiling at me. “Wouldst thou care for somepony to rub thy sore muscles?” she asked coyly. I instinctively jerked from the sudden presence of the bard. “S-Subtle?! What art thou doing here?!” She gave me a shameless smile as she levitated over a strawberry from one of the fruit bowls and popped it into her mouth. “Offering thee a service, of course.” I narrowed my eyes at the bard. “Thou dost know what I mean.” Subtle Song popped a couple of grapes into her mouth, clearly enjoying the opportunity to partake of some fresh fruit. “Your green guardian would have chased me off if I approached elsewise, and I suspect she gave similar orders to your shadow guarding the door.” That was probably true. Gale had made her dislike of Subtle Song obvious. She must have used some sort of veil to hide herself when Stalwart had inspected the room, and a quick check with my magical senses confirmed that a very careful working of a privacy spell outlined the room. That would explain why Stalwart had not immediately come charging into the room when I had shouted in surprise. “Thou hast come a long way to give me a backrub,” I commented. The sanctuary was a good ways from Appleton. I really should have asked somepony how long I had been unconscious, for now I did not have context for how quickly Subtle Song must have moved to come here. She shrugged. “I was in the area on other business. Now, close thine eyes and relax.” She moved position to rub my back. “You have already been through so much, and have earned your reward.” “As long as there is nothing untoward about it.” I grabbed some fruit and began eating it. Subtle Song began rubbing at my shoulders, her hooves working into my weary muscles. “Me? Untoward? Perish the thought.” She then kissed me on the neck. That kiss caused me to blink in surprise. “Um, there is no need for kissing in order to massage.” “There is no need to drink more than water or eat more than plain bread. It is a terrible pity to go through all of one's life doing only what is needed.” She emphasized her point by popping a couple more strawberries into her mouth. “There is a logic to that,” I allowed. I knew I enjoyed my own pleasures. My soft bed with its silk sheets was something I had dearly missed over the last few days, in addition to the comforts of Canterlot, and this was very enjoyable. “And I find that this—” Subtle Song worked her hooves into tired muscles, “—enhances the experience.” I could not help but groan in pleasure as the mix of the hot water and massage worked their magic. “Thou dost seem to have experience at this.” Receiving the occasional massage was one of the pleasures I got to receive in Canterlot, and I knew a skilled hoof when I felt one. “I have done this before.” She tilted my head so that I met her green eyes. I looked into them, but could not divine her thoughts. “So what business brought thee here?” I asked, feeling her hooves moved further down my back. “I have business with you, obviously.” Subtle Song leaned in and gave me a light kiss on the lips. “Gale guards thee most jealously and would not allow me to thank thee properly for all that you have done.” “Business with me?” I asked, a sense of caution building up within me. “What are thy intentions?” “Well, I had been considering seducing you.” She smirked as her hooves moved even further down, moving in very pleasing ways as they worked along my coat. “But that is a secondary goal. I think you have need of a mare with my skills, Midnight.” My felt my cheeks burn as the bard’s touch became all the more intimate. “T-Thy skills?” “Indeed. Surely thou couldst find many uses for a mare with a talent in speaking with crowds and gathering information. Not to mention my ... other skills.” Subtle Song’s lips met mine, this time with a far more sensual kiss that sent a shiver down my spine. I felt compelled to return the kiss as Subtle Song drew me in. While she acted with great skill, my own attempts to return the affection felt klutzy in return. When we broke it took a moment for me to catch my breath as my heart beat hard. “Um, it might be something to think about.” “Well, you can think it over for a bit.” She grinned in a teasing manner that promised many things. “While I show you what I can provide. It is past time you learned how to kiss properly. I think you would quite enjoy the lesson. And all the other things I could teach thee. Come, surely I would make a valued addition to your retinue?” “Retinue?” The idea was such a strange one that the word made me pause to think. I had never seriously considered having a retinue. Always I had been a part of my mother’s followers, and thus that was what my thoughts had been shaped along. The idea of possessing my own retinue was a curious and alluring one now that I thought about it. It was something that would aid me in my goals if I chose those that I attached to myself wisely. “A magus should have her collection of followers,” she said as her hooves continued to work over my body. “Ponies useful to your cause and to add to your prestige. And a bard would make a valuable ally. I could provide you information. Spread tales of your valor and glory to improve your reputation, among many other things.” One of her hooves moved to an area that was not entirely appropriate. “And ... other personal services.” “T-there is no n-need for the latter!” I quickly moved her hoof to a more appropriate place on my back, feeling quite embarrassed and flustered by the touch. That caused Subtle Song to put on an impish grin. “No need, perhaps, but we can certainly enjoy ourselves.” “We are currently in a public bath, Subtle,” I cautioned with an edge of disapproval. “I do not think what thou art suggesting is proper.” She gave me a teasing pout. “Of course 'tis not proper. That is half the fun of it.” She sighed and kept her hooves massaging my back. “But I suppose that might be too bold for our first time. There can be some pleasure in saving more adventurous activities for later.” “Aye, I would think so,” I said. “I hardly know thee. We only met a few days ago.” Not to mention I had to think what my mother would say about such a thing should she find out. Her disapproval about who I consorted with was not something I dealt with lightly. Not to mention there were other factors to consider with Subtle Song. “Then we must come to know one another better.” She nuzzled me, keeping herself close to me despite her declarations of moving things along slower. “That would make sense if we are to work with one another,” I agreed, letting her show her affection for me. “Indeed.” She briefly paused her massage and began pouring the bottle of juice into a pair of cups. “How about we do a game, then? A question for a question.” I frowned as I considered that. This might be an opportunity to get to know the bard, though it might result in her asking me some awkward questions. There was also the fact that Subtle Song was probably a good liar when she wished to be. She had admitted to having a silver tongue, and that often came with a talent for deception. Still, this offered opportunities. “Nothing inappropriate will be asked, I hope?” I asked. “You have the right to refuse a question or an act.” She grinned mischievously. “Though that takes away from the fun of the game if you do.” “Very well then.” I took my cup and quickly scanned it for poison, as was the habit my mother had impressed upon me. “Dost thou wish to start?” Subtle Song took a big drink of her own cup. “You wish to know me better, so you may ask first.” “Where art thou from?” I asked, starting with something simple. “Trottingham,” she said casually. “While you are from Canterlot.” “Aye, I have lived there my entire life.” I thought her answer curious. There was only a hint of a Trottingham accent in her speech. Though if that was because she was hiding it, or pretending to be from Trottingham, I could not say for certain. Subtle Song emptied her cup and refilled it. “Where do things stand 'tween thee and Gale?” Though she was putting on an air of disinterested amusement, I saw her looking at me carefully out of the corner of her eye. I sipped at my cup as I considered my answer. I had been taught by my mother how one words a question is very important considering how it could affect the answer one received. “She is my friend, and has been for much of my life.” Her eyebrow raised at that. “Only a friend? She guards thee so jealously...” “She cares about my safety.” I tried to keep any tension from my tone. I was growing tired of always having to deal with conflicts between those I knew. Gale being the center of more than one of those ties of discord. “Normally she does not act as so, but she seems cross with thee for some reason.” “Mayhaps she desires thee as I do.” Subtle Song’s lips met my neck in another light kiss that caused goosebumps. “I have asked two questions of thee it seems. How terribly rude,” she said with mirth. “'Tis thy turn twice o'er.” I decided now was a good time to get a better idea at what lay at the bard’s heart, and so chose a more probing question. “What are thine ambitions?” “Fortune, glory, and pleasure, of course.” She levitated a series of grapes into her mouth. “What more could I ask for?” An interesting answer that gave me a glimpse into the mystery that was the pony before me. That answer certainly seemed to fit Subtle Song, or at least everything I had seen of her thus far. “And you seek to gain those things by attaching thyself to me?” “Indeed I do. It seems a fine way to begin.” She finished chewing and leaned her back against the side of the pool with a lazy stretch. “I can see already that you are a pony of talent. Not many could have done what you have already, and I can only see your star rising higher and higher.” “That means I am probably going to expect much of thee,” I cautioned. She shrugged. “One must sometimes make sacrifices to reach one’s goals.” She finished up her cup and let out a large belch after doing so. “Mmm, sorry.” She wiped at her mouth. “And what are thine ambitions?” I splashed some water onto my face to buy me a little time to think over what to say as I sought to confirm what type of mare I was dealing with. “I would like to become an archmagus someday, for one,” I said, giving her the most obvious of my goals. Subtle Song picked up one of the sandwiches and took a bite out of it. Though the food had not been intended for her, she did not seem to have any shame in partaking. Mayhaps this was a habit of a wandering bard. That was a profession that probably saw more than one hungry night. “Given who thy mother is, that is no surprise. And future archmagus makes a fine mare to attach myself to.” I was surprised to hear her mention my mother considering I had never spoken of her before. True, Mother was a prominent individual as an archmagus and grand vizier, but there was a difference between knowing who the vizier was and who her bastard daughter was. “I would hope so. I suppose it is time to that I start acting seriously about achieving that goal. I cannot be languid if I expect to be a great magus.”   A smirk worked its way onto her lips. It seemed that she was being drawn in by the seduction of me gaining power. “And the first step along that path is building an information network, yes? An Archmagus will need her contacts and informants. Your mother has them. Gale has them. If you wish to play the game at their level, you must have them too.” “And dost thou think thou art a mare that can arrange such things?” I asked, drawing her in with another question as our game was quickly forgotten. “I do not think it, I know it,” she said with the utmost confidence. I blinked slowly, the wheels in my mind turning as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. “One cannot help but think that thou art more than thou dost present thyself.” She answered me with a cryptic grin. “Aren't we all?” She leaned in to give me a long, lingering kiss on the neck that started my heart racing again. Despite what her touch made me feel, when next I spoke it was with a cold, hard edge. “Aye, but I would be a fool to trust a spymaster that I did not know.” The change in my tone and my words caused Subtle Song to freeze in place and her lips left my neck. “Surprised that I had guessed the truth, Subtle Song?” I made no move, but instead held the bard in place with my words. “I have been surrounded by spies of one variety or another my entire life. I live in Canterlot of all places, and half the city is an informer of some stripe. My best friend is a spy. Didst thou think I would be so blind as to not recognize one under my very nose?” Her posture shifted, the allure that graced her every movement fell away, replaced by a tension that suggested a pony that was ready and alert to move at a moment’s notice. It was a quiet change, but I recognized how she now held herself—similar to the impression Gale normally gave me when she suspected danger may be present. When she spoke, all the flirtiness had left her tone, leaving something almost predatory behind. “Oh, I just knew you were going to be an interesting one.” “Being boring is not something I am usually accused of,” I said warily. I kept a close eye on the mare, now that I had revealed her true profession. While everything about her confirmed she was a spy, I did not know who she worked for, and my mother had her fair share of enemies. Now that her true nature was out in the open, this could be a dangerous moment for me. “True, true. I suppose I should be glad you worked it out. It would have been so dreadfully disappointing if all it took was a few kisses to win over Sunbeam Sparkle's daughter.” Subtle Song gave me a quick kiss, though this one lacked any the seductive flair of the previous ones, instead this one seemed more—genuine, I supposed. Though I was not sure how to take that fact. “So what gave me away?” “A variety of evidence.” I backed up a little bit from the spy, not feeling completely safe being quite so close to her until I knew more about her true intentions. “The fact thou happenedst to be in Appleton when thou wert. That thou hast shown courage and ability while in the heat of combat beyond what could be expected of a pony without training. Thou also knewest who my mother was, despite the fact I never told thee who she was. Then there are the talents one said that thou didst have. Thou didst arrive at this sanctuary despite me never telling thee that I was coming here.” I tapped my chin as I tried to think about what I might have forgotten. “Oh, and then there was the seduction. I have seen my mother use such tactics on many a pony before, and know all the signs of such tactics.”   “I see.” Subtle Song let out a lighthearted chuckle. “Well then, congratulations.” I tilted my head in confusion. “Congratulations?” “My opinion of you has improved considerably. My services are yours, if you would have me.” She stood up in the pool, and gave me a flourishing bow. “Subtle Song, agent of both your mother and your princess.” She shot me a knowing smirk as the revelation. “Surely you did not think they would let you venture into danger without some protection of their own?” I leaned back against the side of the pool as I thought that one over. “Neigh, I suppose I should not have. They always are working several steps ahead.” Having a moment to consider the issue, I asked, “I suppose their intention was to have thee work for me as thou hast worked for them?” “You have need of one with my skills, yes?” She settled back into the water, her smile never leaving her features. “I assure you, I am very good at what I do and will be of the utmost use to you.” I would have to confirm that she was who she said she was later in case she was indeed lying to me, but there was truth to her words. “Aye, so I do.” After a some careful consideration, I took her hoof and kissed it. “Very well then, Subtle Song, I accept thy services. May our relationship be a long and productive one.” “I am sure it will.” Subtle Song leaned in, a teasing tone in her voice as she whispered into my ear. “And for the record, while the attempted seduction was largely meant as a test, I did still enjoy it.” At that, she lifted herself out of the pool and walked away, her hips moving in interesting ways as she departed. Thus leaving me to think long and hard about many things. I did have a future to think about, after all.