Friends Old and New
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Queens—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all stallions count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the World and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Stallion, my son!
“Poems for Young Stallions”, The Equestrian Encyclopedia of General Knowledge
I found myself rushing down a long tunnel and ended up in a beautiful, white bedroom. Clearly a filly’s room, there was an abundance of pink ribbons, a canopy bed and wide windows which were letting in a soft Spring breeze. Next to a couple of stuffed animals was a tiny little filly, I guessed three or four years old. She had a flaming red mane and was wearing a frilly white frock. She was crying over something.
The door opened and in walked a stately unicorn mare. She looked exactly like Lady Astrid except for clear green eyes. Astrid’s mother, I thought. The stately mare walked over to the little filly, pulled her to her hooves and then slapped her across the muzzle, twice: crack, crack! “You are a von Horsenberg,” said Lady Astrid’s mother to the little filly, “you will show weakness to nopony.”
The scene changed in a rush of sights, sounds and smells. Lady Astrid was a teenager and the ideal of a unicorn mare. She was in fencing gear receiving a trophy for first prize. Nopony clapped.
Another rush of memories. Lady Astrid at boarding school, daintily eating a small supper and reading a book of magic. Outside the open window you could hear other ponies laughing and carrying on overlaid with dance music.
The memories intensified. Another scene change and there was Astrid in a wedding gown getting married to a stocky unicorn. She felt nothing at all.
Change. A pregnant Lady Astrid cradling her stomach as she started out a window. At last, somepony who would love her unconditionally.
Darkness, then flashes of red. An enraged Astrid standing over the bloody and broken body of her husband, his dead eyes staring up at the ceiling. Astrid’s face was bruised and battered and her transparent blue eyes were full of hate.
More red flashes, then the smell of blood and death. Lady Astrid in a mourning veil standing over a small gravestone, face as cold as marble. She lost the foal, I thought, then the scene changed again.
A young Astrid before the Council with Celestia herself as her witness. “We the Council find no violation of the Second Law. Case dismissed.”
Somewhat later, Celestia talking to Astrid over some budgeting issue, Celestia looking at her with concern. Later still, Astrid at one of Celestia’s soirees, standing alone and drinking a glass of punch.
The memories started to run together, a repeat of work, exercise, study magic, eat, sleep, the occasional book. Looks of fear from her staff, maids leaving after a few weeks, Tia giving her more responsibility, a member of the Guard I didn’t know standing in front of her, terrified. Her executing a rogue unicorn, slitting the mare’s throat on the Council floor as coolly as if she were on the fencing course, watching the red blood run to her perfect hooves. Her watching me as I walked into the Counsel chamber and thinking how dangerous I was.
And then we were back.
Lady Astrid lowered her hoof. I looked into her eyes and raised my right hoof.
“My Lady, I…”
“Save your pity for one of your other mares, Lieutenant. I have no need of it.”
I didn’t answer, just lowered my hoof and stayed standing. Lady Astrid walked to the center of the room and released the seal. She watched as the doors opened and the two mares along with Shining Armor walked back in. Carl gave me a look but I just shrugged one shoulder.
Lady Astrid talked to the two unicorns, then they took their places on the dais. Lady Astrid tapped the gavel twice. “We the Council find no malice in Benjamin Inventor and declare his magic pure and acceptable to this Council. We also promote him to Captain and to Protector of the Crown. Oi ye, oi ye, oi ye, this Council session is closed.”
Shining Armor and I bowed and held the bow until the three mares were past us. Lady Astrid paused just a moment to look at me, then kept on walking. As soon as they were out the door, Carl and I stood. We looked at one another in astonishment. Two promotions! And one jumping a rank! Who would have guessed?
We didn’t talk until we were a block away from the Council building, then Shining Armor leapt up in the air and slammed both hooves down on my shoulders. “Incredible! You’re not dead!!”
“Get off me, you lug!” I said, pushing him off. Shining Armor just kept grinning.
“There you stood, as cool as a cucumber the entire time. Magic, I was scared!” he said, walking on. “Can you talk about the Reading?”
“I’m sorry, Carl, I can’t; it’s under Council seal.”
Shining Armor waved a hoof. “Forget it, forget it, I shouldn’t have asked. So, Captain, care to celebrate?”
“You know what I’d like? I’ll tell you what I’d like. I’d like for you to take me home, give me food and let me spend time with that marvelous Princess. You can stay too, I guess.”
And so he did. Cadence was delighted to see me again and I found myself with a hoof full of very pretty and sweet alicorn when she greeted me. She could cook, too, so we had a celebratory feast, the three of us, laughing, talking and reminiscing. Cadence started talking about their upcoming wedding and after a couple of minutes Carl and I pretended to die of boredom, both of us sliding under the kitchen table with our tongues hanging out the side of our mouths.
“Stop it, both of you!” said a laughing Cadence. “Benjamin, I believe you have a wedding of your own to think about?”
I pretended to think, tapping my front hooves together and staring at the ceiling. “Wedding, wedding, wedding. Let’s see, there’s yours, of course. Lyra? No. Rarity? No. Perhaps Pierre? No, he fancies Lyra.”
“To Applejack, you dope!” said Cadence, smacking me on the shoulder.
I shrunk back in my chair in mock horror. “You…you mean, I actually have to marry AJ?!? Aaaiiee!” Carl roared with laughter while Cadence kept yelling at me to stop acting like dope. We had a fine time and as their grandfather clock struck 6, I got up to leave.
“Watch, both of you,” I said as I stood in hall. I called up my magic ball again. I had all of Lady Astrid’s refinements from her years and years of study, so instead of hissing and crackling, the magic ball gave off a low hum. I contained the magic perfectly, the display inspiring awe instead of fear now.
“Whoa!” said Shining Armor.
“Ooooo, that’s unbelievable!” said a wide-eyed Cadence.
I snuffed the ball with a thought. “Keep it to yourselves, alright?”
“Sure,” “Yes, I will,” both said at the same time.
Cadence gave me a kiss on either cheek and touched my nose with hers (she liked the Pegasus Farewell too, I thought), then left me with Carl.
I reached out to shake his hoof but instead he reached forward and wrapped me in his front hooves.
“I love you, stallion,” he said gruffly, then pulled back.
“I love you, too, Carl, and I can’t thank you enough for standing by me today.” I turned to go, then turned back, grinning. “Don’t worry, I don’t want to pick out curtains or anything.”
Carl laughed, shoved me out his front door and made a big show of slamming it.
I chuckled as I headed toward the depot and Roundhouse’s house. I thought of Lady Astrid’s barren, empty life with no friends at all and thanked the Magic I had such good ones. I still couldn’t get over the two promotions. I didn’t do a thing, just showed up. Eh, well, most likely politics of some sort and I’d get it later.
I called out to my Lady Magic. So, my Lady, what do You think of Your favorite Guardian now?
No answer.
My Lady?
Nothing. Hmm, must be busy somewhere else.
I found Roundhouse’s little cottage about two blocks from the station. I got the key from under the mat and walked in. It was a pleasant place, one single large room, a bedroom, a kitchen and a small bathroom. I tossed the key on a little table next to the door and put my saddlebags and pouch in the bedroom. There were pictures on a table under a window: a very young Roundhouse next to an old Single Driver locomotive, Roundhouse with a half dozen railroaders, an older Roundhouse grinning with his hooves around two young stallions’ shoulders, both with the exact same grin. Foals, I thought. Grown now.
Over the fireplace was portrait of a pleasant looking Earth pony mare wearing an army uniform. I read the plaque:
MSgt. Cecilia Roundhouse
4th Light Infantry, 2nd Squad
d. Year of Celestia 1,093
That would be…eight years ago, five years before I got here. The last year of the Griffon War, too. That war just comes up over and over again.
I looked around. The place was clean enough but I thought I could do better. I opened a window and cast a cleaning spell. Dust, dirt and a few insects whooshed out the window. I closed it, cleaned the windows inside and out, polished the floors, fixed a rotten floorboard, then polished the furniture which was excellent quality. I went into the bedroom and flipped the mattress, then remade the bed after magically cleaning the sheets. I scrubbed the bathroom and kitchen until they shone, then cleared a half clog in the shower drain. I reamed out the water pipes, fastened down a couple of loose cedar shakes and fixed a crack in the foundation. I did all of this with magic which was sharp, incredibly accurate and which cost me far, far less effort than it would have before I’d spent time with Lady Astrid.
House in order, I found some black tea in a cabinet, put on a kettle and made myself some. I found an apple (Pink Mare) in a well-stocked ice box, magically refroze the melted ice and then settled in the parlor in front of a wood fire I’d laid earlier. Have to clean out the ashes in the morning, I thought.
I was enjoying a pleasant lassitude and wishing AJ were with me and leaning on my side as usual when I heard a light tapping at the door. Most likely a friend of Roundhouse’s who doesn’t know he’s doing the Baltimare run tonight, I thought. I got up and answered the door, prepared to send whoever it was on their way.
It was Lady Astrid.
I was so stunned I took a couple of steps backward before I remembered to step aside and bow. She walked in, as elegant as ever.
“So this is the house of a hogger,” she said, looking around the front room.
“Won’t you come in, my Lady?” I said as I rose. “I was just having a cup of tea.”
“Thank you, I will.”
In something of a daze I made another cup of black tea and put in two lumps of sugar. No detail too small from a mind meld, I thought, as I came back into the parlor.
Lady Astrid was sitting up and stretched out facing the fire, unbelievably appealing. She glanced up at me as I put the tea between her front hooves. I stretched out myself a couple of feet from her, also facing the fire. I hadn’t lit a lamp yet, so the firelight made Lady Astrid look even more exotic.
“Do you find me attractive, Maker?” she asked, sipping her tea.
“A stallion dead for six months would find you attractive, my Lady.”
That earned me a very small smile. “When it’s just us, you can use my Private Name.”
“Thank you, Juliette,” I said.
She drank her tea in silence, then said, “I’ve done two other Private Readings. I ended up slitting both their throats.”
“I know.”
More tea. “Do you love me?” she asked, no change of tone in her voice.
“Yes,” I answered.
“Why?”
“Because you’re yourself. Because you’re the only pony in the World that knows every single thing there is to know about me, so I don’t have to hide anything from you, ever. And because you’re the only other unicorn as powerful as I,” I said. And it was true. Lady Astrid knew the good, the bad and the ugly about me, parts of me even AJ didn’t know and never would.
Juliette finished her tea, so I took her cup and mine into the kitchen. I left them in the sink to wash later, then settled back where I was before. Lady Astrid just stared at the fire for a good while until it burned down. I got up to add some wood, then settled again once the fire crackled to life.
“I don’t know how to love,” she said. “You did before you came to this World. And you don’t mind when other ponies hug you, play with you, tackle you or just act silly around you. You don’t even mind when they attack you. Because you love them, all of them.”
“Yes,” I said, “although I could do without the attacking.”
“I haven’t touched a pony in almost three years until I touched you today.”
Without looking at her, I scooted a little closer and took Juliette’s right hoof in my left. She gripped it with a death grip but I didn’t protest. A single tear tracked down her muzzle.
“I only know how to hate. Or to feel nothing at all,” she said in that same calm tone, still gripping my hoof like a drowning pony.
Another pause. “Would you make love to me, Maker?” she said, still staring at the fire, still gripping my hoof.
“If you like, Juliette,” I answered casually, knowing full well that wasn’t what she wanted or needed.
“If you did, would it be like it was with Sunny? If you did, would you love me the way you loved her?”
“No, honey, I wouldn’t. I’m sorry,” I answered, sad for her.
“’Honey’,” she repeated. “Nopony has ever used an endearment with me, ever. Not even my…” and Juliette choked back a sob, then went on, voice calm again, “…not even my mother or father.”
“I won’t do it if it bothers you, Juliette.”
“No, it’s fine.” Another pause. “AJ calls you ‘Partner’, ‘Hon’ and ‘Studly’.”
“Yes.”
“That’s nice.” Same calm tone, same grip.
We kept staring at the fire, the two of us. I’d have thought Lady Astrid asleep if her eyes hadn’t reflected the firelight.
“Help me,” she finally said, voice calm as ever. “Help me, Maker. Please help me.”
I gently pulled my hoof from hers and slowly slid closer until my body was touching hers for most of my length. I could feel her quivering every now and then.
“All right,” I said, taking her hoof again. I took a breath and sang:
In Stableside there lived a maid,
Mark well what I do say!
In Stableside there lived a maid,
And she was mistress of her trade.
I'll go no more a roving with you, fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
I took this maiden for a walk,
Mark well what I do say!
I took this maiden for a walk,
I gave her some gin and didn't she talk!
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
She said, "You sailors I love you so,"
Mark well what I do say!
"All you sailors, I love you so,"
And the reason why I soon did know.
I'll go no more a roving with you fair maid!
A rovin', a rovin',
Since rovin's been my ru-i-in,
I'll go no more a roving,
With you fair maid!
When I stopped, Juliette was completely still. I felt her stir a few seconds later, so I turned and looked at her. She was looking at me with an expression of complete and utter amazement. Then she smiled, this brilliant, beaming smile. Then she laughed. Just a small, choked off sort of laugh. Then she laughed again, a little longer. Then she started laughing, really laughing, body shaking, eyes tearing, the works. She had a low, hearty laugh, similar to AJ’s.
“Did you…*gasp*…did you…hahahahaha…did you just sing a bawdy sea shanty to me!?!” she choked out, wiping her eyes.
I grinned at her. “That was actually a very mild one. I know some that would curl your mane.”
“Ahahahah…oh, gosh….*gasp*…whew. Ah, me,” she said, finally winding down.
Let the healing begin, I thought.
“Please excuse me,” Juliette said and daintily stepped over me to go to the bathroom.
I watched the fire and did some breathing exercises. Lady Astrid was on a knife edge but at least I had a chance now.
I stayed very still as Juliette came back from the bathroom. She settled next to me, her right flank touching all along my left side which was a good sign. I said nothing, just let her settle.
“No wonder mares like you, Ben,” she said, “you make them laugh.”
I smiled at that. “One of the first rules of a relationship, Juliette: ‘Keep ‘em laughing’.”
“My husband…” she started, then broke off and looked away from me.
“Baroness Astrid Gräfin von Horsenberg,” I said in deadly earnest, still looking at the fire, “were your husband alive today, I swear on my Sacred Honor he would not see another Sunrise.” I Felt my magic surge at the oath, then quiet again.
Juliette nodded. I Felt her magic field very cautiously reach out for mine, barely touching my field around the edges. I didn’t look at her, just kept up my T’ai Chi breathing and made her as welcome as I could. After a few more probes, her field merged into mine and I felt her relax. This was the first time she’d merged with another unicorn since she was a little filly; 50 years completely alone. Good, good, I thought. No sudden moves, slow breathing, nothing untoward.
Lady Astrid slowly, very slowly, rested her chin on my left shoulder. She was a little taller than I, so she didn’t have to strain. I took a breath and sang softly:
Train whistle blowing makes a sleepy sound
Underneath their blankets foals are slumber bound
Rocking rolling riding out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
Driver at the engine, fireman rings the bell
Sandman swings the lantern to show that all is well
Rocking rolling riding out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
Maybe it is raining where our train will ride
All the little travelers are warm and snug inside
Rocking rolling riding out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
Somewhere there is, sunshine somewhere there is day
Somewhere there is Morningtown many miles away
Rocking rolling riding out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
All bound for Morningtown many miles away
I Felt Juliette’s magic field change and her breathing slow as she fell asleep. I sent her love and reassurance, then relaxed a little myself. The fire burned down to glowing coals, the room darkening around us. I heard the station clock chime 8. She has a chance now, I thought, a good chance. I felt a spasm of hate for Juliette’s long-dead husband but quelled it since I didn’t want to disturb her.
I heard the station clock strike the quarter, then the half. I was starting to nod myself when Juliette stirred, then sat up and gave a tremendous yawn. Even her yawns are elegant, I thought, thinking of AJ’s unrestrained smacking noises.
“Oh, I must have drifted off,” Lady Astrid said. “What is the time?”
“8:30.”
“I’d best go; I have an early meeting with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna about the new sewer line.”
She withdrew her magic field from me and stood. I lit an oil lantern with magic as I got up and the glow surrounded us. Juliette was a completely different unicorn than when she entered. I could Feel it as well as see it in her body language.
She turned to me just before she got to the door.
“Thank you, Maker. Thank you for everything,” she said.
“You’re welcome, Juliette.”
“What should I do now?” she asked. I was waiting for that. One step at a time, I thought.
“Two things, my Lady. Do you know the donut shop a couple of blocks from the palace?”
Her ears perked forward. “Why, yes, I do.”
“Princess Celestia is obsessed with the cream-filled donuts there,” I said, smiling blandly. “She only allows herself two a month since she’s vain about her figure. Go there first thing in the morning and get a dozen of those donuts and take them to the meeting.”
“All right,” Juliette said, making a note on a small notepad with a jeweled pencil.
“After the meeting, take a moment to thank Celestia for her supporting you all these years.”
Juliette nodded. “I will. Is there anything else?”
Once a functionary always a functionary, I thought. “I’d like you to spend Year’s End with the Apples and me in Ponyville. I’ll ask the family to invite the Brickles as well. I want the fillies in both families to meet you.” But mainly you to meet them, I thought to myself, particularly Winter and Apple Bloom. “The accommodations aren’t as luxurious as you’re used to, of course, but Granny will make you most welcome. The spa is World class, too.”
For the first time, Lady Astrid looked nonplussed. “Me? With your family?”
“You know them as well as I do, my Lady. Don’t tell me you don’t have enough vacation time?”
“Four years, three months, two weeks and five days,” she said, putting away her pad and pencil. Juliette smiled, that same beautiful smile from before. “I’d love to come.”
“Excellent! We’ll work out the details closer to the day,” I said, smiling back at her. Careful, careful, I thought. I took a step forward and, very slowly, kissed her left muzzle, then her right, then touched her nose with mine. She shivered just a little, then stopped.
I stepped back and gave her a full bow. “It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to get to know you, my Lady. Thank you for this day.”
Lady Astrid nodded, then after I rose put her right hoof very gently on my chest but didn’t say anything else. “Farewell, Maker,” she said, then turned and walked out into the cold night.
I shut and barred the door, then let out an explosive breath. By the Lord of Hel’s spurred fetlocks, this had been a day. I banked the fire and carried the oil lamp into the bathroom. I went through my usual ablutions and idly wondered where Lady Magic had gone, then snuffed the lamp, climbed into bed and fell asleep at once.
Back Home
“There's a race of mares that don't fit in,
A race that can't sit still;
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will.
They range the field and rove the flood,
And they climb the mountain's crest;
Theirs is the curse of the gypsy blood,
And they don't know how to rest.”
“Poems for Young Mares”, The Equestrian Encyclopedia of General Knowledge
I woke in the grey pre-dawn to a mockingbird singing, “This yard is mine, mine, mine” in a dozen different languages and dialects. I felt perfectly rested and balanced, even more than usual and decided I wasn’t bleeding magic any longer. I yawned and stretched, then raided Roundhouse’s icebox for breakfast. I had some more tea, then magically cleaned the cups along with all the dishes, skillets, pots and pans in the cupboards. I refroze the ice, cleaned the sheets again, remade the bed, used the bathroom, cleaned that and then dumped the fireplace ashes in an ash can out back. As I turned to go back in, I felt a small weight land on my head and two bright upside-down eyes looked into mine.
“You’re not Roundhouse,” said the mockingbird.
“I’m just a friend staying the night, Most Versatile and Talented of Songbirds.”
“Well, that’s alright, then,” he said. He flew back to the top of the small cherry tree in the front yard and started singing again. So they can tell ponies apart, I thought.
I gathered up my pouch and saddlebags, locked the door and put the key back under the mat where I’d found it. I’d have to make up for the produce I’d eaten later but as it happens I knew a few farmers so I didn’t think that would be a problem. It was 6:10 by the station clock when I got to the depot. I checked the freight schedule and there was one heading through Ponyville on route to Appleloosa. I didn’t want to wait for the 7:30 passenger train and I decided I’d sneak on as a boxcar tourist if the engineer didn’t want me in the cab.
I walked over to the freight depot and found a 4-4-0 idling on a siding. This one was at least 20 years old but she was in beautiful shape. I looked over the pistons and piston rods magically and found a composite cylinder, steel with a ring of brass with the sleeve lined in brass, too. That meant the brass expanded and less steam escaped. Ingenious. Why didn’t I think of that? And some of the tubing was copper instead of steel. Why would you do that? Cost?
“Can I help you, sir?”
Still half absorbed in the engine, I turned to find an older Earth pony in the traditional striped hat and overalls.
“Yes…yes, you can,” I said, rather rudely forgoing the pleasantries. “Is this engine from the Smithson and Sons works out of Hoofington?” I asked, pointing to her.
“Sure is. Picked her up myself 24 years ago this week.”
I’ve got to visit that foundry, I thought. The Gala engine was a Smithson, too. Who are these ponies? Then I realized I was ignoring the engineer.
“Apologies, Engineer, for my rudeness. Allow me to introduce myself. Benjamin Inventor,” I said, holding out a hoof.
The engineer took it. “Dylan Martin,” said the engineer, shaking it. “Sayyyyy,” he said as he released my hoof. “You that unicorn that helped Seamus out the other day?”
“The Station Manager?”
“That’s my boy. Just got that job.”
“A dedicated railroader, sir. You should be proud.”
“Oh, I am, I am. He was the first in th’ family to get an office job, you know? He might a’ lost it if you hadn’t run the 7 o’clock.”
“I was delighted to help,” I said. “I’d been itching to drive a 4-4-0 for some time.”
The engineer laughed and slapped me on the back. “Well, you’re a hogger now! Wanna ride with me to Ponyville?”
“I’d be honored, Mr. Martin.”
“Shoooot, just call me Whiskers,” the engineer said. “Everypony does.”
“Company stallion, I take it?”
“56 years. Hafta retire at 60 and I plan t’ make it.”
Just then who should walk up but Timothy Martin. “Mr. Inventor!” he said.
“Timothy! How are you, young stallion? Are you the firepony for the 6:30?”
“Yes, sir! And speaking of, I’d best get to it.”
Whiskers proudly watched him head to the hog. “My second daughter’s youngest. A good stallion.” Whiskers look became grim and turned to me. “He done told me about Tomas, Mr. Inventor.” Whiskers shook his head. “That filly Lauryn of his, I swear. Tomas has done the best he could with her since his wife died, but Lauryn is as willful as her mother ever was. Good hoof with a needle, though; inherited that from her mother, she did.”
So, I had a name: Lauryn O’Malley. Pretty name. “Whiskers, this case is of some interest to me. I’m a Protector of the Crown and Lauryn left with two unicorns.”
Whiskers looked alarmed. “Do you think they’ll harm her?”
“If they hurt her with magic, sir, it’ll be the last thing they ever do, I can promise you that. It’s unlikely, though. My guess is this is just a filly with restless hooves and a rebellious streak.”
Whiskers nodded. “Fillies do tend t’ get into trouble around 16. My oldest jumped a freight when she was 15 and rode all the way to the coast as a boxcar tourist.” Whiskers looked at the station clock. “On our way, Mr. Inventor!”
We both hopped into the cab, Whiskers very spry for his age. We steamed out of the depot right on time at 6:30 and I stayed back while Timothy stoked the firebox and Whiskers drove. Whiskers had a gentle, light touch and I could tell he loved this engine as if it were his own foal. Wonderful. He and Timothy shared a companionable silence, obviously very used to one another. I also enjoyed the silence after yesterday and last night. About 30 miles out Whiskers pointed to the sky which was full of pegasi. It was the Pegasus Migration heading towards Cloudsdale so they could bring in Winter tomorrow on 5th. I wondered what Derpy, Summer Breeze and Storm Spotter were doing.
About an hour out of Ponyville, Whiskers called for a song. Timothy raised his voice and sang in the most perfect, clear tenor I’d ever heard:
Nelly Bly! Nelly Bly! Bring your broom along,
We'll sweep the kitchen clean, my dear,
And have a little song.
Poke the wood, my lady love,
And make the fire burn,
And while I take my banjo down,
Just give that mush a turn.
Heigh, Nelly! Ho, Nelly!
Listen, love, to me,
I'll sing for you, I’ll play for you
A dulcet melody.
Whiskers and I joined in on the chorus. Whiskers could sing almost as well as Timothy and I wasn’t bad myself, harmonizing with both of them a third above the melody. Whiskers pushed the throttle just a bit so the engine kept time with us. Life was very good indeed.
Whiskers slowed her down to a crawl as we passed the Ponyville depot and I hopped off. I waved to both Martins as they gathered steam and, song still in my head, cast the Pony Locator spell for Lauryn O’Malley.
She was three blocks away.
Very well, young mare, I thought, you and I are going to have a talk right now. I walked to a cottage slightly larger than standard with an attic and what looked from the outside like an extra bedroom. I knocked on the door and a matronly Earth pony opened it a few seconds later. She had a strong family resemblance to Tomas O’Malley. Her eyes widened when she saw me.
“Good day, ma’am, my name is Benjamin Inventor, Protector of the Crown. May I ask if Lauryn O’Malley is here?”
“That she is, Mr. Inventor. Come in, if you please.”
“Thank you…?”
“Sara Quinn, sir.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Quinn.” The door opened into a front parlor, very neat and well kept. The cottage also faced East-West, so there was plenty of natural light from the glass windows which were something of a luxury. I took off my saddlebags and put them next to the door.
“This way, Mr. Inventor,” said Mrs. Quinn. She led me to the spare bedroom, knocked on the door and then opened it.
On the bed was a young Earth pony filly who also had a very clear resemblance to Tomas O’Malley. Where he was stocky, the filly was slender but still muscular. She had light grey eyes, a cream colored hide and a flowing brown mane. She was also wearing a blue-grey gingham dress with fluffle sleeves and a bow in front which matched her eyes exactly. Yes, indeed, this one would attract the attention of traveling salesponies, I thought.
“What is it, Aunt Sara?” she said, and then saw me standing in the bedroom door.
Lauryn threw her book down and jumped up and across the room almost faster than I could follow. She tried to press her tail into the corner and stood, shaking.
“W…wh…who’re you?” she said through clenched teeth.
Great, just great, I thought. “My name is Benjamin Inventor, young mare. I’m a Protector of the Crown. I mean you no harm.” I cast a slight calming spell and Lauryn stopped shaking.
“Am I…in trouble?” she asked, slowly unfolding from the corner.
“That is up to your father, Lauryn. However, you have worried and inconvenienced a great many ponies the last few days. It is time for you to face the consequences of your actions and know how they affect others.”
Behind me Mrs. Quinn nodded decisively, twice.
“Now then,” I said, trying to look as innocuous as possible. “I need you to please tell me of these salesponies I’ve heard so much about. Mrs. Quinn, may we use the front parlor? And it would oblige me if you’d stay as well.”
“O’course, sir. In the parlor, filly, and mind your manners,” Mrs. Quinn said. Good mare, Mrs. Quinn.
Lauryn slid past me, staying as close to the wall as possible. We settled in the parlor and Mrs. Quinn brought out some excellent green tea which must have come from overseas; I’d only had similar in the palace.
After sipping some tea, I said, “Lauryn, please tell me where you’ve been the past three days.”
Lauryn looked uncomfortable, tugging on her mane with her left hoof. “Well, Mr. Inventor, I was just out a’walkin’ when these twin ponies steamed up in this contraption and started riding beside me. One thing led to another and I ended up getting in and riding with them half way to Hoofington. When we camped that night, Flim – the ponies was named “Flim” and “Flam” – he, well…he made advances. I told him ‘no’ a couple of times and when he didn’t stop, I, well, I gave him a left uppercut and knocked him down.”
“Did you now?” Contraption? I’ll ask about that some other time.
“Yessir. My Daddy, he taught me how to box pretty good.”
“Please continue,” I said, rather liking this filly.
“Well, Flim, he just blew his stack. He grabbed Flam – those weren’t their real names, by the way, but what they used when they wasn’t a’talkin’ foreign – and they left me there by the side of the road.”
Worthless slime, I thought, to abandon a filly like that.
“I see,” I said instead. “And what happened next?”
“I slept in an abandoned barn that night under a pile o’ hay. I knew there was track which runs from Hoofington t’ here about 20 miles from the road. It’s a 15 mph track ‘cause of the curves, so after I’d walked for most of the next day, I got to th’ track and it was easy enough to hop a freight. I got into Ponyville early this mornin’ and I came to Aunt Sara’s since Daddy was making the Baltimare run.”
Resourceful, I thought, liking her even more.
“Lauryn, what I’m about to ask you is very important. At any time did…what were their names again?”
“’Flim’ and ‘Flam’ although that wasn’t their real names.”
“Yes, at any time did Flim and Flam use magic on you in any way?”
“After I popped him, Flim, he wanted to, but Flam got real scared and stopped him.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Lowlifes they may be, but at least they knew the First Law.
“Good, Lauryn, just a few more questions. When you’re not in school, what do you do?”
“Work in th’ railyard some.”
“No dressmaking or alterations? You made that dress you’re wearing, didn’t you?”
“This ol’ thing?” Lauryn said, plucking at the bow. “Yeah, I made it last year from a picture in a magazine. Aunt Sara kept it here with some of my others. I was glad since what I was wearin’ when I left was all tore up.”
“Miss Rarity is always looking for good workers,” I said. Rarity complained to me all the time about how she needed help.
“Why, shucks, Mr. Inventor, a refined unicorn mare like Miss Rarity would never hire a railroad filly.” She pronounced “refined” as “ree-fined”.
Oh, really? I’d come across this attitude several times. Even Granny Smith mentioned “them rail ponies” once and it wasn’t complimentary. Hmm.
I looked at Mrs. Quinn and she nodded twice again. “That’s right, Mr. Inventor. Most ponies won’t hire us unless it’s in the yard or working as a track walker or engine wiper.”
“Indeed? Well, it doesn’t pay to underestimate the Element of Inspiration. Skill goes a very long way with Rarity as I can attest.”
Lauryn’s ears swiveled forward. “Oh, yeah, I just remembered I saw you two dance last year during the Festival.” She sighed. “She was so graceful.”
While I just stood there and blew a flugelhorn, no doubt. Yes, I did like this filly.
“Very well, thank you, Lauryn. Mrs. Quinn, with your permission, I’ll escort this young mare home. And Lauryn O’Malley,” I said as I lighted my horn and changed my eye color briefly, “do not make me come looking for you again.” I tried to imitate Lady Dragon and thought I did it pretty well.
Lauryn’s ears flattened to her head for just a moment, then when they came back up, she looked at the floor and scraped her left hoof a few times. “No, sir,” she said.
Mrs. Quinn gave her habitual double nod and then looked at the mantle clock: 12:50. “Tomas should be at home now, Mr. Inventor. I was just waitin’ for him to get back.”
“Then we’ll be on our way. Thank you for the excellent tea, Mrs. Quinn.”
As I stood to leave, Mrs. Quinn laid a gentle hoof on my left front shoulder. “And thank you for helping us railponies, Mr. Inventor.” I could tell she meant Tomas as well.
“Not at all, ma’am. If I or any other agent of the Crown can be of service to you again, please let me know.”
One more double nod and after I put on my saddlebags, Lauryn and I were out the door and on our way. Lauryn’s house was only a couple of blocks and we walked it in silence. I didn’t realize it but I was whistling “Nelly Bly” to myself as I walked along. Suddenly, Lauryn sang:
Heigh, Nelly! Ho, Nelly!
Listen, love, to me,
I'll sing for you, I’ll play for you
A dulcet melody.
Nelly Bly shuts her eye
when she goes to sleep.
When she wakens up again
her eyeballs start to peep.
The way she walks, she lifts her foot,
and then she brings it down,
And when it lights, there's music there
in that part of the town.
Heigh, Nelly! Ho, Nelly!
Listen, love, to me,
I'll sing for you, I’ll play for you
A dulcet melody.
Her voice was even better than Timothy’s, an alto as clear as a mountain stream. I stared at her in astonishment, wondering if all railroaders had such good voices.
“Why, that’s quite good, Miss O’Malley. You could sing a duet with Timothy Martin, perhaps with a pair of sand blocks and a banjo.”
Her ears shot forward. “You know Timmy?”
“I’ve had the pleasure, yes.”
“Oh, he’s so handsome,” Lauryn sighed with a dreamy expression on her face.
He is? I’d found him rather plain, myself, but of course said nothing.
“A fine stallion. And one who was most upset when you went missing.”
That made Lauryn’s ears droop all over again. Oh ho, I thought, that got to you where the other admonitions didn’t.
We were soon at her front door and I knocked. She took a breath and braced herself. Tomas answered, and the second he saw her, he grabbed her in both front hooves.
“Lauryn! Where were you?” “Daddy, I’m back, I’m back, I’m sorry!!” Both were talking at once. Tomas shook her like a rag doll, slapped her once (not very hard), then hugged her again. Exit, stage left, I thought, and cast a concealing spell I’d learned from Lady Astrid.
I lifted the spell a minute or so later as I trotted to Rarity’s. I burst through her door, slid across her floor on my knees and spread both my front hooves while singing at the top of my lungs:
Heigh, Nelly! Ho, Nelly!
Listen, love, to me,
I'll sing for you, I’ll play for you
A dulcet melody
“Cooommming!” Rarity called from the back of the shop. Drat, a perfectly good entrance ruined by a lack of an audience.
I was still on my knees when I heard hooves pelting down the steps. It was Sweetie Belle, Rarity’s little sister.
“Hi, Mr. Inventor!” she said, throwing herself into my front hooves and kissing my nose.
“Hey, Pest,” I said. Sweetie Belle was Pest #2.
“Gotta go!” she said as she hopped down. “’Bye!” Sweetie Belle raced off and slammed the still-open door behind her.
Heh, cute, I thought. But such a nuisance when she’s with the other two.
I got to my hooves just as Rarity came from the back of her shop. As always, I enjoyed watching my dance partner move.
“Hello, Gorgeous,” I said.
“Benjamin! How are you?” said Rarity in that clipped accent of hers.
“Hungry since I missed lunch. What’s t’ eat?”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Oh, honestly. Sometimes I think the only reason you come here is to mooch off of me.”
“Well, not the only reason,” I said, leering.
Rarity giggled, then stuck her nose in the air. “Oh, very well. Follow me to the kitchen.” As she walked away, I thought of AJ imitating her during harvest.
I tossed my saddlebags and pouch next to the door and followed Rarity. As always, her presentation was very artistic and we had a fine lunch. We talked about Ponyville and our friends, then Rarity handed me a schedule she’d worked out for our rehearsals. Three days a week, an hour a day until Year’s End. Yes, that should work.
“Oh, and Benjamin,” she said as I helped her clean up the kitchen. “Thank you for sending those Brickle fillies to me. Summer has a perfect figure and Spring’s larger size – we’ll, they’re both ideal to model my new Farmer’s Daughter line of dresses.”
“Excellent, Rarity, very good. They’re both wonderful fillies. Oh, and say, I’ve found you some help.” I used a convenient pad and pen to write out Lauryn O’Malley’s name and address. “She’s a railroad filly and has a natural talent for making dresses.”
“I’d hire one of the Lord of Hel’s minions if he could sew and would show up on time,” Rarity said, looking at the paper. “Thank you again, Benjamin.”
I had a good laugh at that. Rarity had a biting sense of humor she only let her good friends see. At the door, I tossed my saddlebags over my back and tied on my pouch. I leaned forward, kissed Rarity on both sides of her muzzle and touched her nose with mine. I also extended my magic field to surround Rarity with my love and friendship for her.
“What was that for?” said Rarity, ears forward and coloring slightly.
“A Pegasus Farewell,” I said, pulling my field back. “Until next time, my Favorite Dance Partner.” I waved a hoof as I walked out the door.
Rarity waved back, still with a slight blush.
I closed the door behind me and trotted toward the Widow Grass’ house. If Lady Magic hadn’t stopped me, I thought, picturing Rarity’s flanks as she walked into her kitchen. Eh, well, water under the bridge.
I knocked on the Widow Grass’ door just as the station clock struck 2. She answered almost right away.
“Why, it’s my chimney sweep!” she said, with a sweet smile. Nice old mare, she really was.
I gave a half bow. “Mrs. Grass, a pleasure to see you again.”
“Please come in, Mr. Inventor. I just put out some tea to steep. Just leave your saddlebags on the hall table.”
As Mrs. Grass led me to the parlor I extended my senses around her. I was right before; she wouldn’t make it too much longer. Her liver and kidneys were both going to fail soon. I said nothing, of course.
We settled in a very tasteful room with a loveseat and matching chairs. The delicate china Mrs. Grass brought out matched as well. We talked about the Brickles and the Festival, then Mrs. Grass put down her tea cup and folded her hooves demurely in front of her.
“I heard you had an interesting…altercation the other morning at the depot, young stallion,” she said, looking rather arch. Not much happened in town Mrs. Grass didn’t know.
“Just a martial arts demonstration, Mrs. Grass, nothing else,” I said as I finished my excellent Oolong and put the teacup down. It was time.
“Emerald Grass,” I said, “I would make a pact with you…”
I trotted home while I reviewed the last few days to see if I’d forgotten anything. No, nothing. Ready for Winter and time with my family. After a startled reaction, the Widow Grass had asked for time to think about my offer. That was fine.
I picked up my laundry, juggling two 2 bit coins (one for laundry and one for tip) and then tossing them to the mare behind the counter as she tossed me my clean and folded laundry at the same time. I wasn’t sure how we’d started doing that, but we’d become really good at it and grinned at one another each time, never saying a word. I passed Derpy’s empty cottage, then heard grumbling and cursing from a hole in a bank next to the gorge. I saw a striped head with tiny ears poke out.
“Good day to you, Mr. Badger,” I said.
“Get stuffed, pony,” he said showing his formidable teeth. Out of sorts because of Winter, I thought.
“A good Winter rest to you, Mightiest of Warriors,” I said, not taking it personally.
The badger relented slightly since I’d acknowledged his fighting prowess. “Thanks,” he said, then vanished back into his den.
I got home to the workshop, grateful as always to see my own kitchen door. I unpacked, went through the mail, and then went outside to my spot overlooking the gorge. It was cold but the Sun was out and most likely this was the last day I’d have to lie outside until Spring.
I thought of all I’d done the last few days, then of AJ, my new family, Rarity, Juliette, Carl, the Brickles, the railponies, other ponies like Widow Grass, even Lady Silver. Yes, I thought, yes. I am Guardian and these are mine to protect and to serve. All of them. And enjoy myself along the way, I tell you what.
Well said, my Guardian, said Lady Magic.
My Lady! How good to hear from You! Where have You been?
I had to leave you, Guardian, when you were before the Council. You did well, very well. You unboxed Juliette’s soul. I can reach her now.
At Your service, my Lady.
Rest, now, Rest this Winter and Spring. I’ll be with you again in the Summer. We’ll have much to do, then.
Wait, my Lady…but She was gone.
I’d been absorbed enough talking to my Lady Magic I didn’t hear some ponies come up behind me.
“Go on, then,” I heard, and turned to find three stallions. I almost didn’t recognize Seamus Martin and the conductor without their uniforms. Tomas O’Malley was in between them, without his overalls but wringing his engineer hat in between his front hooves. He had a shiner and a lump on his jaw, too.
“Mr. Wizard,” said Tomas, still twisting his hat and looking at the ground. “It’s that sorry I am about how I behaved and I hope you can forgive me and I want t’ thank you for treatin’ my daughter so well and…well, there ‘tis.”
I extended a hoof. “Forgiven and forgotten, Engineer. I’m just glad Lauryn is safe at home again. She’s a good filly, that one, if a bit headstrong.”
“Oh, thank you, sir, thank you,” said Tomas, looking up, putting on his hat and wringing my hoof with both of his. I took the opportunity to partially heal his lumps and bruises. He didn’t even notice.
“Mr. Inventor,” said Seamus. “We’re having a get-together in a half hour or so to celebrate Lauryn gettin’ home. Would you care to join?”
“I thank you, Seamus, I truly do, but my fiancée and family are expecting me soon. I must decline with regret and hope you’ll invite me again sometime.”
“That I will, sir. Oh, by the way,” said Seamus, pointing a hoof at the huge conductor, “this here’s ‘Bull’ O’Keefe. He don’t talk much.”
I immediately thought of what Fall said about Winter. Quite the contrast.
“A pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“Mr. Wizard,” Bull said, his voice a deep rumble. A hoof as large as Big Mac’s engulfed mine.
“We’re gone, then. Thanks again, Mr. Inventor,” said Seamus and the group trotted off.
A good resolution. Why the disdain for railroaders, I wondered. Is it because they’re Earth ponies who work with machines? No idea. I certainly liked them.
I went back inside, turned on the fireplace, lit a gas lamp in the kitchen so I wouldn’t come back to a dark house and closed the door behind me. Time to see AJ again, I thought, as I headed down the path. I need to talk to her and Granny about Juliette, too.
I passed a cardinal although I wasn’t sure if it was the same one I’d seen before or not.
“Ready for Winter, unicorn!” he said.
I laughed out loud for the joy, the wonder and the marvel of being alive. “As am I, Handsome Songbird, as am I!”
End of Part 1