Two strange unicorns, one clearly related to Changelings, show up in Ponyville. Tam is seeking a place to heal from the loss of his Annie. For Heather Bloom, it is a homecoming of sorts
Although few think of it and fewer still look deeply into the matter, there were ponies in the land BEFORE the events celebrated in the Hearthwarming Pageants. What happened to them? How was the land empty and yet filled with the good things that enabled the ancestors of Equestria to survive?
Heather Bloom knows. She lived through those terrible times. Love Poison did more than create the Changeling kind. Those who, with help, survived as the Poisoned became the Heart Keepers of her people.
Tam lost his beloved Annie to a Failing O' the Lairds in the far northern dales and has Heather Bloom serving as Heart Keeper to him, sustaining him in his grief.
The characters of Heather Bloom O'Red Hoof and Tam O'Canter belong solely to Glen Ten-Eyck. He grants permission, subject to his approval, for the use of the characters in works by other authors or artists.
Chapter 1: An Ancient Map
Twilight Sparkle was laying comfortably on her favorite reading cushion in the Library. Her legs were folded neatly under her. The book that she was reading, held by the gentle grip of her magic, floated a little in front of her nose where she could see it easily.
Spike, the little dragon who assisted Twilight in the Library, curiously looked at the cover of the book. He read aloud, “The Strange Customs and Traditions of the Northern Dales and Glens.” Pausing to smile, he said, “Quite a mouthful. How long has it been since anypony wrote books with titles like that? It sounds antique.”
With a smile, Twilight looked up long enough to say, “A long time, Spike. This book is just over two hundred years old. It was only printed once and there are no newer copies.”
With an expressive shrug, Spike asked, “If nopony has been interested enough to even produce a new edition, then why read it?”
Rainbow Dash looked up from the pages of Daring Do and the Rare Blue Emerald long enough to snort, “You know the answer to that as well as I do, Spike. She's a nerd. If it is useless, she wants to know it.” Her chuckle took the sting off of her words and she relented enough to add, “Besides, that useless knowledge that Twilight soaks up has turned out to be important all too often.”
Twilight Sparkle gave a small grin at the acknowledgment of learning's value coming from Rainbow Dash, of all ponies. Instead of saying anything to let Rainbow Dash know how important that simple statement was to her, Twilight responded to Spike's question.
“We cleaned out the map section a few weeks ago. Do you remember it, Spike? There was one that was so old that I was afraid to unroll it for fear that it would just crumble. I put it in a closed box with some damp cloths near it to help soften it. Last week, I was able to unroll it, so I put it under a sheet of glass on my work table to flatten it out and let me copy it.
“I sent a copy to Princess Celestia because I have never seen a map like it before. It was drawn on the prepared skin of an animal! Maybe it was a sheep or a goat. That was just the beginning. It does not even show Canterlot, though the mountain where Canterlot is shows clearly on the map. It also shows some mountains way to the north that I have never even known about. This one book is the only thing that I could find that even mentions them.”
The door chime interrupted as Applejack entered the usually empty Library. She inquired, “Did my book on the cultivation of Newton Apples come in yet?”
Spike replied, “It sure did, AJ. Here, we didn't even take the wrapping paper off because there is a letter stuck under the binding string.” The little dragon fished under the counter and gave Applejack string bound package.
As AJ worked the string loose from the book's wrapper, she commented, “Couldn't help but overhear part of what you were saying there, Twi. What good is a map that don't show things that have been there for centuries?”
Excitedly, Twilight replied, “It looks like the map might be a real antique! If my magic is right, that map is so old that Canterlot hadn't been built yet. Of course Ponyville isn't there, the town is only about, what, fifty years old? I mean, Granny Smith was one of the original settlers and she is still alive.
“What is most interesting to me are the things that do show. The river is in a different bed from what we know. I checked that. There are records about a big flood in the fifth year of Celestia's reign. The river changed its course way back then.
“Think of it, Applejack! It shows something that happened at the very beginning of Celestia's reign, before Canterlot was built. There is more, too. The hill over by the Everfree forest? The one with two peaks? It is shown with some sort of big house between the peaks.
“The words on the map are hard to read because the language has changed so much since the map was made. It looks like the hill is called Red Hoof. I wonder why the ponies that made the map called it that?”
Applejack got the string off and began unwrapping the book. “No clue, Twilight. Say, I just noticed, this letter isn't for me. It's for you. The address was facing the book when the letter got stuck under the string, that's all.”
Twilight reached out with her magic and retrieved the letter, saying, “Thanks, Applejack.” Looking at the envelope, she said, “It's from Canterlot. I wonder what it's about?”
She neatly slit the envelope and the letter slid out and unfolded in the air in front of her. Seeing that the others were all looking on in curiosity, Twilight said, “It is from Princess Celestia but it is not personal. It is about the map. Shall I read it to you?”
There was a small chorus of “Sure, Twilight. We'd like to hear what she has to say.”
“Twilight's voice began confidently, “My Dear Twilight Sparkle: Luna and I have seen the copy of the ancient map that you have found. You did an excellent piece of work in managing to unroll and preserve a document as old as this one is. Your magical link to let me examine the original document through the copy was an excellent piece of magic. I am proud of you.
“I believe that this map is the oldest written document in all of Equestria.”
Twilight looked up at her friends with a smile and said, “She said excellent twice.”
Rainbow Dash had quietly marked her place in the Daring Do book and looked up. She observed, “Yes, she did, Twilight. How about reading us the rest of the letter?”
Twilight began again, “Luna and I have recently had a pair of visitors who can shed further light on the map for you.
“I wept when I found out what that map means. You do know that Equestria was founded and the Elements of Harmony brought into existence before my sister and I ruled. Had We ruled at the time of the events that lead to what we now celebrate as Hearthwarming Eve, those disharmonious events would never have happened.”
Twilight's voice faded in shock as she read on, “This map is only a few years younger than Luna and I are. It is older than the nation of Equestria. It documents the ancient atrocity that lead to the founding of our wonderful land.
“My visitors are coming to see you but they are traveling afoot. They have several errands to accomplish before they arrive in Ponyville. They are very different from us and their ways may seem at first glance to be dangerous, but they are good ponies.
“Technically, the mare is not actually a pony at all but you will see what I mean in person soon enough.
“Your Princess, Instructor in Magic, and friend, Celestia.”
Good and honest Applejack sat back in surprise and said, “Hearthwarming Eve is about an atrocity? How? I mean, it is all about finding Equestria and discovering the Elements of Harmony. How could that be bad?”
Rainbow Dash's brow furrowed in thought as she said, “That's right. The Hearthwarming Eve stories and the pageant doesn't mention Celestia or Luna either. Somehow, I never even thought that there might be a time before the Princess. That simply blows my mind. I wonder . . . what else we have never questioned about those times?”
Biting her lip, Twilight shook all over. She asked quietly, “Celestia wept at my map? An ancient atrocity? Is Hearthwarming a lie?”
Spike said thoughtfully, “It takes a week for a letter to come from Canterlot by post. I wonder why Celestia didn't send it by magic, like she usually does? And what does she mean that one of our visitors isn't technically a pony?” Sarcastically he added, “What else could she be? A Changeling? After that little fiasco at the royal wedding, I don't really think so.” He chuckled, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
Their line of thought was derailed entirely by the door chime. Pinkie Pie bounced into the big book lined room chattering cheerfully, “Hey, Twilight! Hi, Spike! Rainbow! You in the Library? How come? How you doing AJ? Your trees good? Lots of apples for us later?”
Applejack put a friendly hoof on top of Pinkie's head to stop her bouncing and interrupted the non-stop chatter long enough to say, “We are fine, Pinkie. There will be lots of apples this harvest. Rainbow came to see Twi on some business of Cloudsdale's.” She paused long enough for a hind hoof to gently and diplomatically push Rainbow Dash's Daring Do book out of sight as she went on, “So, what brings you to the Library?”
Pinkie promptly replied, “I want a book on making fireworks! Besides, my Pinkie sense was tingling that I should come here. Something about strange new ponies!”
The door chime rang as Rarity entered, decorously staying back while the others dealt with Pinkie Pie's enthusiam.
Twilight remarked, “We do have a couple of books on fireworks, Pinkie. I am more interested in your Pinkie sense, though. We just got a letter from Princess Celestia about some ponies coming. She says that one of them isn't really a pony.”
Pinkie brightened up even more, if that was possible, and said, “A mare that's not a mare! That's what my Pinkie sense says. It didn't make sense until now. It still doesn't, if that helps any. At least Princess Celestia says the same thing!”
Rarity stood quietly by, listening to Pinkie's enthusiastic chatter until she could contain herself no longer. Curiously, she asked, “A mare that isn't a mare? Pinkie, that is silly.”
Twilight replied, “I would agree with you, Rarity. The only problem is that Princess Celestia said the same thing in a letter that she sent me.
“Somehow, the mare that isn't a mare is connected to that old map that I've told you about. Celestia said that the not mare is a friend. She can tell me more about the map. I really want to know about it now. Celestia says that the map is only a few YEARS younger than she is. Older even than Equestria. It may be the oldest document in existence.”
Rarity smiled politely and replied, “That is very interesting. When you first told me about the map, I went to look up what ponies wore back then. My book on Equestrian historical costume shows only a few things from the Old Fortress Canterlot times, early in Celestia and Luna's reign. They seemed very interesting and I was wondering if you had anything more about clothing from that era?”
Spike nearly dropped Pinkie's fireworks book in his eagerness to help Rarity. “I've got every book about clothing that we have, right over on this shelf!” he exclaimed, shifting the ladder at once.
Twilight looked on with a smile at Spike's eagerness to help Rarity, the unicorn of his dreams. Spike scampered up the ladder.
Spike was just pulling two books out of the shelf when the bell on the door chimed so softly that it almost went unheard by the others. Fluttershy entered, nearly silent. She had her big yellow medical kit with the red cross on the lid tucked under her right wing. From his vantage point up on the ladder, Spike did notice.
In spite of his eagerness and wish to help Rarity, the little dragon was not at all stupid. He thoughtfully tallied up the things that he had overheard. The ancient map. Celestia's letter. The Pinkie Sense predicting visitors, including a mare that was not a mare. Now this. All of the Mane Six gathered at the Library at the same time. Some coincidence, humm?
He reached far over and up another shelf, carefully removing another large book. Adding it to his bundle, he came down the ladder with care, so as not to drop anything. Without a word, Spike handed the big book to Twilight Sparkle and then gave the remaining two books to Rarity.
With an ingratiating smile he pointed out, “The top one is a modern commentary that Shewhoof wrote about old fashions. The other one might be harder to read. It is a fully reproduced copy of Mad Callander's Contemporary Fashions of the Capital. The original was written in the year two hundred and seven of the reign of the Twins.”
Rarity immediately put Shewhoof aside and Contemporary Fashions floated open in front of her eyes, held in the gentle grip of her unicorn magic. A delighted smile on her face, Rarity chose a comfortable cushion and settled down to read.
Spike couldn't contain his curiosity. He asked, “How can you read something that old? I mean, almost none of the letters look like anything that I know of.”
While Rarity was showing Spike how to connect the modern alphabet to the more ancient letter forms, Twilight looked down at the book that Spike had just handed her. It was all too familiar. The last time that the Mane Six had needed the contents, they were battling the dragon Discord.
Fluttershy interrupted Twilight's reverie by asking quietly, “Um, Twilight? If it isn't, I mean, I can see that you are busy. If it would not be too much bother, I would like the Veterinary Manual. I want to make sure that my kit is, well, complete? I mean, I want it ready in case any of my little friends get sick or hurt.”
Twilight came to a decision. Looking about at all of her friends, the bearers of the Elements of Harmony in Equestria's need, and the book whose hollowed out pages held the magical necklaces and tiara of the Elements of Harmony, she announced, “Spike, get Fluttershy the Veterinary Manual please. Everypony, look around you. All of us just happened to show up here when Pinkie's sense says that strangers are coming and one is a mare that isn't a mare.
“Princess Celestia sent us a letter mentioning the same thing about a mare that isn't really a pony in connection with that map that Spike and I found.
“I don't think that it is a coincidence that we are all here. I have the Elements of Harmony here for us. The last time that we needed them, the dragon Discord almost defeated us because we didn't have them with us. If we have them and do not need them, I don't see how that can hurt anything. If we do need them, this time we will be prepared.”
Rarity promptly said, “ Oh dear. I should have worn something else. That necklace will simply clash with this outfit.” Then she grinned and added, “Just kidding. Maybe we should all take look at that map, since Princess Celestia thinks that it is important.” Her horn glowed briefly as the Element of Generosity sailed from its place of concealment in the hollowed out book and settled about her neck. The others all accepted their Elements as well.
The group trooped into Twilight's workroom. The place was pin neat even though several books were in various stages of repair, including one that was laying about on a table in many sections in preparation for a complete rebinding. On a good sized table in the center of the room was the map, safely nestled under a sheet of glass to protect it.
Carefully weighted down notes in Twilight's precise writing lay on the glass, showing her readings of the ancient writing on the map. They all looked at it curiously. Applejack pointed out, “I recognize those. We use those two big stones with the funny scratch marks as the baseline that all of the property in Ponyville is surveyed from. I had no idea that they were so old.”
Rarity was studying Twilight's notes and comparing them to the map. She offered thoughtfully, “Twilight, dear, this does not say Red Hoof Hill. I was just showing Spike how these letters changed over time. That is an A not an I. It says Red Hoof Hall.”
Twilight looked at her friend curiously and asked, “How can you read this at all? It is like a different language.”
Rarity nodded at once. “It is. Ours grew from it but the changes over the centuries follow regular patterns, once you understand them. Some ponies think that I just design things from thin air, but I don't. I look at patterns, not only in clothes but in the wearers, too. Designing is bringing all of those patterns into harmony. These old writings follow the same principle. That is all.”
Fluttershy nervously pointed to the indicated hill and said, “I am sorry, Twilight, but I think that Rarity is right. Some of my little friends have burrows up in the notch at the hill top. They say that there is a lot of burned wood and blocky stones like an old floor buried up there.” She subsided, looking about almost as if she had done something wrong.
Twilight, without any upset, was looking over the rest of her notes and thoughtfully correcting a number of them.
A loud and deep droning sound began somewhere outside. Whatever it was, it went on and on with no pause for breath. It was joined by an equally loud shrill sound that had many discordant notes running through the total noise. Some of the notes were the shortest, quickest notes that Twilight had ever heard. In spite of the many differing notes, this noise also went on and on with no let up for breath.
The Mane Six dashed out of the library and into the street. Applejack pointed, “It's coming from the Everfree Forest!”
Pinkie Pie bounced a half turn and exclaimed, “No they aren't! There they are up there on the hill with two tops by the forest! It looks like two big unicorns!”
Silhouetted by the sky were two distant unicorns, one on each peak of the hill. Because of the bright sky behind them, details were impossible to make out. The two were clearly carrying things across their backs. One had a horn that was crookedly twisted.
Rainbow Dash took one look and called out, “A Changeling!”
Twilight Sparkle nodded thoughtfully, her horn bobbing. Pinkie Pie bounced happily, exclaiming, “The mare that isn't a mare! I think that's her!”
Applejack put a hoof on top of Pinkie's head to hold her down and observed, “Why doesn't the Changeling bother you?”
Pinkie pulled free and retorted, “Because my party sense is screaming PARTY TIME! It wouldn't do that for somepony bad!”
To the surprise of the rest of the Mane Six, Twilight agreed. “I think that these are the ponies that Princess Celestia wrote to us about. I have to wonder how they are making that noise? It doesn't seem to stop for anything.”
At that moment, the Changeling-like pony on the left hill top made a gesture, tossing her horn in an arc. The other pony bobbed his head and the noise wailed down into silence. The two stood proud on the peaks of the hill and waited, horns raised to the sky.
Twilight led the Mane Six out of the town and past Sweet Apple Acres. The road became a little used path that would, if followed, wind around the base of the hill, past the bog at its foot, and lead into the Everfree Forest, ending at Zecora's home.
Applejack pointed out, “We've gone to the hill before for picnics because it has a great view from the top. There is a dry path up just past that funny, bent tree there.”
Twilight just asked, “Would you lead the way then, Applejack? You know the route.”
Ever impatient, Rainbow Dash took to the air, flying low and fast. She circled the hill at a little distance and landed in the way of the others, hooves firmly planted in the sod, wings spread forbiddingly. She pronounced with a glare, “They have huge swords strapped to their left sides! That isn't all! They are wearing armor! They have chanfron helmets, jointed plate down their necks and backs, breast plates, chain mail and steel shins front and back! Tell me that they are here in peace!”
What Rainbow said made something click in Twilight's nearly perfect memory. Smiling, she said, “They are here in peace. Their weapons aren't drawn and they are making no threatening gesture. They must be all the way from the Far Northern Dales, clear outside of the Twin's rule.”
Rainbow Dash demanded, “How do you know that?”
As the others looked curiously on, Twilight replied, “That old book that I was just reading. Tosumdun wrote that the ponies of the Northern Dales and Glens go armed everywhere. They don't fight or rob each other because they are always ready for a battle.
“This will make a perfect meeting because they have their weapons and we have the Elements of Harmony. They won't attack us and we won't attack them.”
Rainbow Dash's brow furrowed in thought and she said, “That sounds like a lot of bullies getting along because no pony wants to start a fight that they will lose.”
Twilight nodded her horn thoughtfully and replied, “According to Tosumdun that is how it works. Let's go see. If we need it we can use our power and if we don't, we will simply welcome them in Celestia and Luna's name.”
Rainbow Dash finally agreed and stood aside. The Mane Six trooped up the hill, stopping a short distance from the big mare in her fantastical armor.
Up close, Rarity almost could not contain herself. The mare's armor was gorgeously covered in complex enameled designs, brilliantly done etch work, and repoussé. It was also very clearly functional if battle were needed. The Hilt of her huge sword had guards that swept toward the blade in a wide shallow V. Each arm ended in a cloverleaf pattern of steel and there was a tongue that fitted over the outside of the scabbard. Every part of the mare's gear was carefully and beautifully done in complex knot like patterns. Even the leather of her stout pack bags was tooled and stained to make it as lovely as it was functional.
On the other peak of the hill, the stallion unicorn stood proud and patient. His gear had the beauty of pure function. Such decoration as there was, fluting of the metal or rope-like edges all served the double function of strengthening the metal and making it beautiful. His armor had also seen serious use before. It had many places that had been repaired skillfully, though to an eye like Rarity's, trained to see patterns, they showed plainly.
The stallion's big sword hilt echoed the basic form of the mare's. It was done in the same smoothly functional style as his armor. Light caught in glowing pools from a few cabochon gems of garnet and smoky topaz adorning the center of the guard and the sides of the pommel. The handle was snugly wound with tightly twisted wires.
Rarity whispered to Twilight, “I do hope that you are right about their customs, Twilight. These two have fought some very serious battles and not all that long ago. I can see where his armor has been repaired and the work is much newer than the rest of the armor.”
The mare spoke up unexpectedly. In spite of the impressive fangs in her mouth, her voice was gentle and carrying. “I think ye means that our custom be to announce ourselves at the furthest reach of yer land. There to show to all that if it be a failing that ye seek of us, then we are ready. Yet it is not OUR weapons that be drawn, nor a failing do we seek. It is the peace of honorable and worthy ponies that we be a seeking.
“Though they be not the blades of honorable failing that you carry, I do see that you too have come to meet us armed. Unless I mistake me, ye carry with ye the Elements of Harmony which have been proved of battle before this. Truth?”
Twilight bobbed her head in agreement. “You are correct. You recently stayed with our Princesses Celestia and Luna in Canterlot. She sent us a letter advising us that you might come this way and that your ways might be strange to us.
“As usual, the Princess was right. I have been testing you with my unicorn magic, and I can feel the presence of the Princesses on both of you.” She paused thoughtfully and then added, “Thank you for allowing me to test you that way. One of the things that I found from that test is that you are far more powerful in magic than shows on the surface.”
The stallion spoke from his small peak close by, and said, “It is we, my Heart's Keeper, Heather Bloom O' Red Hoof and myself, Tam O' Canter, that should be thanking ye, Twilight Sparkle. Yer Princesses did speak most well of ye and yer mighty friends. Having for yerselves a great strength, the first thing that ye done was see to its not being of need.”
Fluttershy looked down diffidently and said softly, “M - - M - - Mighty? Us? Why would you say that? I mean, uh, sorry for interrupting.”
The stallion, Tam O' Canter, grinned and replied, “Fluttershy, I presume? The answer to yer question should be by another. How then should the weak and helpless defeat such foes as the Dragon o' Discord? The answer be obvious. It is mighty indeed that ye are.” He turned to the Changeling like mare and said, “Did the Princesses not describe them all perfectly, Heather Bloom, Keeper of my Heart?”
The mare, Heather Bloom, agreed, “Indeed, that she did, Tam.”
Turning back to the Six, she asked, “Knowin' then that, though we be worthy if we need be foes, it be friendship that we seek. May we then come into yer lands, and that it be done in peaceful wise?”
Without pausing to think, because she had already made up her mind, Twilight, said, “We would be honored. I will let you stay at the Library with me while you stay here in Ponyville. Please come with us.
“May I ask what your business here in Ponyville is?”
Tam had crossed the space between them and laid his horn affectionately across Heather Bloom's as he said, “It is settlin' here that we seek. Tis the ancestral seat o' Red Hoof that used to be near to here. If the place be open to the buying, that be where we should like to put our home.”
Heather Bloom added, “We also seek a place that is as far as may be from the field o' the failing where Tam's Annie fell. And as far also from the company o' the fool whose pride caused it all. It is my dearest wish that there be a place where Tam's heart can heal of the wound that it took when the failing took his Annie down.
“Further, as Tam did say, the place that I was foaled is here. I would have at last the peace with the descendants of them as took it from us.” She shook her great head, the crooked horn bobbing in sorrow, light striking beautifully off the jewel-like enamel of her chanfron, and tears rolled from her eyes.
Many citizens of Ponyville watched the procession of the armed and armored strangers led by the Mane Six as they made their way to the Library. None of the watchers dared to come out of their houses and shops. Windows and doors shut as the unusual group drew near.
Twilight smiled sadly at the sight of her fellow citizens and friends being so rude. With a sigh, she said, “I think that they all fear your weapons and armor. What you have is obviously real war harness. Usually only Watch Ponies wear any sort of armor and it is pretty ceremonial. None of them even has a sword, let alone big ones like yours.”
With amused good humor, Heather Bloom replied, “What big swords? You mean these Clydehamares? Nay, these be not the biggest o swords at all. Besides, as a Heart Keeper first and as an Honor Holder O' Red Hoof, I am swearn to the willful harming o no living creature.”
Fluttershy, made bold by her seeing Heather Bloom and Tam up close and hearing what she had, said quietly, “They may also be afraid of your fangs, Heather Bloom. If you do no harm to any living creature, what do you eat?”
Heather Bloom tilted her her big head to better see Fluttershy and said, “Ye speak little, small Fluttershy, but tis clear that ye do think deeply and well. As with a Changeling, I do survive and live upon the love o ponies, in a most literal way. I can also eat of cooked grain things like to breads and some sweets. If it come to a great starvin' I was so shaped that I may eat of meat and have done so twice in my life.”
The big, heavily armored unicorn shuddered and tears rolled from her eyes as she went on, “That meat was none o my killin'. Twas them as I led in our retreat, through the Winter o Starvation, killed the creatures for me. My dear father and lovin' mother lay buried weeks back down the Trail o Death. "I was but only a few years past being a foal myself. All the Store o Love that I'd be a buildin' in my short life up to then wa' used trying to Sustain my mother. Three days past the burnin' o the Great Hall, she died o the burns she took tryin' to get father to safety.
“I wa' starvin' for havin' nay store o Love left and the Clan was determined to save the last o their leaders' family. They brought me the meat o creatures that they killed to keep me from the starvin' to death.
“Repugnant though it was, I could nay turn it away. More even than the meat, the Love o Clan fer me saved me. I swear then to be the best Heart Keeper that ever I could be and I am proud to say that I have kept that oath ever since.”
Twilight, more shaken by Heather Bloom's tale than she let show, opened the door of the Library and stood aside. “This is the Library and my home. It is your home too, until you find a place of your own.”
Tam nodded and said formally, “My thanks and those of Heather Bloom be upon you, Twilight Sparkle. We shall carry no arms against thee and shall defend your home with our blood if need there be.” He bobbed his head down some so that his horn could be low enough to enter the door. He entered with confidence. Heather Bloom, slightly larger even than Tam, did the same.
Rarity, bursting with curiosity about how the steel plates of the armor could work so smoothly, asked, “May we help you with your armor? It looks heavy. I am sure that you are used to it. Still, I would like to see it up close. It is beautiful.”
Tolerantly, Heather Bloom replied, “Then it is see it up close and assist us with the removing and the stowing o it that you shall.”
Rarity eagerly offered, “I could go and get a pair of my dress display forms. We could mount your armor in the Historical Book Room here in the Library. It would be close by to you but ponies could come and see it like it was in a museum.”
Puzzled, Tam asked, “Why would any want to see our armor? I grant ye that Heather Bloom's is a thing o beauty, but she did make it so herself. Mine is but a plain war harness, such as many have used since ages past.”
Even Twilight smiled at Tam's naiveté. She agreed with Rarity, “Armor like yours is really very rare in Equestria. I think that there are a lot of ponies, especially the younger ones, who would like to see it. A lot of them have been raised on tales of the Days of Fortress Canterlot and the past ages of chivalry.”
Heather Bloom stood thoughtfully for a moment and pronounced, “If it shall help your folk to be comfortable o us, then we shall do it.”
Rarity was practically skipping with delight as she ran out of the Library to get the display forms. Spike ran after her to help.
In a surprisingly short time, both sets of armor and the big Clydehamare swords were sitting on the display forms and show racks that Rarity provided. The Historical Book room almost did look like a museum with those displays taking up much of the middle of the room. Spike observed, “Of course they really don't belong in the History room. They aren't antiques at all, not like the map.”
Heather Bloom turned to Twilight and said, “I should very much like to see this map o yers. We'd left Canterlot already when the Princess Celestia got the word o it. She did write to us o the map and say that, as it was very old and o the place where I was foaled, it could be o much interest to me.”
Twilight's smile grew as she replied, “Certainly, Heather Bloom. I would really like to hear what you have to say about it. Aside from the ancient language in the writing on it, there are some things that we simply do not understand at all. There are some lines and other marks that do not match up to any features of the land as we know it.”
The little unicorn proudly lead the way into her work room. Heather Bloom and Tam followed her. Heather Bloom's first glance caused her to nod appreciatively. “Yer magic's good indeed, Twilight. This map would have been ruined by any less skillful than yerself. It is ancient fer sure that it is. Red Hoof's great hall where I was foaled is just where it should be, close by to the Everfree Forest.”
Suddenly, Heather Bloom sat hard to her haunches and began to cry. Tam stood beside her, laying his horn comfortingly across hers. There were tears in his great eyes too. He gave the shocked Twilight and the others a long and quiet stare. At last he spoke.
“Is it true that ye dinnae understand at all the meaning o the marks on this map o yers?”
A very puzzled Applejack replied for Twilight, “No, we can't figure them out at all. They don't fit anything that we know. Is it important?”
Tam, rubbing his neck alongside Heather Bloom's, said, “Tis indeed and very much to the credit o yer folk that a mystery it is. Tis a war map showing the planned attack on the Great Hall o Red Hoof.
"The lines and features that ye find a mystery show both the forces arrayed against Red Hoof and the deployment of them. My dear Heart Keeper did lose her father to the burning o the Hall and her ane mother, three day later o the burns she took trying to save him.
“Here is the proof that the ones she love so and loved her was killed by deliberate calculation and not a random act o some few evil ones. The greatest good o the map is simply this. Ye saw and studied it fer weeks and understood it not at all. Ye are far removed and in good wise from the ponies that drew this.”
Tam and Heather took a few minutes by themselves in the room that Twilight offered to them. They took in their large pack bags of finely tooled leather.
When they emerged, Tam was wearing a green cap like a beret, with a round pom-pom in the center of the top and he had on a fine white shirt of linen and lace. He wore a green kilt that matched the cap. Shoes of ornately worked silver with gold highlights were on his hooves. His outfit was completed by a wide belt of tooled and stained leather. A large pouch with an ornate silver clasp hung on his right side. A sheath of some black wood with silver mountings hung on the left. It held a large dirk with an ornately carved handle and silver hilt, topped with a glowing brown gem set in more ornate silver for the pommel.
Heather Bloom wore a formal gown of white and black satins, trimmed with lace. Her mane was now coiffed with an intricate braid that was held with clips of silver and gold, set about with glowing red cabochon cut garnets. Over her shoulder was a purple sash with a large red heart upon it. The sash was secured by a circular broach that, at first glance seemed to be a stout but decorated half circle arch of silver above a full half circle of ornately mixed gold and silver set with more glowing gems. It was fastened by a large pin across it that had a jeweled head. Heather Bloom also had a belt of strikingly tooled leather, wider than Tam's. The large dagger hung from it was a match for the one that Tam wore. Her shoes were as finely made as Tam's.
About her neck was the formal necklace of a High Lady of Celestia's Court. On her head was the silver crown of a Royal Duchess.
Smiling around her fangs, Heather Bloom said, “It is presenting ourselves to yer Mayor Mare that we must now do. Would ye six please do us the honor o escort to the Town Hall?”
Twilight's glance took in the finery, especially the Necklace and Crown of Office, and curtsied, flexing and crossing her forelegs formally. With a smile of her own, she replied, “Lady Red Hoof, it would be our honor to escort you.”
The rest of the Mane Six had seen enough of Canterlot's Court Etiquette to follow Twilight's lead. Even brash Rainbow Dash managed to do a credible curtsy. They all followed Heather Bloom and Tam out into the street a turned toward the Town Hall.
They had only gone a short way when a figure cantered out of a side street, wearing a Constable' uniform armor. Stopping in their path, but at a distance from the party, the pony demanded, “Halt in the name of Celestia and Luna! You are arrested for the crime of impersonating a pony of the Court of Canterlot. You must all be restrained and taken to specially prepared unicorn magic proof cell until your case is decided. You must hand over at once all of those false jewels and other criminal claims to office.”
The uniformed pony extended a hoof menacingly and added, “Do not make me use force!”
His scene was ruined by a young filly running up behind him and, turning her rear to him! She kicked him from behind with both of her rear hooves in much the same way that Applejack bucked apple trees. As the uniformed pony landed face first in the dirt, the filly demanded, “Curmbway! You give me back daddy's uniform! You can't just steal a Constable uniform and try to play cop!”
Looking up, the young filly suddenly went from dun to totally pale. She ducked her head deeply and whimpered, “I am sorry for this scene, Lady Red Hoof! I should have called daddy to take care of this ruffian.”
Heather Bloom smiled hugely, which, with the number of razor sharp fangs that showed, was disturbing, and said gently, “Nay, my little filly. Ye done just right and in perfect timing. Do ye witness fer me that this pony be a thief?”
The filly looked hopeful and replied, “I had just finished polishing the armor for daddy and put it out on the form in back of our house to dry when Curmbway jumped our fence and stole It! I was in the house but I saw him out the window and ran after him. I lost him for a few minutes but heard his voice and came to get daddy's armor back.”
Curmbway got to his hooves while the filly was speaking. He was trying to sneak off when Heather Bloom's horn briefly pulsed the palest of green glows. The unfortunate Curmbway fell rigidly back to the earth. All four of his hooves and his jaws were locked in fetters of a pure, glowing green.
Ignoring the fallen pony, Heather Bloom asked the filly, “How are ye called, courageous one? An if it please ye, how did ye know me?”
Warming to Heather Bloom's manner, the filly replied, “I am Daph. That is short for Daphne, but I really don't like Daphne. My daddy is Constable Crager.
“I knew you from the pictures of you in the Canterlot Society pages in the paper. You spent a lot of time with the Princesses Celestia and Luna for near six months. They made you Duchess Red Hoof, Lady Heather Bloom, and put you just below the Princes and Princesses at the High Table. Just over two months ago, you and Tam O' Canter, Baron of Dran Dale vanished. Celestia told everypony that you had gone to visit your parents. Do they live near here?”
Heather Bloom lowered her head to Daph's level and replied, “My folk are of the Earthen Lake fer some time now, Daph. I did visit their graves and told them that I have kept my oaths that were given.”
Daph unexpectedly nuzzled Heather Bloom's horn and said, “I am sorry to hear that. I hoped to meet them some day. They must have been wonderful to have a foal like you.”
Graciously, Heather Bloom straightened up, smiled gently and said, “That they were indeed, Daph.” She extended a hoof and offered, “Young Daph, ye have done me a great service. If ye are free to do it, I should like to reward ye with a place o honor in my Great Hall after it is raised again. Ye should receive also something for exposing and capturing this criminal in any case. Please accompany me to the Town Hall.”
As the procession continued to the Town Hall, the unfortunate Curmbway floated up a few inches from the ground and trailed behind them, still bound in glowing green fetters.
Stopping on the porch, Heather Bloom said politely, “Daph, I would have ye herald us to Mayor Mare. Tell her that Lady Heather Bloom, Duchess Red Hoof and Tam O' Canter, Baron Dran Dale, both o the Canterlot Court o Celestia and Luna wishes entry and that it be in peaceable wise that we come.”
Daphne made a very good curtsy and said, “Yes, your Ladyship.”
She turned and paced into the Town Hall, head held high. The group waited quietly in the shade for any response from the Mayor. Suddenly Twilight grinned almost from ear to ear. Heather Bloom inquired, “Why the high spirits, Twilight?”
Twilight replied, “I am a librarian. I can hear papers being consulted. From the sound, they are racked newspaper backfiles. I'll bet that Daph is showing the Mayor who you are.”
Tam grinned and said, “A wise child she is indeed. Preventing any gaffe on the part o her elders is clever o her.”
In only a few more moments, Mayor Mare emerged and made a formal bow to Heather Bloom, saying, “Please come in, Your Ladyship, Baron Dran Dale. How may we assist you today?”
Heather Bloom indicated the bound Curmbway with a short sweep of her horn and said, “Firstly, see to the gaoling o this miscreant. The pony Curmbway is to be charged with theft o a constable's uniform armor, attempted robbery o members o the Royal Court, and the kidnap for ransom o three members o the Royal Court o Princess Celestia.”
Mayor Mare gave a startled look about and asked anxiously, was somepony injured? Who was the third member of your party?”
Somewhat dryly, Twilight pointed out, “Me. I don't lean on it but Prince Shining Armor is my brother.”
Terribly upset, Mayor Mare started to stutter an apology but Twilight interrupted her. “If I had ever wanted to be anything but plain Twilight Sparkle, I would have said something long before this. As you know, Daph does follow those society pages. She and I had a conversation about this long ago. Please keep it as quiet as possible.”
The Mayor did, in fact, calm down as she realized that she had not committed a gaffe. She turned and called inside, “Chief! Send a pony of the guard to get Constable Crager at once! We need him to to be a witness that he did not authorize the use of his uniform armor!”
Turning back to Heather Bloom, Mayor Mare asked, “Can we leave Curmbway here safely or do you need to stay here to see to the spell that holds him?”
Heather Bloom replied with her unsettling grin, “Until he be bound in iron chains, I do not think that he could be moved from that spot at all, unless I do so will it. And I do not. Shall we go in to attend my business and leave this to the constables?”
It was a small Pinkie Pie Party. The Mane Six, Heather Bloom, Tam, Daph, and whichever ponies happened by, only about a dozen or so, were gathered in Sugar Cube Corner and making merry. Besides the usual cake, apple treats, muffins and cupcakes galore, Heather Bloom had introduced honey and nut barley bars.
Pinkie happily demanded, “I have to know how you made these, Heather Bloom!” She paused long enough to chew and swallow another barley bar. “We need to add these to the Sugar Cube Corner menu! They are great!”
Heather Bloom replied, “It is guide ye through it that I shall do, Pinkie. Tis easier o the learning if ye are guided so. These are a favorite Starvation's Night treat.”
Daphne was trying to reconcile the happy, song leading, game playing near changeling unicorn in front of her with the mysterious and famous Lady Heather Bloom, Duchess Red Hoof of the Canterlot Court. She asked, “Lady . . Um . . I mean, Heather Bloom? How did you ever get so much money?”
Seeing that Heather Bloom was not irritated or angry but was regarding her carefully, Daph forged ahead, “I thought that Mayor Mare's eyes were going to fall out of her head when she registered your Letter of Credit.”
Heather Bloom smiled, nodded and with a near instant move, lunged her horn into the apple bobbing tub, spearing a fruit. She extended her horn, apple and all, saying, “Here ye are, Daph. I ha' gained my wealth from full many a venture and thing made.
"I ha' learned the finest o metal and gem work and the winnin' o them from ore and rough stone by the Shet in their deep mine homes. I ha' learned the best o husbandry o farm and orchard from many an Earth pony. It is scoutin', mappin, and weather control that I ha' from our Pegassi in their aeries. In the use o unicorn magic I ha' few equals and besides these things, I am both an Honor Keeper and a Heart Keeper.
“In all o these things there is honest bits to be earned, Daph. I ha been granted a great span o time fer the practice o all these things. Besides that, my needs be modest and so what I need not, I loan to those who may make a fair use o it and pay me back a greater sum than they borrow and thus my wealth do grow.”
Rainbow Dash looked up in interest. “Did you say that you have lived with Pegassi? How could you stay up on a cloud?”
Heather Bloom grinned again and replied, “Fer the most part, I did no such thing. I stayed in their aeries. O course I can change to a winged form and fly with them. To keep the Oath o the Heart Keepers, I must remain true to my kind. Thus, though I may fly, I cannot sit on a cloud as you do.”
Tam was listening quietly to everything and making solid inroads on the cake, sweet hay, cupcakes and barley bars. Fluttershy quietly tugged at his leg to get his attention and asked, “Um . . . Pardon me, uh . . . Tam? I keep hearing you and your mare speak of a failing. It almost sounds like you mean some sort of fight. What does it mean?”
Tam paused, offered Fluttershy a barley treat and scratched behind an ear with his right front hoof. Finally he replied, “Tis a failing because it is honorable peace which ha failed and conflict come o it. It may be small, like the incident with that fool Curmbway or it may be that lairds disagree on some policy or other between clans to so great a degree that it must be settled by the force o arms between their clans. If it come to blows for any reason, great or small, tis a failing.”
Several of the others were watching and listening. They were surprised that Fluttershy did not even show any sign of distress at the casual mention of battle. If they were surprised by Fluttershy's lack of distress, her mild frown of concentration and the question that followed almost floored them.
“Then, Tam, when you have one of those big clan to clan failings, you mean that you have a battle, with maybe ponies injured or killed? Do I understand that correctly?”
Tam sat hard and began to weep as he replied, “Yer understanding is perfect. Good ponies that should graze happily fer many a year to come may die or be grievously injured o a failing.”
Almost like magic, Heather Bloom made her way through the small throng and stood beside Tam, laying her horn comfortingly across his. She stood still for a moment and Twilight, trained in the magic of unicorns and having seen the magic of Changelings, sensed something new. It was like a Changeling taking love from a victim but the love was being given freely. Twilight could actually see it flowing. Instead of taking, Heather Bloom was giving her love to Tam, assisting him in his grief.
Mildly, with no rebuke at all in her voice, Heather Bloom explained to Fluttershy, “Tam did lose his beloved Annie in the last failing that was fought o laird Hibotom. The produce o Simer Dale wa' given to O' Canter fer twenty year as weregeld fer an unjust death by Clan Karran. Hibotom, Laird O' Canter, wa' but a newborn foal at the time. He grow and assume O' Canter on the passing o his father.
“When the twenty year wa' past, Clan Karran justly required the dale returned to them. Hibotom refuse, as Simer Dale wa' O' Canter all his life. He reject the law writing and the good counsel o all the Honor Keepers and took it to a failing.
“Some o justice there wa, fer Clan Karran win the failing and regain what wa justly theirs. In the course o battle, a war ax wa swung that would have taken Tam's life. His Annie, fighting beside him saw in time the deadly stroke and it wa her neck that took it to save him.
“As an Honor Keeper, I wa watching the failing to prevent any unfair tactic or foul action. I saw her fall. I raise wing and flew to her side as fast as could be. I carried her out to the safety o the Honor Keeper's place and tried to save her.
“I could not. Even thousands o years o healing experience cannot prevent some things and her wound wa mortal. All that I could do wa stanch the bleeding and Sustain her life a while. When the failing was done, I had Tam brought to her that they might have what little time I could give them.
“As ye do see, he wa broken o the heart by it. His Annie wa wise enough to know it and, as I wa free o Heart Keeping obligation then, bound me to Keep his Heart fer her. I could nay refuse, nor would I ha wanted to. It is thus that we are here now, seeking a place as far from Hibotom, Laird O' Canter, as may be and in the same deed do a healing for me too by raising Red Hoof upon its hill once more and that done in peace with ye fine ponies.”
Fluttershy drew a deep breath before saying, “I thought that it might be something like that. I am sorry for bringing up old pains like this.”
Tam had regained his hooves and said, “Dinnae be sorry, dear pony. Ye have strength, courage and wisdom under yer shy nature. What ye done be good fer me in the end. My Annie is gone but this I know, she does not want me to join her until it be my good time. She did say it so to me before she passed from us.
Daphne had been watching quietly from the sidelines. Now she asked what several who heard Heather Bloom's tale wanted to know. “Lady, um, sorry about that . . Heather Bloom? You said that you raised wing to go to Annie? You look like a unicorn. Where are your wings?”
Heather Bloom smiled and replied, “Bound by the Heart Keeper's Oath, I do hold to my true nature nor may I deny it. So long as the form I take openly reveal what I be, I may use the Gift o Change. That I can do swiftly if the need be. I do have a winged form that fly as well as any pegasus, though perhaps not as swift as some.” She was looking directly at Rainbow Dash as she said that last.
To the surprise of all the ponies at the party, Rainbow Dash said cheerfully, “That would be awesome! Could we see it?”
Heather Bloom looked around Sugar Cube Corner and all of the ponies there were at least looking interested. Daphne excitedly said, “Oh! Please do!”
Heather Bloom nodded thoughtfully and replied, “An none say it nay, then I shall change fer ye. Be in no wise afraid o what I shall be fer a pegasus it is not at all. I will make the change slowly so that all can see it happen.”
Her head, mane and horn stayed the same, except that the green glow of her magic enveloped her entire body. At first she almost melted like wax left too long near to something hot. The shape within the magic glow stopped flowing and began to reform, moving into half seen structures, partially hidden by the glow. When the glow of Heather Bloom's magic faded and she stood proud before them all.
She was still her original blackish green color but that and her head were all that even resembled a pony. The creature before the amazed watchers had no visible forelegs. In their place, huge webbed wings grew from the shoulders of a powerful chest. The creature had long and lean hind legs that ended in almost hawk-like talons. She was sitting on a longish tail webbed to the insides of her thighs.
Smiling at the effect, Heather Bloom partly spread her wings. There was not room enough to spread them completely inside Sugar Cube Corner. Her wings folded back along what would have been the forearms of another animal and she leaned forward until hoof-like parts covering the outside of her wing joints touched the floor. Lifting her hindquarters, Heather Bloom stood on all fours, her folded wings reaching up along the foreleg line and going on up, almost to the ceiling. Her foreleg/wings down to the hoof-like joints were actually longer than the hind legs, causing her back to slope somewhat down toward her rump.
As Heather Bloom looked back over a shoulder at Rainbow Dash, she grinned and offered, “Shall it be that we show these ponies what some real flyin' be like?”
Rainbow Dash got to the door first. She opened it with a mock bow, saying, “It would be my pleasure. After you, Your Ladyship?”
Smiling happily, Heather Bloom replied as she strode past, “Dashie, I think that we are going to get on just fine.”
Outside, the whole party gathered to watch. The few pegasi in the crowd were openly wondering, “How can any pony that big possibly get airborne? She's bigger than an alicorn.”
They were answered almost immediately by Heather Bloom's skyward launch. She stood full height on her hind legs and lunged forward, stabbing the ground with those odd fore hooves, her wings still folded. Vaulting between the planted hooves, her body and hind legs curled tight, Heather Bloom swung forward. As her coiled hind feet hit the ground, she straightened into a lunge upward, reaching for the sky with those huge wings. The powerful downstroke that came as she was reaching the top of her jump carried her up into the air over ten feet. The air thrust back from it was felt by all the watchers. A few more power flaps had Heather Bloom gliding serenely at about fifty feet up.
The astonished Rainbow Dash was looking up at Heather Bloom, gliding in lazy circles, gaining altitude with each pass. A cheerful call from up above, brought her to her senses.
“Come on up! The air is fine!”
Rainbow Dash took off in a powerful flutter of wings. It only took her a few moments to catch up to the gliding Heather Bloom. She flew close under Heather Bloom's huge right wing, by itself longer than Rainbow Dash's full wingspread. Holding her position easily, she said admiringly, “I never saw anything like that takeoff of yours! You can fly really well.”
“Coming from ye, Rainbow Dash, I take that as a high compliment. Shall we stoop upon them down there like hawks upon a mouse?”
Rainbow Dash didn't even hesitate. “That sounds like fun!”
“Right then, get you above me, if you please, for I do not wish to dodge ye while I pull out of the dive.”
Rainbow Dash eased back and climbed above the gliding Heather Bloom. As soon as she was safely in position, Heather Bloom's mighty wings folded in snugly to her body, only the tips extended a little for control. She dropped like a guided stone, falling straight at the watchers far below. Rainbow Dash was following and staying well clear until she saw how Heather Bloom would need to maneuver during the pull up.
When Heather Bloom's huge wings snapped wide, they caught the air with an audible thump. She swooped past, only about twenty feet above the watching crowd. Using the speed built up in the dive, she climbed up and fell back in a big loop, followed by a smaller one inside the first.
Rainbow Dash had sorted out the maneuver as soon as she saw Heather Bloom rolling over the top of the loop and sped through the center of it and swept around in time to center the second loop as well.
The watchers on the ground heard Rainbow Dash's happy laughter mixed with the deeper voice of Heather Bloom laughing in joy with her.
The two of them settled together to the ground. This time, Heather Bloom's change was swift as she resumed her unicorn-like form.
As they all trooped back into the party in Sugar Cube corner, Heather Bloom sealed a solid friendship with Rainbow Dash by asking, “That wa fun like I have not seen in many a year. When the hall is raised again, would ye do me the favor o coming to Red Hoof that we may play in the skies again?”
Word was buzzing all about the Ponyville market, from stall to stall. Ponies not working the sales stalls were gathered in clumps to discuss the news. The visitors, those strange unicorns, had just bought the entire two thousand acres of the Boggy Commons, including the two topped hill. What they could possibly want with such worthless land was the main object of much discussion.
Another topic was the wealth of the mare of the two. Mayor Mare would not reveal how much money the mare Heather Bloom was worth except to say that, “It is a very substantial sum.”
It was Derpy, of all ponies, flying by on her mail route who dropped the bomb, figuratively speaking, along with a few letters. Pausing to gather the letters that had escaped from her bag, she said casually, “Oh, you're talking about Lady Red Hoof? I just looked her up in the Canterlot Social Register. She is the third richest pony in all of Equestria. According the the latest update, her fortune is somewhere around eight billion golden bits. Only Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have more money.” With that, she tucked away the last of her stray letters, asked hopefully, “Muffin?” When nopony offered one, she took off.
One of the shell-shocked listeners remarked, “The Social Register? Why didn't we think of that? Sometimes I wonder just how much is really going on in Derpy's head. Eight BILLION? She has to have made another mistake.”
Binder, the used book dealer, pulled out a thick volume. He laid it out on his counter and began to page through it. Looking up, he pronounced, “Nope. Derpy is right or else the Canterlot Social Register is wrong.”
Sawnax the Earth pony observed, “She was just over to my lumberyard inquiring about the prices of timbers and plank.” He grinned in a mean way as he added, “Maybe I should raise my prices a few bits on her. She can easily afford it.”
Rocart the Unicorn stone mason said, “You could, and it would not be the first time that you did it, either. When I needed those thirty planks for framing work, Curmbway double counted some and we only had twenty seven when we got to the work site.”
Nettled, Sawnax retorted, “Your own fault! You should have counted them too.”
Calmly Rocart replied, “Tried to, four times, Curmbway dragged me off in mid count three times and YOU dragged me off the last time. You assured me that the load was right and sent me out to make room for the next cart.
“Wouldn't make good your error either, if error it was. And I think it was not. I now get my lumber elsewhere. Those three planks that were sharped from me have cost you over a hundred from my work already. Greater losses by far are to come. I've an appointment and must go.” Rocart turned his rump to the furious Sawnax and sauntered away toward his business office.
A few hours later, the more observant ponies at the market saw the mysterious Lady Red Hoof and her companion, Tam, emerge from the office of Rocart and go across to the architect Houser. They were there for quite a long time.
While Tam and Heather Bloom were in Houser's office, Daphne came to the market. She circulated quietly, listening to the bee hive roar of gossip about the Lady Red Hoof and her companion. She paid particular attention to what the various merchants were saying. After hearing the multitude of opinions, she trotted across to Houser's office and went in.
It was nearly evening when the three of them came out of Houser's office. Heather Bloom was in a jubilant mood and Tam was all smiles. Daphne was following them with an expression something like adoration on her face.
Sawnax tried to interpose his impressive bulk between Daph and Heather Bloom, snorting, “Buzz off, brat. Quit bothering Her Ladyship!”
Tam was even faster than Heather Bloom in turning. His massively muscled shoulder slamming Sawnax aside effortlessly.
In spite of the sheer force that he had just used, he spoke mildly. “Do come with us, Daph. The way is cleared o obstruction. Dinner and entertainment it is that we are in need o now.
“Tomorrow, after Miss Cherrilee lets ye out o the schooling will be time enough to go see Miss Rarity about a proper livery fer ye, so that bumpkins o this stripe shall know that it is fer us as a page that ye work.”
Sawnax was just about to snap at Tam when he realized that besides his sheer power, Tam's big dirk was out of its sheath and floating solidly in the grip of a bright yellow, clearly powerful, Unicorn magic. Tam was regarding Sawnax with an utterly calculated and calm demeanor.
Tam turned his head to stare directly at Sawnax as he said, “Ye have offended both Her Ladyship Heather Bloom, Duchess O' Red Hoof, and Daphne Crager, page to her Ladyship. Before ye move from that spot, ye must make yer apology to them or it shall go hard fer ye.”
Sawnax lifted a back corner of his mouth and blew a raspberry through the lifted lip. Turning his back, he tried to take a step and fell flat. A golden glow of unicorn magic faded from his hooves as he scrambled for his feet. He made another attempt to leave and fell again the same way.
Tam watched with amusement. “I did say it that ye shall not leave this spot until yer apology be made and accepted.” The dirk flipped back into its sheath as he added, “Tis nay weapon that I'll be needing fer ye. Speak yer part and that civilly or stay here past the rise o the moon. Tis all the same to me.”
As Sawnax fell the third time, he realized that Tam was perfectly serious. And worse, Tam was amused at the predicament of his adversary. Ducking his head he said sullenly, “I apologize for my inadvertent error, Your Ladyship. I thought that the child was being a pest and tried to . . .” was as far as he got. He was in mid turn to leave while still speaking when he fell heavily again.
Heather Bloom, staring hostilely down at him, cut him off by interrupting, “Cease yer lie, Mister Sawnax. When ye seen our Daph go into Houser's to join us, ye snooped her with the Mayor's office. Yer complaint o her fail fer she's her signed permission o work fer us from her parents.
“Ye did find also her complaint of theft. Her heroic part in the capture o yer worker Curmbway has put him to the gaol. This was nay pleasing to ye according to what Mayor Mare send to us.
“Ye did know full well what it were that ye did. I'll nay take from ye any lie.” She cocked her head, looking down at him. The brightly lit sky behind her made a menacing silhouette, seeming all black, the crooked horn and the fangs showing plainly. Sawnax cringed, and tried, “Don't harm me further! I . . .”
Daphne cut him off with, “They haven't harmed you at all, Mister Sawnax! A colt playing dodge ball in the schoolyard gets hut worse than you are and laughs because the game is fun. Apology. Now. Or I get daddy and swear out an assault charge. Then both you and Curmbway can compare stories while you sit in the jail until Monday's hearing.”
Daphne planted a small hoof solidly on the side of the fallen Sawnax's neck, her weight and the placement of her foot keeping him down. She added, “Her Ladyship and I are waiting.”
Sawnax took a moment to digest the idea that a young filly could get away with saying and doing something like that to HIM. Shocked, he thought, “This isn't right! I'm always the big one. Big ones like me are supposed to get whatever we want!” Aloud he said sullenly, “Your Ladyship, I apologize for interrupting your outing.”
To Daph, Heather Bloom said, “Remove yer hoof, Daph. Go fer the constable. He has nay said apology fer ye.”
As Daph lifted her forefoot, Sawnax desperately said, “Forgive me for bumping you like that, Daphne! I am sorry!”
Daphne nodded quietly and said, “I am sure that you are sorry that your ploy failed. However, you have said what my Lady Red Hoof required of you. So long as your behavior is civil while you arise, you may leave.”
Tam looked down at her approvingly. As Sawnax got to his feet and retreated Tam suggested, “Daph has played the hero to us and fought on our behalf. This is not a page's work, nor should it be a page's wage. Let us raise her to Carline. She has both spirit and courage as well as good sense.”
Daphne eyebrows shot up and her mouth dropped open. Heather Bloom just nodded and said, “So my thought is too, Tam, my Heart.
“Daphne, would ye do us the honor o serving us as a Free Carline, rather than simple page?”
Daph pulled herself together enough to make a good curtsy, formally folding her forelegs. Looking up in pure adoration, she replied, “It would be my honor, Your Ladyship.”
Tam reached out with his horn and lifted the young filly to her feet, saying, “The honor's ours, Carline Daph. Tis twice now that ye've fought fer the right o things and fer us as well.
“Now wad ye be so good as to recommend a good place for food and a bit of entertainment?”
Daph looked about and pointed with her right hoof. “The Pink Note is one of the best around. It is a smallish café and bar with light jazz live on stage. Daddy took me there for my birthday. I couldn't have any of the bar drinks but I hear that they are really good. I have heard you mention liking barley beer and they have it on tap, not just in bottles.”
At the mention of barley beer on tap, Tam brightened up considerably. Heather Bloom smiled and said, “If their beer be as good as the recommendation, ye need another raise. Not going to get it, though. Will sweet alfalfa hay and almond pastries do in its place fer now?”
Daphne led the way proudly. Over her shoulder she said, “All the other fillies and colts at school are green with envy.
None of them has a paying job after school, like I do. Now, about all that they can tease me about is still being a blank flank.”
She held the door of the Pink Note open for Tam and Heather Bloom to enter. The place had a light and airy feel that was helped by tastefully chosen colors and pleasantly relaxing, longish waved, white super-graphic around the walls of the main room. A small three piece ensemble was, as promised, playing soft, easy listening jazz.
There were few patrons at this time of day. A cheerful unicorn pony with a cherry red and brown mane and tail trotted up, menus in her mouth. Laying out the menus, she introduced herself, “Hello, I am Cherry Mocha. Welcome to the Pink Note. May I get you anything while you make up your minds what to order?”
Tam promptly requested, “Twill be a pitcher o yer barley beer on tap and twa chilled mugs fer it. That be fer my Lady and I. Daph, what want ye?”
Daphne smiled and said, “An iced cherry mocha fizz for me, please, Cherry. Bring us all an appetizer plate of assorted nut topped pastries too, if you would. Be sure that there is at least one nice almond one for Her Ladyship. Thank you.”
Cherry's eyes widened a bit at the “Her Ladyship” and she trotted off quickly to fill the order. Heather Bloom pointed out, “Daph, we are trying to leave that Canterlot title foolishness behind us. Here, we are but Heather Bloom and Tam.”
Daphne replied without contrition, “The problem is, that cat is already out of the bag. Since ponies around here already know that there are members of the Royal Court here in Ponyville, letting more ponies know who you are will help to prevent frauds, among other things. It is likely to get you better service as well.”
Cherry Mocha returned laden with a tray which she set carefully on a service stand. Smiling, she set out the big pitcher with drops of moisture forming along its sides from the chilled contents. Tam and Heather Bloom got big mugs that were also chilled.
Cherry Mocha carefully took the try of snacks by the jaw grip and laid it neatly on the table so the three of the pastries faced Heather Bloom. All had a light and flaky crust. One had seasoned apple and honey filling. Another was peach filled and the third filled berries. They were all liberally topped with flaked almonds.
The rest of the pastries were an assortment of Sugar Cube Corner's best work. The feast that followed was a merry one.
At the end of their dining, Tam and Heather Bloom called Cherry Mocha to the table. With a smile, Tam said quietly, “We've a tip fer ye, Cherry, lass. Here, a pair o bits o silver. We've also a complaint of yer price.”
Cherry looked downcast and said, “I try to keep my prices as fair as I can. What more can I do?”
Tam pointed at the payment tray with a hoof. “Ye can take what we think fair fer such a fine dinner and music as ye have provided us.” With the palest of yellow magic, he laid down along side the coins already there another row of silver and golden bits. “Our complaint of ye is that ye charged not enough at all.”
As Cherry was staring wide eyed at the money, Heather Bloom was getting up from her seat at the table and said, “Ye may count on our further patronage, my dear. It is back that we shall be and that many a time indeed.”
Tam, Heather Bloom and Daphne took their leave into the Equestrian night.
To build a Great Hall requires more than merely getting a piece of land to put it on. Heather Bloom did have that. Houser worked long and hard on the plan for the big building. It was going to be the biggest building in Ponyville, except that it was somewhat outside of town!
Heather Bloom, Tam and Daphne were supervising workers who were digging into the gap between the two peaks of the hill where the new hall was going to be raised. It was the site of the original Hall of Red Hoof, about four thousand years ago.
As the first ancient charred timber was found, Heather Bloom called all the workers together. She surveyed them all with care and then told them, “I know that I ha' told ye before this but now it is o the utmost importance. This wa the home o' my foalhood.
“When we fled the invader, much wa left behind, our lives bein' o' the greatest value that we could save. Not only wa all here belongin' to my folk an' kin, my dear father, Jarl Natchin did die here. All that be found, even the least bead not only belong ta me as the last survivor, I also own this land and all therein.
“Whatso ye find, bring it to me. There shall be fair reward fer such as ye do so honestly. If ye be caught a takin' anything away without permission, ye shall be charged and tried under the Royal Wing by Celestia and Luna, who were frequent and welcome in guesting here. It was the work o' Celestia that any survived and got safe away.
“Go now and dig with care. If any bone o' my father be found, that shall be greatly rewarded. All that may be o' him I wish to put to the same grave and under the same stane as my mother Jarla Peach Tree, who was mortal burned in comforting the passing o' my father.
“She we put to the Earthen Rest three day's travel from this spot.”
Heather Bloom bit her lip and shed tears at ancient memories, still sharp as knives.
Daphne herded the workers back to the task, pointing out, “The law is clear that anything that you find belongs to Her Ladyship. Even if it seems of little worth, it is a reminder of her foalhood.”
As the afternoon progressed, more and more charred beams and fire scorched stone of fallen walls were found. Daphne's sharp eyes spotted a worker pocketing something into his saddlebag.
First, she picked her way through the ruin of the ancient fire and quietly confronted the worker. “Leroi, I saw that. Call Her Ladyship over and give her the piece that you found. If you do not, I shall.”
He made the error of raising his shovel in a threatening manner. Daphne immediately called out, “Heather Bloom! Your Ladyship! Leroi is trying to steal something!”
Enraged, he swung his shovel at Daphne. Her call and the flat smack of it striking her shoulder alerted the whole work force.
Besides the converging ponies, Tam was coming swiftly the side of the fallen carlene of Red Hoof. As he knelt above her protectively, Leroi tried to sneak off.
It was no use. Tam's magic reached out and snagged both forehooves at once, pulling them both back, between his hind legs. His face hit the dirt and ancient ash with a splat. Ignoring Leroi, except to keep pulling him off balance if he tried to rise, Tam concentrated on Daphne.
“Carlene Daph! Be ye alright? I seen the assault upon yer person.”
Daph was a bit shaky as she struggled to her hooves. She took a deep breath and flexed her shoulder some. “Thank you, Tam. I do believe that I have only got a bruise. What will happen now?”
Heather Bloom said sternly, “There be but three the courses left to him. I, as a Duchess o the Realm may call a trial under the Royal Wing. Celestia and Luna shall examine the case and there is no appeal for him at all from their judgment.
“The next way is to call the constables and put him to the Ponyville Courts o Law. If we do that, and the thing he took be found upon him, he will be convicted and go to labor on the roads.
“The last is least formal. He can return to me whatso he take and beg o you, Daph, yer pardon. If ye take the apology he is done here but free.”
Daphne took the time to think with care. “Your Ladyship, a boon I beg of you. I do know why he took what it was that he did. He came here to work because his family is on hard times. The bits that he earns are keeping a roof over the heads of his family and food on their table. That is why he was risking his job to take something of value. Not greed. To save his family.
“My boon is this. If he gives back what he took, reward him for the finding as if this has not happened. Put him to other work where he will not be so tempted. Perhaps working on the dams that you are putting into the marshes would be good.”
Heather Bloom softened. “Ye be wise beyond yer years, Carlene Daph. It shall be as ye want it, should Leroi give back what he take and give to you the apology due.”
Leroi listened in amazement. He offered, “I am really sorry that I hit you, Daphne. You were right and I was wrong.
“Here it is, Your Ladyship. It is a circle thing of some black metal with yellow that I thought might be brass. It has red stones that almost glow.”
He produced a circle broach with a long pin. The the age blackened silver of it made the untarnished yellow gold stand out brilliantly. The garnets that it was set with had pools of red light shining in them.
Heather Bloom fell to her knees in shock as she saw it. “It is my father's cloak pin! The resting place o Natchin, Jarl O' Red Hoof ha been found! End this day's work fer all at full payment.
“Give to Leroi enough that his family shall be provided fer the whole of the next year. See that his family's rents, food and other need all be done upon the bounty o Red Hoof!”
There was a lone candle lantern glowing in the ruins of the ancient Great Hall of Red Hoof. Heather Bloom came to investigate and found Daphne sitting quietly next to the place that the broach was found.
“What is it that ye are doin', Daph? Willna your mother and father be a worryin'?”
Daphne looked up, and Heather Bloom saw that she was wearing her dress livery as a carlene to the House of Red Hoof. “Mom and Dad know where I am, Heather Bloom. They approved of the idea.
“I just thought that it would be a good thing to sit vigil with Jarl Natchin until we can do better for your father. He has been alone long enough.”
Tears rolled from Heather Bloom's eyes. “It is not wise alone that ye are, Carlene Daph. It is a compassionate heart that ye have as well. Ye wad make a fine Heart Keeper, were ye o a kind that could.
“I shall return shortly with some good ration. We shall keep this watch together.”
The morning's light found them both still keeping their vigil.
The day was spent in careful excavating of Jarl Natchin's bones. When, at last, they had all that could be found, Heather Bloom gathered all the workers. She announced, “It is a six days holiday that ye all have with my deepest thanks fer yer good help. Ye shall all be full paid fer the time that ye are off.
“Ye all do know that we ha found the bones o my dear Father, Natchin, Jarl O' Red Hoof. My mother, Peachtree, Jarla O' Red Hoof is laid to her Earthen Rest at a place three days o walk hence from here. We are goin' to place them both together as should ha been done those ages ago but War did not allow o it.”
When Heather Bloom and Tam set out into the Everfree, there were many who wondered how it could take three whole days each way to reach the grave of Heather Bloom's mother and return.
Sawnax was loudest of the naysayers. “Pish! Three days to get ANYWHERE in the Everfree? You would be totally across the Everfree in only two! Even I could do it in a two and that just strolling! They are simply crazy!”
Daphne overheard and smiled hugely as she suggested, “Why don't YOU go take a nice stroll in the Everfree, Sawnax? Just walk in for a day, spend the night and walk out! That should get you as far as Sunnytown, without any problem! Of course, LEAVING Sunnytown can be a problem. Especially if you happen to have a cutie-mark.”
Sawnax recoiled, “I wasn't talking to you, Brat! Get out of here!”
Daphne looked about brightly. “My goodness! I could have sworn that this was a PUBLIC square! You were slandering Her Ladyship and the Baron. I have a right to be here. You do not have the right to slander anypony.”
Sawnax, face gone red with rage at being shown to be in the wrong, took a swing at Daphne! She ducked under it and popped up hard as his foreleg was passing over her! The strong lift hurled Sawnax from his feet! Daphne was on his neck in an instant! Try as he might, Sawnax could not rise from the cobbles of the square with her weight holding his head down.
One of the onlookers commented, “Wow, Sawnax! Tried to sucker punch a filly still in school and you got totally beat! Maybe you should take on old Alsop McFeeble over there in his mobility chair next. Be sure to sneak up behind him or HE might flatten you!”
That was met with a big round of hilarity.
The constable took his time in arriving, to underscore that big, strong, Sawnax had been taken down by a filly still in school. He manacled Sawnax and took careful notes from the still laughing and giggling witnesses before hauling Sawnax off to the courthouse.
Daphne went to finish her shopping. She bought a tent, sleeping blankets, a lantern and some camping rations. She was carrying it all in her back pack and saddlebags as she trotted out of town.
In the late dusk, she heard, “Drat! That filly is camped out up on the hill!”
Another voice pointed out, “There is three of us. We can take her.”
Daphne's voice joined their conversation from concealment and nowhere near the visible camp. “Perhaps you can. At least one of you will go to the horspital or even the morgue in doing it.
“Amazing how you will be upset if some beggar pony breaks into your place and takes things from you. You have more than them but you know that when they steal from YOU, that is wrong. Somehow, though, you going to steal from some other pony who has more than you does not seem wrong. Why is that?”
One, an orange pony, ignoring the clear demonstration that they were in the wrong, demanded, “Show yourself, coward!”
Sweetly, Daphne's voice from the darkness returned, “Coward? You mean like three grown ponies being willing to attack a lone school filly? That kind of coward?”
The orange pony pulled a biggish knife. “You can't call me a coward! I am gonna cut you for that!” He turned his head toward the other two as he spoke, adding, “Right, guys?”
His words were cut off by the loud snap and rattle of a crossbow firing! The turning of his head caused the bolt to almost miss! Its razor edged predator point sliced mane hair and a small bit of the nape of his neck right off! There was the loud thump of the bolt striking a tree trunk behind them!
The orange one squalled, “Run! She done shot me!” Suiting action to words, he dropped his knife and ran back to the road and the safety of town!
The others fled in his wake!
By the light of the early dawn, before full sunup, a constable from Ponyville came out. He was wise enough to call from the roadside. “Ma'am! We have a report that there was an attempted killing by crossbow out here!
“May I approach?”
Daphne called back, “Yes, Sir! Please wait there. I will guide you up and show you the evidence, which is all still in place. Your report left out a few details! Kind of important ones!”
Daphne came down the workpony lane leading to the top of Red Hoof's hill. Guiding the constable, she pointed out, “You see these? Fresh tracks of THREE ponies. They came up here at late dusk to steal treasure that they imagine to be buried up there on the hill top.”
She pointed out the fenceline, still under construction, but plain to see. “They were trespassing and talking about the loot that they were going to get. They saw the light of my camp on the hill and threatened that there was three of them to one of me. I had moved out of the camp, carrying this crossbow, which was loaded then.”
She stopped the constable and pointed to the tracks. “See? They stopped and milled about, here. This, well inside the Red Hoof property, is where I confronted them from concealment. I first tried to shame them into simply leaving.
“They not only refused, the orange pony drew that knife. The one on the ground there, and threatened to “cut me.” At that point I shot a predator control bolt at his neck. He turned to his buddies just as I shot and only got grazed by the bolt.”
She pointed to the tuft of mane hair with a little attached skin. “When I grazed him, he dropped the knife and they all three ran for town.”
She looked on approvingly as the constable made careful drawings and voluminous notes. He looked up and asked, “Where, exactly were you hidden, Daphne?”
She took a position in the brush and replied, “Right here, Constable.”
He checked the scene and her position. “Please stay just there, Daphne. I am looking for something.” Sighting from her, across the tracks of the ponies, he began to search. He located the fired crossbow bolt driven into a tree trunk.
He sighted back along the path, checking not only direction but also height. Nodding to himself, he added more to his sketches and notes. Finally he pointed out, “Their trespass is proved now. This tree is INSIDE of Red Hoof's fence. Well inside. All the rest confirms it.
“One question that is on everypony's lips right now. Why were you willing to kill to defend that ruin? They found the Duchess' father, Jarl Natchin and are off to bury him with his wife, so I understand.”
Daphne bit a lip before answering, “Aside from them stealing from the Duchess, she told me that she believes there to be at least three more of her ancient household still in there. They have waited over 3000 years for a proper burial. Just letting some looter toss their bones aside in the search for treasure would be wrong.
“Come on up to see what our ancestors really did. What we now celebrate at Hearthwarming.”
She showed him the charred timbers and smoke blackened stone work. All that remained of the Great Hall of Red Hoof. She pointed to the end nearest to the Everfree. “Celestia herself, not yet fully grown, killed six of the attackers and forced the blocked doors to save these ponies. She saved all that she could. Lady Heather Bloom says that besides her father, three others never escaped.
“I will not let some vile treasure hunter make the ancient evil even worse by desecrating where they lie.”
He nodded soberly. “I will speak to the others on the force. We may be able to do something.
“I will send a crime scene group out to make the official report on this incident.”
When, five days later, Heather Bloom and Tam emerged from the Everfree forest, they were surprised to find, not only Daphne on watch, but an Honor Guard of three off duty Ponyville Constables.
Chapter 10 : From the Ashes of the Past: The Raising of Red Hoof
During the final clearing of the charred ruins of the ancient Great Hall of Red Hoof, some questioned who was sustaining who. Heather Bloom was constantly on the site and the strain of clearing the wreckage of a war 3000 years gone, was immense.
Daphne, in her Red Hoof livery, knelt before her and spoke, “My Lady, you are needed. We have found another. From what can be told, she was a mare, and not too old.”
A tear in her eye, and shaking as she followed, Heather Bloom came to the resting place of yet another pony who did not mange to escape when, ages past, the young Celestia broke the doors of the burning hall to rescue her friends. Looking down at the bones and untouched ornaments, Heather Bloom shook her head sadly. “Janifer, I ha hoped that ye were but gone another way. Ye shall be laid in honor now.”
Looking up with a pain that still stabbed her heart after the passing of so many ages, Heather Bloom asked softly, “Who among ye did find her?
“Janifer wa the youngest o the hoofmaids o my mither Peach Tree. She take the time to play wi me when duty allowed o it.”
One of the workers answered her, “It was Carl, here and me, together. We shifted that beam and we saw her bones. We called Daphne to tell you, Ma'am.”
“That wa well done, and tis rewarded that ye shall be.”
Tam came, picking his way across the remaining bits of what was once the Great Hall of Red Hoof. “Get ye some rest, Heather Bloom, my dear. I shall take the care o Janifer. We shall lay her to rest next to Holly Branch. A carved stane to mark the grave Oi shall order so soon as ye do show me that which is wanted.”
She nuzzled Tam and stroked his horn gently with her own. “It is too good ye air to me, Tam, my heartkept. I dinna know how I should keep on, wi'oot ye. Oi shall leave this ta ye and take me mournin’ to another place.”
With a deep sigh, Heather Bloom walked slowly away. Daphne followed, and then guided her to a quiet, well shaded spot.
Daphne produced a note from Houser. “Your Ladyship, I hope that you will like this news better. Houser says that he has finished examining all of the old supporting stonework. Your ponies built well. It can be used as soon as the last of the rubble is cleared. The new hall can be built from and on the old, just as you hoped.”
“Ye air too gud, Daph. Oi do see that ye ha sommat else. Wa be it?”
Daphne scraped a hoof in the dirt and looked uncertainly away. “You told me that you did a sort of feast with your funerals.”
“Aye, Daph. Tis called a Wake.”
“There was a Rom caravan passing through town on its way to the Mareimount fair. I asked them to come here and sell us their baked Ka'chek rolls, twists and rings with dipping sauces and a selection of their famous tea drinks.
“I hope that was OK. I already paid them.”
“Wi wha coin, Daph?”
Earnestly, she replied, “You paid me for the last two weeks. I used that.”
“Ye shall be paid it back fer this kindness to them ye knew not.”
Daphne bowed a full courtly bow and stated, “I did not need to know them, your Ladyship. You knew them. It is enough.”
“Oi ha said it afore this, Daph. If a Heartkeeper ye could be, ye should be one indeed.”
They heard the cheerful chime of harness bells as the Rom caravan pulled up to the gate.
With the workers called together, Heather Bloom gave a quietly moving eulogy for Holly Branch and Janifer. She ended with, “These Rom ha a saying goes The Loved Dead Air Always With Us. So it be fer Holly Branch an Janifer. In 3000 o years, it is that they air no fergotten.
“These gud Rom ha laid on a feast to celebrate their lives. Do join us, we pray ye.”
The Rom were kept busy tending the cooking fires for the hungry work crew!
The next morning, the first of the timbers that Houser ordered arrived at the Ponyville railroad yard. It was easy to see that Sawnax could not supply these monsters! They were easily three times longer than any in his stock.
Maneuvering them through town and out to Red Hoof’s hill was an adventure in its own right! Houser had two sets of steerable wheels on massive axles. Each one could be pulled by four ponies! The back set had harness that let the ponies pull, two on each side of the timber. When they started a turn, the rear ponies kept pulling straight up the street, while the front ones made the turn. When the rear wheels came up to the turn, the front held straight down the street, while the rear turned. It needed careful work to do it right.
At the end of the day, they had half of the big timbers up at the work site. Heather Bloom suggested, “As expensive as ar timbers air, Houser, let us post guards on both sets.”
The next morning, Houser was grinning. “They tried to sneak into the rail yard. They had a big two pony saw. Today, they tried to tell Judge Coldheart that we would never miss a few meters off one or two so that they could get some firewood!
“They are going to be on the Royal Road work gangs for the next two years!”
Tam looked askance and inquired, “Did Sawnax ha anywhit to do wi the crime?”
Houser nodded. “They are part time workers of his. The saw that they were carrying was from his yard.”
“I did think as much.”
The remainder of the huge timbers were transported through Ponyville. They arrived without incident at Red Hoof’s Hill, as the two peaked hill was now being called. Two more trainloads of smaller timbers and lumber came over the next few days.
The hilltop resounded to the slamming chop of broad-axes and adzes. For days, frame after huge frame was built, following the original designs but using modern iron fasteners.
Big A-frame cranes were being used to lift up the special end frames!
“Careful, there! Keep it under tension! Can’t let that shift out of position at all!” Ponies heaved on big blocks and tackle to hold the first of the frames in place while others labored feverishly to get it solidly braced!
“That’s it! Let the lines go!” Cables fell away and the first of the giant frames stood silhouetted against the sky!
The big A-frames were moved to the other end of the hall’s foundation. Lest any think it was easy, the griping and complaining ponies got the massive lifting frames into place but only got the lifting tackle rigged by quitting time. The second of the enormous end frames still lay on the stones as the flaming red evening sky made a dark arch of the first one!
Down in the somewhat seedy bar known as the LOW DOWN, Sawnax was starting his usual gripe session. “You see them timbers? I could'a ordered them, but NO! Her High and Mighty Ladyship is cutting out the LOCAL businesses and their payrolls! Building that big old barn of place with no benefit to the local economy!”
He was interrupted by a pink mare in the corner. “They have been ordering lunches for their workers. They share it around by turns among all the restaurants in Ponyville! It was our turn at Sugar Cube Corner today! What a madhouse! Profitable, too!”
A big blacksmith sitting alone in a corner chimed in, “They ordered those broad-axes and adzes from me. Paid cash, too.”
All over the bar tales of the free spending of Heather Bloom filled the air, making Sawnax growl, deep in his chest at being left out of the bounty of Red Hoof. The barkeep took his coin first, before pouring him another beer.
He commented, “You really should not have tried all those dodges and attempts to short Red Hoof. She did not get rich by failing to count or to check out the quality of what she was buying. That is why they won’t deal with you now. They gave you a chance, in spite of your rude behavior to them and Daphne. You tried to short count them. They caught you out, too.”
It was only a few days later that the whole town was abuzz. The sheer size of the ancient Red Hoof Hall could now be seen All of the giant frames were up and braced. They were spanned by the biggest roof trees that Ponyville had ever seen.
AJ was seen pacing about the room spaces inside the frame. She was examining all of the joinery in those big frames and the bare posts of the wall partitions.
To her surprise, she was approached by Heather Bloom. “I ha looked at wha yer Sweet Apple Acres produce an all that ye need fer it. I do see the need o a new barn fer ye. Am I correct in m’ understanin’?”
AJ stammered, “Y'all are, Sugarc … Yer Ladyship. Ain’t no way that we kin pay fer it or we’d of put up already.”
Heather Bloom led the way to a shady spot where a table, cask and mugs awaited. “Then, AJ, let us speak o terms. M’ money shall earn me yet mair money. Ye shall pay it me at rates gud fer ye too. Thus, ye shall pay it oot o the increase o yer farm’s business wi much left t’ ye. Gain fro th’ beginnin’ and only better gud when all be paid off.”
A slightly stunned AJ sat, seeing a way to do what had not been possible before. A way that let Sweet Apple Acres prosper from the outset.
The two sat quietly, discussing the necessary terms, including allowances for a bad harvest and such other problems while the sounds of hammer, saw, and the different chopping noises of broad-axes and adzes went on about them.
The outside walls were more than half up when it came time to quit for the day.
It was only two more weeks before all of the workers were lined up before Tam and Heather Bloom. Behind them the massive Great Hall of Red Hoof stood. Its bright wood and stout shingle making it stand out proudly. For the first time in 3000 years, Red Hoof was once again solid, straddling the top of its hill.
Heather Bloom paced before Houser’s crew and spoke, pride in her voice and manner. “It is foin werk that ye all ha done. This portion o the werk be finished almost a month early and it is most pleased that I am.
“Ye were all offered werk here on landscapin and garden. Those as tuk the offer, yer pay is as normal but that ye ha been give a bonus fer early finish o the job.
“Fer those who will move on t’ Houser’s other projects, Oi ha paid ye that month ye did save and give ye yer two week severance. Also, should ye need it, ye ha a letter o recommend.
“There be but one mair bit o business befair ye leave. Ye may ha notice t’ smoke an smells o t’ kitchen at werk. Ye must come inside and be t’ first t’ feast in this foin Great Hall that ye ha raised fro t ashes o t’ past!
Dapnhe Crager trotted a little nervously to the front of the class in Miss Cheerilee's schoolroom. She was wearing a wide silver necklace bearing, in glowing enamel-work, a large red thistle bloom crossed by a great sword, both overlaid by a sheaf grain, all on a green field. Besides that she wore a sash over her left shoulder that was of green satin decorated with the three elements of the necklace ornament.
As she took her place, Diamond Tiara, daughter of one of Ponyville's richest ponies whispered loudly enough to be heard all across the room, “Dressed a bit fancy for an Earth Pony filly who's a mere servant, isn't she?” Diamond Tiara's many cronies tittered loudly.
Face flaming with embarrassment, Daphne lifted her head proudly and spoke as if Diamond Tiara hadn't said anything. “For my class presentation on the Meaning of Hearthwarming Eve, I have the honor to bring you all my mistress, Heather Bloom, Duchess of Red Hoof.” Pausing just enough to make her point into a harpoon, she added, “The richest pony in all of Equestria except for the Royal Princesses, Celestia, Luna and Cadence.
“The Duchess was born here, near Ponyville. She has consented to tell us about the beginnings of what we now celebrate as Hearthwarming Eve.”
Daphne gestured welcome with a hoof and a large, almost horse-like unicorn entered the room. From her upper jaw, there protruded two large canine fangs several inches long. Her coat was gray-green and her mane and tail pale green with darker highlights. Around her horn, encircling the top of her head, was the silver crown of a Duchess of the Realm and she wore a wide golden necklace with the same emblem as Daphne's. Her sash was cloth of gold and carried the same brilliantly embroidered patterns as Daphne's sash.
The Duchess of Red Hoof faced the class and smiled, widely. Her mouth full of razor sharp fangs showed. She said gently, “I need not hear it to know that ye are sayn' to yerselves, 'Changeling.' We are much alike, my sort and changelings.
“Yet there be a world o' difference between my kind and the changeling kin. My kind be called Heartkeepers. We look much alike for the cause that the Love Poison brought both o' us about and its taint carries in the blood with nay an end to it. If I have another foal she will be as me. If I was to have a colt, he would be as his sire and his line and blood safe.”
One of the young unicorns in Diamond Tiara's crowd sneered, “Daphne said that you were born near here. That's a lie. Ponyville is only about sixty years old. Granny Smith remembers it. If you were born near here we would have known it.”
Diamond Tiara clapped her hooves with a grin. “Answer that!”
Heather Bloom nodded as if the question were serious and said, “Carlene Daph, this wad be a good time to hand out the papers that we brought fer them, if ye would be so good.”
Daphne began moving among the restless but actually curious fillies and colts, laying bundles of parchments on each desk. She finished her task and returned to the head of the class, beside Heather Bloom.
Heather Bloom smiled gently at Daph and then said, “Now we can answer what was said. The top paper in yer packet is a map. Befer ye say that it be wrong, look to the second paper which explain the difference between Ponyville now and the land when that first map wa' made. Twilight Sparkle done the study to prove all that is written there.”
Apple Bloom looked up in surprise but nodding. “Swale Orchard on our farm is right where this map shows the river. This note says that the flood that changed its course happened in year FIVE of Celestia's reign. That means that the map is over a thousand years old.”
“Far more than a mere thousand years, Apple Bloom. Far more indeed,” agreed Heather Bloom. “None o us knows fer sure the age o the map. There are limits to even the best o magic, even that o the Alicorn.
“What can be proved is that this map is but little younger than I. That place on the hill near to Everfree Forest is the Great Hall O' Red Hoof, the place where I was foaled. The strange looking lines and marks show where invading armies o ponies were camped and the routes o their attack.
“I was young then, bare twenty o years. Just to the left, off o the map was the hall o Bright Mane and over here to the right barely on the map was the hall o Perchron. They both acknowledged the leadership o Jarl Natchin O' Red Hoof, my father, and one o the finest Earth Ponies ever to stride the land.”
Puzzled, Scootaloo raised a hoof and asked, “Why aren't the lines of the attacking armies straight? I mean they are all sort of twisty. Were they hiding behind something that doesn't show?
Heather Bloom replied softly, “Nay, they had a reason different. What do yer tales tell o the land as they find it?”
Diamond Tiara smirked, “It was an EMPTY land with fine meadows of hay and grains. There were groves of fruits and nuts of all good kinds. There is NO mention of these phony pony places.”
Several of her cronies clapped hooves uncertainly and quickly quieted. A few were considering that there might be something more to come.
Heather Bloom gave Diamond Tiara a long look until Diamond Tiara began to squirm in her desk. Then Heather Bloom replied, “There is no mention o us fer a good reason. When those who tell o yer migration from famine to plenty arrive, we, who was here before yer ancestors come, were all either murdered by surprise attacks under the cover o darkness or driven from our ancestral homes. We were all fled or dead.
“It was near to the harvest and the armies trod careful to preserve the precious loot o food. That be why the marches be not straight.”
The big unicorn's powerful shoulders shook and tears ran freely from her eyes as she spoke. “I will never forget that night lit by the flames o the burning o Red Hoof. My father, Jarl Natchin, organized those o us trapped inside the burning hall to buck open the doors barred by our attackers.
“He stay to the last to be sure that all o our slaves, free ponies, Carlenes and Carls got safe first. As it is the duty o the lesser to serve the higher in time o peace, so also, in danger, it be the duty o the higher to save the lesser.
“A flaming beam fell upon him and he was trapped. My mother, Peach Tree, went back into the flaming hall to attempt the freeing of him but it was of no use. His bones were in many places broken and he was burned sore. Peach Tree used all her magic store o love to keep the pain o his dying from him. In the deed she was herself sore burned and had no power o magic left to heal her own body.
“We fled away as refugees into the dangers o the Everfree Forest as safer than trying to stay. As we marched deeper into the safety o the Everfree, we found survivors o Bright Mane and Perchron.
“My dear mother that should be standing here by me was burned so bad that three days march into the Everfree, we had to pause and wait her dying. To this day her Stone stand in the Everfree where we put her to the Earthen Lake.”
It only took a second for the young ponies in the class to figure out the meaning of the expression Earthen Lake. Some of the young fillies and colts looked miserably at one another.
Heather Bloom picked up her tale. “I, like Peach Tree, my mother, used up the whole o my store o love in the Sustaining o her and warding from her the pain o her passing. That brought me near to dying o starvation too.
“My clan's survivors would nay let such a thing be. They knew that a Heartkeeper such as myself is sworn to bring no injury to any living creature. Yet they were determined that the last o their leaders should nay die. It was they who chose a repugnant path and killed some creatures o the forest for my sustenance. I did eat o the meat but more than the meat it was the love o my clan and the others following our lead that brought me back from the brink o death.”
Heather Bloom sat on her haunches and looked slowly about the room at shocked fillies and colts. She nodded slowly and interrupted her tale to say, “There is a great difference between what ye can do and what ye actually do. Ye could steal and work other ruin on good ponies. Ye do not. So it is with me. Meat I can eat, yet do not. Heartkeepers like to myself are sworn to bringing no intentional harm to any other creature but in the defense o life or safety. Even then we must do as little o harm as may be.”
Diamond Tiara furrowed her small brow in concentration as she thought over what the class was being told. Suddenly she pounced on a single fact and retorted, “This is all very sad, I am sure, but it has nothing to do with Hearthwarming Eve. If it was near the harvest, it was mid summer, not winter. Hearthwarming Eve is at mid winter!”
To Diamond Tiara's surprise, Heather Bloom looked straight at her in approval and said, “At least one here has not left her wits behind.
“It was a bit past the mid summer that this befell. However, it does have everything to do with your Hearthwarming Eve and what we also celebrate at the same time. Listen on.
“We left Peach Tree's stone behind us and for twelve more days traveled the hidden ways o the Everfree.”
This time it was Apple Bloom who raised a hoof and said in puzzlement, “The Everfree Forest isn't that big. It is dangerous, but you can cross it in only three days if nothing happens to you. Was it bigger back then?”
Heather Bloom nodded happily and said, “There is yet another who has not left her wits at the door. She also brought in with her courtesy.
“No, little Apple Bloom, the Everfree Forest has not changed in living memory, not even one so long as mine. The Everfree Forest is stranger than you do know. I did say we walked the hidden ways. Though it seem smaller, if ye know the hidden ways, you may find yourself in other and very different places indeed. We came out from the Weird Wood o what now be northern Prance. By different turnings we might have gone to the Mad Lands of X'ibian or many other distant places, all o ill repute.
“From there, we worked our way further north, coming at last to some mountains inhabited by a race o ponies who called themselves the Shet. They were o darker colors and small fer ponies, though fiercely strong. Most were o unicorn stock though their horns were stunted seeming. Some had no visible horn at all, yet wielded the magic still.
They did farm the dales and glens o the mountains where they lived but dwelt in deep mined halls. Down within their mine-homes they worked wonders o iron, steel, bronze, silver, gold and gems. In the spite o their strangeness, they were an honorable and good hearted race.
“The Shet's harvest was already in when we came begging to them. They allowed to us the gleaning o all that remained and we took it gratefully, though it was none enough fer our need.
“The winter that come was one o darkness, short days, heavy snow and bone deep chill. By Mid-Winter's Eve we were facing the end o all journeys. The Shet realized in the warmth and safety o their deep delved halls that others were o need.
“They braved the chill, snowdrifts and darkness to bring us enough o provision that we did live through until spring with nay a life lost. The spring came and we did see the Shet laboring o the planting and clear it was that the task one not at all to their liking.
“We did offer the planting and tending o the crops in return fer the right to make homes for ourselves in the dales and glens o the Shet Lands. They agreed at once.
“We raised a plentiful crop and o more kinds than what the Shet raised. As there was then no money to pay things, the Shet struck their bargains and took o food and other things according to their need. Always later, they come back and give us the things agreed upon. It all led to a good year indeed.
“That winter, at the night o the Shet saving us, we held a great feast with the Shet as our guests and so Starvation's Night came to be. We have celebrated our salvation from hunger's death with the Shet ever since.
“We have for all the ages between now and then, given freely what the Shet need o our crops. In turn, they give to us what is needful o metal works. And we celebrate together the goodness that bound us as friends on Starvation's Night, so long ago.
“At that same time, ye had a good harvest and then a near failure due to greed and disharmony. While yer rulers squabbled, yer good ponies o lower ranks did find the Elements o Harmony and that saved the day fer you.
“Thus, we are nay so far apart as might be thought. Ye find the Elements o Harmony through friendship and cooperation. We find our own goodness through friendship and cooperation.
“Ye have Hearthwarming Eve and we Starvation's Night. Both celebrate the salvation o ponies through goodness.”
One of Diamond Tiara's crowd bit her lip and asked uncertainly, “But our ponies killed your parents and stole your lands? Don't you hate us?”
Heather Bloom gazed gently at the filly and said, “Nay and nay. Ponies over a thousand years in their graves did those deeds. Ye bear no blame fer what another, ages past, has done. To carry hate to you for another's evil is itself an evil. Holding hate would make it impossible to keep the love that sustains nay only me but my dear Tam.
“Learn all that is good and bad from the past but never let the evil rule ye. Guide your lives by the good that ye learn o.
“Fer now, we shall come to yer Hearthwarming Eve and ye all have invitation to come to the new Hall O' Red Hoof come Starvation's Night and share celebration with us.”
The big unicorn-like Heartkeeper, Heather Bloom, Duchess of Red Hoof stood and said kindly, “Come Carlene Daph. We have a feast to supervise the making o for our friends.” Together, they walked sedately from Miss Cheerilee's classroom.
The weather was fine, only a few wild clouds in an otherwise clear sky. There was just enough breeze to keep the diners on Caramel Treat's outdoor dining plaza comfortable without endangering drinks or sending napkins flying across the stone pave.
Coalsmoke was sharing a table with Duchess Heather Bloom. Though their talk was merry, Coalsmoke noticed a sad note to much of her friend's speech. Impulsively she reached across the table and took Heather Bloom's hoof.
“What is it, Heather Bloom? These last few years you have done so much for Ponyville. Everything seems to be going so well for you, yet I hear a sadness in you.”
Heather Bloom let out a sigh. “I do fear that it is naught that ye can do, Coalsmoke. Tis my Tam. I took the Keepin' o His Heart from his Annie as she lay a dyin from the stroke that she save him from. By most measure, he ha been healed o the heart's wound that her death dealt him.
“Ye do know the tale o it. When we put her to the last rest, he took up his pipes an' played Annie's Lament. For three whole days and nights he played and never a note missed. Twas the greatest pipin' ever played.
“When he wa done, he laid those pipes upon her stone. Never again has he played any tune at all. Tis only the broken notes o a heart still broken that he play.”
She looked up, surprised. Peanut Brittle, their palomino waitress was there. So was Caramel Treat, in her werewolf form, and her mate, Fangrin, also in his. Comically, he was still wearing his chef's hat and apron.
Coalsmoke smiled, “I think, Duchess, that we are all of one mind about this. Your best hope for your Tam is to go up the mountain and see Grumpy Goat. If any being in Equestria can help you to restore Tam's music, it is either Grumpy or Clarence.”
Heather Bloom pulled back her hoof. “I ha heard o the evil Goat o Darkness up on the mountain. That fer a price he cast spells to the ruin o ponies. Tis say by some that the very Litch King, Laird o the Dead do haunt his cave.
“How can such a being be a help to my Tam? I want him a long life and full o the music that used to dwell within him.”
Caramel changed fairly slowly back to a pony. She offered, “For those who treat him with respect, he does far more than just cast spells, as you put it, for the ruin of ponies.
“I changed to a pony so that you could feel my neck. Use your magic to feel deeply, as you would for treating a wound. I was in a public street and in this pony form. I was shot through the neck by a military grade crossbow bolt. Only a fast change kept me alive. Grumpy noticed the wound, even though I was in wolf form. He healed me and Coalsmoke both. She had some broken ribs and other injuries from a terrible beating.”
Heather Bloom's pale green magic sank into Caramel's neck. Her eyes widened. “He ha the power that could heal such a wound as this? Why then do he nay do more? Such a goodness he could.”
Caramel sat and pointed to the small group about Heather Bloom. “We are nearly all of the friends that he has in the whole world.
“Clarence, the Litch King, Lord of the Dead, is another. He does not haunt Grumpy's cave. He is a welcome guest and far better behaved than most of the ponies that go to see Grumpy.”
Heather Bloom sat back in surprise. “It is on a first name basis that ye are wi' the Laird o the Dead?”
Coalsmoke smiled, “Yes and no both, Heather Bloom. The Litch King allows us to call him Clarence. It is not his name but it lets us all be on friendly terms.”
“I do see it. A different question though ha come to me. In all that I hear, none ha spoke o why your friend Grumpy do be such an evil being as he do avow himsel' to be.”
Caramel sighed. “Ponyville is mostly a really good town. We do have some really dark blots on our history, though. The Celestian Church was one. Celestia herself detested them. They taught Unicorn Superiority and called all the ponies that were not unicorns the 'lesser sorts.' Worse, they actively went after the non pony kinds. Goats, especially.
“Grumpy actually came and helped me while I was building the restaurant. He stopped an attempt at arson and another attempt to murder one of the roofers working for Houser, the architect. We even gave him a job and he was a really good worker.”
Peanut Brittle, the lovely palomino waitress interposed, “He found me my apartment and got his friends to fix it up really well.”
Caramel took up, “He was taking Non Equine University classes by mail. He wanted to be a psychologist. That was his downfall. Celestians were illegally snooping his mail. One of his textbooks for Abnormal Psych 666 was the Necronomipony, published by Non Equine University Press.
“The Celestians found out about it and spread the rumor that Grumpy was a necromancer. They got up a mob and attacked his house. The broke the house up and set fire to it. They tried to burn him alive in his house.”
Fangrin took up the story. “I had an appointment to play checkers with him, so I was strolling that way in pony form. I saw the smoke and heard the mob. I heard the stones that they were throwing, too.
“Grumpy had ghastly burns and was running for his life, screaming for help! I changed and Howled for Caramel! She is really fast, in wolf form. She got to the mob the same time that I did! We hit them from the sides and ran under the leaders, flipping them off their hooves. Between our howls, roars and knocking them flat, we broke the mob and made them run!
“Our friend Grumpy was down, clutching the only book that he saved from that fire. Ironically, it was the Necronomipony. He refused to be taken to Ponyville General.
“We later learned that the Celestians were watching it to finish killing him.
“Instead, we took him to Peanut's apartment.”
Peanut gave Heather Bloom a heart broken look. “I hope that I never see any other creature in Grumpy's shape. He was my friend. A mass of burns, bruises, broken bones and clinging to his book. The only thing that he managed to save from all of his years of study and hard, honest work was that one book.
“We did all that we could for him. It was enough, sort of. His body healed. Scarred but whole. He read the Necronomipony obsessively. We were the only beings that he trusted.
“He was in such a bad way, mentally, that we were afraid for him. He settled down to simply hating. He hated all ponies but those that he knew. At first, that was just us. Later, he added a very few others.
“Caramel found him his cave, up on the mountain. We paid to have it fixed up. It took all of my waitress income and a lot of Caramel's capital to do it. Arms Sway Foundry, the military contractors, put up his iron cave front and door.
“Some time after that, we don't really know when, Grumpy tried something from the Necronomipony. There was a printer's mistake in the book. He is frank about it. It was corrected in an error sheet in the back of the book. What he tried backfired on him. It killed him but left him the invisible spirit body that he now has. He can glamor spell it to look like what he wants it to.
“Shortly after that, he started selling spells with publicly registered contracts and a 110% refund if they do not work. So far, none of his spells has failed. The first thing that he did with the money that he earned was pay us back.”
Fangrin grinned a wolf's grin as he said, “Grumpy admits to being Evil. He is also both ethical and honest. If he says that he will try to help you, he will.”
Heather Bloom looked about the group and she smiled. She lifted the last of her Sea Grass Puffs, dipped it in a sweet and sour sauce, and ate it with relish.
She handed about some golden bits for tip, commenting, “Not only fer a fine meal, but fer a good bit o local lore I'd nay ither way o gettin'.
“Also fer the honest advise o me. I maun speak o it to my Tam first. I may do that thing an see yer friend or not. T'will depend on wha' my Tam do say.”
As she was getting ready to take her leave, Heather Bloom asked, “Coalsmoke, me friend, what is it ye do up to Grumpy's cave that ye be first name friend o the Laird o the Dead?”
Coalsmoke, after paying her tab and tip, stared about carefully to be sure that she was not overheard before answering, “Grumpy has a lovely reading voice. Clarence and I listen to him read from the Daring Do books!
“Speaking of which, Twilight Velvet, Daring Do's ghost writer, will be doing a signing tomorrow at Books and More. There is a new book coming out! The Secret of the Appaloosa Cave!”
Heather Bloom smiled, “That must present a strange sight indeed, the three o ye, a floatin' skull wi horns and candle, a skeleton Alicorn and one o the lovliest mares in Ponyville, all sittin' together aboot an open book!”
Coalsmoke grinned and nodded agreement. “We have been told so, from time to time!”
They took their leave.
Heather Bloom greeted her Heartkept love, Tam in the Great Hall of Red Hoof, beside the fire in the central fire place. “Tam, my dear, I ha' what may be the goodest sort o news. I may ha' found a way to the restorin' o yer piping so good as ever it was.”
Tam looked up from the careful sharpening of his big dirk with its glowing brown gem in the pommel and asked, “What mair could possibly be done fer me than whatso ye ha done and are a doin'?”
She gazed sadly at Tam for a few moments. “It is in all else that ye are whole, my dear, but this one thing. Yer music lies still in the Earthen Lake with the bones o yer Annie. Our friend, Coalsmoke ha' suggested that we do make a contract o Non Equine magic with Grumpeter Goat, up in his mountain cave.”
That brought Tam up short. “Coalsmoke ha suggested that? I ha nay heard much good o that goat. What be the cost o such a contract? I mean nay the gold?”
Heather Bloom nodded thoughtfully, “I ha made many an inquiry before I came to ye with this, my love. The goat ha good reason to hate ponies but do nay hate them all. He take only the gold. For it, he work mostly ruin, it be true. But what it is he do is by the contract that he draw and goodness indeed he can accomplish and do if that be what he is paid fer.
“He mostly work forms o ruin for the reason that ponies pay fer it. He likewise will work good fer them as pay fer that.”
Tam was mulling that over when their carlene, Daphne, approached. “My Lord and Lady, I have heard a part of what you were speaking of. May I speak?”
Tam grinned, “Daph, yer advice is welcome always. Ye do know that.”
She gave him a small bow as she replied, “Yes, I do know that. I also know that this is a very personal and private matter. I say, go to him.
“I know something about him that he keeps mostly a secret. He goes to Reverend Smallflower's Assembly sometimes. I do too. That is no secret. What is a secret is this. He underwrites Reverend Smallflower's program to feed the hungry and donates money to his good works fund.”
Daphne snickered as she added, “Grumpy says to keep it a secret or his reputation for Evil will be in ruins!”
Tam raised his eyebrows at that. Then he turned to Heather Bloom. “Go ye to the mountain, my Heart. I shall trust ye as I have since the day o my Annie's death. Make the contract or not as ye do see it right.” He hugged Heather Bloom and kissed her.
The next day Heather Bloom and Coalsmoke were climbing the trail up to Grumpy's cave. They had only passed the small spring, about half way up, where the way became largely bare stone.
Coalsmoke pointed off to one side of the trail and down the hill some. “Look, Your Ladyship! We are being followed by a werebeast!”
Heather Bloom, turning her head to stare, replied, “I do but see Sawnax a following us. Where then is the werecreature?”
Coalsmoke grinned, showing her perfect teeth as she retorted, “He IS the werebeast! See, he has become an ASS!”
Chortling, Heather Bloom replied, “Now, I do see it!”
The pair continued to pick their way up to the ledge in front of Grumpy's cave.
They were greeted by Grumpy, who had glamor spelled his body to look like the goat that he used to be.
Coalsmoke called out cheerfully, “Hi there, Grumpy! I brought you a visitor! Lady Red Hoof wants to talk to you about something!”
He replied, “Be welcome, to you both! Your Ladyship, I have not had the pleasure before this. What may I do for you? A fresh water, after a long warm climb?”
Heather Bloom smiled around the large, predatory looking fangs in her mouth and replied, “Nay, Grumpy. I need physical food no more than ye. Like ye, I do enjoy it but it is of no need to me.”
The goat before her nodded, accepting that she knew what she wanted, and asked, “What can I do for you, Duchess?”
“Please, as a descendant and namesake of the great Grumpeter Goat, call me Heather Bloom. It is not fer me alone that I am here. My dear Tam has a need which I do hope for you to mend.”
The brown, black and white piebald goat nodded, and spent a few moments contemplating his truly excellent view. He suggested, “Do come inside, Heather Bloom. I fear that your coming has drawn some unwelcome attention. I see another down the hill but not on the trail. He is trying to stay hidden.”
Coalsmoke curled one lovely lip and spat, “Sawnax! I guess that he did not learn from the last time that he messed with you, Grumpy!”
He agreed, “That is the best reason of all to go inside and shut him out.”
They all went in through the solid iron door in the heavy iron sheeting that barred the cave from the prying eyes and worse of the world outside.
Grumpy explained, “That wall and door were designed by a reputable military engineering firm to withstand a standard Equestrian military battering ram. You only need to experience having an anti goat mob burn down your house, see years of study and work sent up in the flames, be burned, beaten, and stoned nearly to death one time, to take a few sensible precautions.”
Heather Bloom's yellow, snake-like eyes widened with interest when she saw the fairly enormous bracings on the inside of that iron wall and the size of the stout forged locking bars.
As Grumpy finished latching the last of the bars, he turned and saw that she was not really taken aback. She was apparently taking her cue from Coalsmoke's calm acceptance.
He offered Heather Bloom his easy chair and asked her, “Now, what is it that you want from me? I am sure that you know that I am an evil being. Most of what I do causes trouble or difficulties to ponies.”
Heather Bloom nodded, her long horn bobbing through an arc. “I do know that. I also know that my friend Coalsmoke has a number of times used yer services to ease the passing of husbands due to die soon in great suffering. An act o mercy.
“Evil ye may be, but bad only if treated badly.
“Coalsmoke is not a Heart Keeper, as I am. She is not far from it, though.
“What know ye of my Tam?”
“Not a lot, my la … Heather Bloom. He lived in the Far Northern Dales and suffered some loss that was so great that the two of you came here to be as far from the scene as possible.
“I am afraid that the Prancer's Social pages do not dwell on the past that much. What I know is from them.”
“I do see and it is more that you need to know. When you have the tale of it, then perhaps, you may be able to aid us both or not. I shall take your word of it once ye know the way of it.”
She settled herself comfortably in the chair, smiling at Grumpy's skull, the only part of his original body left to him, sitting on its stand, the ever burning candle between the horns presently serving as a reading light.
“My Tam was married to the true love of his life, Annie. They shared a life o' happiness like few are granted. Tam was, besides bein' a good farmer, the greatest piper o' the whole of the Dales. Perhaps he was the greatest who ever lived. His music was much in demand.
“It was years in the past now that there came a Failing o' the Lairds. So great the Failing that it was brought to blows to settle it. Tam and his Annie were called up to the battle, nor did they shirk the duty owed.”
Heather Bloom shed a tear and swallowed hard. “I was there on a hill overlooking the field as Watcher to be sure that none did foul play in the Failing. As a Heart Keeper, I was forbidden any part o the combat itself but for the rescue o the fallen.
“The cause and ending o the Failing are no longer o any importance at all. What is o importance was this. In the midst o the fray, Annie seen a lethal stroke comin' to her Tam and she took it to save him.
“I am, as ye do know, a shape shifter. I took to the air and pulled Annie from the scene. Her wound wa too great to heal. We Watchers stanched the bleeding as best we might and I did give her o my store o love to sustain her, that she might see her Tam one mair time ere she passed.
“We did get him to her in time that they should have a few words before the final partin'. She did lay it on Tam that he no follow her to the grave. O me, she asked that I take the Keeping o her Tam's Heart. I was free o obligation and who could say nay to such a thing?
“Tam stood above his Annie's grave and played for three whole days and nights the sweetest piping ever heard in the Dales. His Annie's Lament is still thought to be the greatest piece ever played upon the pipes.
“He laid his pipes upon her stone and never since has he played any tune well at all. The heart to play was left there in the grave with his Annie.”
Tears running freely from her eyes, Heather Bloom gazed entreaty at Grumpy. “What I want is nay happenin'. My dear Tam is whole in all but this. Still, however he try it, no sort o sweet music be left in him.
“Not fer me alone, but fer my Tam; can ye, in anywise at all, bring back that music that used to dwell within him?”
Coalsmoke clearly had no doubt that either Grumpy or the Litch King could somehow sort out this difficulty for her friends.
Grumpy thought deeply for a while before saying, “I know that you are friends of Coalsmoke's. She has spoken of you often.
“I am was not even temporizing to have to tell you, Heather Bloom, “that this is the most unusual request that I have ever had to deal with. I will need to check my resources and speak with an associate. I am not trying to raise the price by saying that I need to consult with the Litch King on this.
“Because you are not trying to cause or be the source of any harm, I am only going to charge my usual lowest base. 100 golden bits. I will not take any money until I can even say for sure that I can do it.”
Coalsmoke revealed her level of trust in Heather Bloom by leaning forward ask earnestly, “Can't Clarence do something?”
When Grumpy raised an eyebrow at her questioningly. She replied without contrition, “I have told her that the Litch King comes and goes freely in your cave and is a guest, not compelled. She knows that Clarence is NOT his name but that he allows us to call him that.”
Eagerly, Coalsmoke pulled a book out of her beautifully embroidered saddlebag. “That reminds me! Daring Do #28 is out! Here it is! The Secret of Appaloosa Cave! I am sure that Clarence will like it! I got it autographed by Twilight Velvet herself!”
Clarence instantly popped open the door to the back chamber/workroom of the cave and stuck his skeletal head around the door! “Autographed! Really? And the latest one, too! Thank you, Coalsmoke!”
Turning his gaze to Heather Bloom, he said, “I apologize for intruding, Lady Heather Bloom. Where it comes to Daring Do, I am quite the fan! Would you prefer that I appear in some other guise?”
Heather Bloom made the most possible points with Clarence by her answer. “Tis as near to yer home as is possible in this world. Be therefore in whatever guise is comfortable to ye. I it is am the guest here.”
Clarence nodded acceptance and came on in. An Alicorn, at least the skeleton of one. His bones were all nicely bleached white. He sat near to Heather Bloom and told her. “I overheard your request of my friend, Grumpy. The contract will have to be drawn with the greatest care and Grumpy may still have to give a refund.
“It will depend upon us being able to influence a party who is not in the contract at all. Influencing him is easy. Whether it will be enough to awaken Tam's music is something that I cannot be sure of. Mortals remain full of surprises to this day.
“You, for instance, have surprised me on many an occasion over the ages. You keep your Heart Keeper's Oath as well as your mother, Peach Tree did, those thousands of years ago.”
Heather Bloom wept a few tears and shook to suppressed sobs, even after so much time. Over three thousand years and the thought of her mother's death still hit her hard.
“I dinnae know if I be any sae good as her.”
Clarence, the Litch King, gently reached out a hoof and lifted her chin so that she had to stare the Lord of the Dead straight in the eye. She did not flinch from that touch or the stare. Softly but with absolute firmness, the Litch King told her. “I do know. I did not say it lightly.”
Letting his hoof fall, he said gently, “We will try this thing. You may not have seen it, but I was there. I heard all three days and all three nights of Annie's Lament.
“Such piping should not be lost to the world if it can be reawakened.”
Heather Bloom did something that only one other living mortal has ever done. She got up, and tears of gratitude flowing freely, she embraced the Lord of the Dead.
Coalsmoke, who is the other one to have done so, looked on and said, “I wish that I could have heard it. It must have been wonderful.”
To her surprise, it was Clarence who answered, “It was. I was serious. It is fortunate that time flows differently for the Realms of the Dead. I can spend as much or as little of mortal time as I need for each one that I come for. It is that same flexibility that allows me to be here whenever I am wanted or needed.
“Annie and I stayed for the whole of the Lament. She did get to hear it.”
Still holding the mortal but undying Heather Bloom in that hug, he turned compassionate, if empty seeming, eye-sockets to her and said gently, “If you think that it will help your Tam, you may tell him that both Annie and I did stay to hear the whole of Annie's Lament.”
Heather Bloom thought carefully before replying, “Considering the source, I have nay doubt at all that it is true. I may do that thing. Perhaps not. Tis how my dear Tam will take it that will rule what it is I say to him.”
Coalsmoke turned to the watching goat and said, “You see, Grumpy? That sort of wisdom governs near all that she does. That is why I brought her here.”
Grumpy looked up from where he was writing. He had the contract results page nearly done. He said, “I do understand that, Coalsmoke, my dear. She is also friends with both Caramel Treat and Fangrin. That alone puts Heather Bloom in a different category from the normal pony.”
He turned his attention to Clarence. “What do you think for a contract term, Clarence? Refund if Tam has not got his piping back by the end of the Duchess's Starvation's Night Feast?”
Clarence thought deeply and then nodded. “That will make a fair test of it, Grumpy. Let us set that as the term of the contract.”
Grumpy nodded and finished his writing.
Like he did with any client who has even a modicum of courtesy, he carefully led Heather Bloom through the contract, explaining it in detail. This one was not as complex as many, though it was carefully and narrowly drawn.
At the end, Heather Bloom agreed, “This seems to me to be a fair thing. If this be yer evil, Grumpy, I wad be curious as to how ye got a dark reputation.” She put signature and seal to it.
Grumpy laid each page on top of a several blank pages and tapped each one with a hoof of his glamored body. His Non Equine Magic flowed through each stack, producing by magical contagion, perfect copies of the page on top.
He folded them together and placed each set in an envelope. One went into his files. One he gave to Heather Bloom, and the last one was for registering publicly down in the Ponyville Town Hall's Hall of Records.
Heather Bloom gave Grumpy the required money. He explained, “It is a necessity of this particular form of Non Equine magic that it be paid for. That makes it popular with me but not with a lot of ponies who have to “pony up” the cash!”
Heather Bloom chuckled at the jest.
Grumpy was about to go open the door so that Heather Bloom and Coalsmoke could leave. Clarence signaled him back. The very powerful Alicorn magic of the Litch King eased the bolts and catches open silently. He popped the door open hard, yelling, “Surprise!”
They all watched the dark form of Sawnax tumbling down the hillside and into some brush. As Coalsmoke, Her Ladyship and Grumpy prepared to go down the trail, Clarence remarked, “I seem to have missed a serious patch of poison oak and some poison ivy too when I sent that lot close to the trail off as gift. I think that Sawnax may have found it!”
As we went down the trail, Coalsmoke was giggling at the memory of the discomfiting of the Celestian Church.
It must have been rough following a Church whose “deity” published regular editorials and broadsides calling your church a worthless cult.
Coalsmoke told Heather Bloom, “Celestia herself hated the Celestian Church and its bogus Unicorn Supremacy doctrines. Doctrines similar, about 2000 years ago, triggered the Nightmare Wars. Those were something that no sane pony or other intelligent being wants to see happen again.
“Of course, the qualification about sanity let the Celestians right off the hook!”
Down in Ponyville, they all went to the Town Hall and registered the contract in the Hall of Records. They then took a small break to dine at Grumpy's favorite establishment. Caramel Treat's Sweets. Besides sweets, Caramel and her mate Fangrin, serve great food and maintain a safe atmosphere for their patrons.
Grumpy pointed out, “I owe them a lot, and not money. Remember that bit about the mob burning my home and near killing me? Turned to wolf form, Caramel and Fangrin drove them off and saved my life.”
Heather Bloom nodded, “I do know that Caramel and Fangrin are Werewolves. Nay the mad, ravening monster sort. They do change anytime they wist, and stay themselves in the mind. They ha capitalized on it.
“Tourists do come fro' all iver Equestria an other lands to eat at Caramel's an get their picture made with the truly gigantic wolves that Caramel and Fangrin be when changed.”
While they were dining, Sawnax skulked out to Her Ladyship's home, the Great Hall of Red hoof. He was greeted at the gate by Tam O' Canter, carrying his great Clydehamare broadsword and a large dirk in his belt.
Tam snapped, “Whatever the business be that has brought ye here, Sawnax, tis over and done! Get ye hence!”
Daphne Crager, resplendent in the livery of Red Hoof, and carrying her own leaf bladed sword, as a Free Carlene of Red Hoof's Service, trotted down the paved path from the Hall.
She smiled, though her eyes were glaring. “Nay, Master Tam! Let none say that the House of Red Hoof has ever failed of honor. We should hear him out. It can do little harm to listen and Sawnax cannot say that we were unjust in any way.”
Tam turned his head to her and said, “Well spoken, Carlene Daphne. Though he shan't be allowed a hoof on Red Hoof land, yet he shall be free to speak.
“Say yer bit, Sawnax, and begone.”
Sawnax glowered at Daphne and retorted, “It is a matter requiring privacy!”
Tam curled a lip in contempt. “Nay! That is denied. Speak here and with witness or not at all. No dealin' that we've had of ye has ever been honest or fair. That is why ye've nay welcome here!”
Sawnax pawed the gravel of the drive with a forehoof and snarled his anger, “Your so high and mighty wife is plotting to kill you! She was just up there with the Evil Goat on the mountain in the company of the murderous mare Coalsmoke! No more proof is needed!”
Tam nearly struck Sawnax with his greatsword in his rage. “Tis lies! Yes, Heather Bloom gone to the mountain with Coalsmoke! She is an honorable mare and a welcome guest to our hall, as ye are not!”
Sawnax cringed back from the weapon. He gestured at developing rashes and blistering of his skin and coat. “They cast a murrain on me for trying to save you!”
Daphne laughed out loud. “You should know what that is, Sawnax! You got it before, when the Celestian Church burned down! Their hedges were infested with poison oak and you ran right through it!
“What it does mean is that you were not honestly on Grumpy's trail! It is clear of poison oak. Of course, the rest of the mountain is not! You were spying and failed to get any real thing. Except of course, a case of poison oak.”
She paused and tilted her head thoughtfully. “If they did reach any sort of deal, the contract will be registered. Grumpy is meticulous about that. He is famous for it, in fact.”
Sawnax curled his lip in contempt. “You really believe that? Those contracts are phony! They are covers for the true Evil agreements struck with the Litch King!”
Daphne waggled her eyebrows in amusement. “Really? This coming from someone who follows to this day the Celestian Church teachings? The very ones that CELESTIA HERSELF says are both worthless and vile?”
Sawnax lowered his head menacingly. Squinting his eyes, he growled, “That is unfair! I have a right to any belief that I wish!”
“True, indeed. Yet you have no right to attack the beliefs of any other. Like, say, what Grumpy, up on the mountain believes.”
“Nonsense! That GOAT is PURE EVIL!”
Daphne smiled angelically. “That is EXACTLY what Celestia herself says of your worthless cult.”
Tam lowered his sword and grinned suddenly at a thought that Sawnax would surely find to be evil. He said, “Whatever ye do, Sawnax, dinnae scratch at them itches! T'will only make 'em worse.”
Sawnax's attention drawn to the itches and rashes, he began to scratch furiously.
He was still at it when Heather Bloom and Coalsmoke arrived. Coalsmoke observed cheerfully, “You really should just ignore those itchy rashes, Sawnax! You will only make the poison oak worse!”
Daphne opened the gate to let Heather Bloom and Coalsmoke in. She shut and locked it in the face of Sawnax before he could bull his way in with them.
Walking up the path to the Great Hall's door and looking with deep love at her Heart-Kept Tam, Heather Bloom said, “All went well, my Love. I have sa much to tell ye.”
Peanunt Brittle, the palomino waitress at Caramel Treat's Sweets was bringing Grumpy a second helping of their special big onion rings and another Clover Tops burger and they were joking about Sawnax's latest encounter with poison oak. From inside, Caramel and Fangrin, her mate, were chuckling too. Werewolves have really good hearing and they both are.
They strolled out in full wolf form just as Sawnax passed by. If you did not know him, it would have been a pitiable sight. He could only get a few steps before stopping and scratching the now raw and oozing blisters from the poison oak.
Face contorted to a wolf's grin, Caramel called out the cheerful advice, “You really should just ignore that poison oak, Sawnax! Scratching just makes it worse!”
Peanut cheerfully called out, “Just don't think about how much it itches!”
Ignoring them as best he could, the suffering Sawnax limp-scratched his way up the street toward the newly rebuilt Celestian Church.
Of course, they all knew that telling him to ignore it was the surest way to keep Sawnax thinking about, and feeling, the poison oak.
Grumpy gave Peanut a really good tip. After that bit with Sawnax, she deserved it more than usual. Wandering back up the trail to his cave with it's nice safe iron front and door was a nice treat too. Celestia was outdoing herself with the sunset.
He sat with Clarence, the Litch King and Lord of the Dead, while the last of the glorious sunset passed slowly into night. Though the moon was not due to rise for a fair while, Luna's realm was, in its own way, as lovely as Celestia's.
Finally, he asked the question that was bothering him. “How can we possibly restore Tam's piping, Clarence?”
He turned his skeletal head to Grumpy and replied, “Anger. If we handle it well, we can make him so angry that his old self will burn through the sorrow that blocks him from playing the pipes.”
Brow furrowed, Grumpy inquired, “Old friend who is even more devious than I, what could ever make him that angry?”
His answer was one word. “Sawnax.”
The rumor began to circulate that Tam was to die by the end of the Starvation Night feast at Red Hoof due to the contract. Tam himself caught some spreading it and took violent exception.
“I know the Contract that ye speak o! It is the restorin' o my music or nay. Death is naywhere in it!”
This was met by a pitying sneer of, “You really believe THAT? The Goat deals in death and ruin! The Murderous Mare has buried seven husbands and the Evil Goat has figured in them all!”
“Tis a Lie, entire! Coalsmoke did nay meet Grumpy until her second husband. If ye bother to use Eye and Brain, rather than Flappin' tongue, ye will find that each o them husbands wa' ALREADY due t' die! They wa' part o the contract drawin' an' get from it, a good, true and carin' wife, and a choosing of way t' go what leave them dignity an fortune unplucked by either doctor's fee nor Celestian Church!
“Coalsmoke is a good and honorable mare an' welcome to our hall, which the like o' Sawnax and High Priest Hortimer are nay.”
It went on like that as Fall turned to Winter and Hearthwarming drew near.
It was obvious to even a dullard that Tam O' Canter was in a towering rage over the rumors.
Hearthwarming came and with it pageants, presents and good cheer. Also lots of assorted envy, hurt feeling and downright hate. It is one of Grumpy's busiest seasons. He was making daily contract registration runs and coin was simply falling into his hooves in mounds and piles!
Among the assorted revenge seekers, Daphne Crager, Armed Free Carlene of the House of Red Hoof waited her turn out on the cold, snow blown ledge in front of Grumpy's cave.
Entering, she said graciously, “A Happy Hearthwarming and Cheerful Starvation's Night to you and your friend, Grumpy. Is Clarence about? I should like him here as well to hear what it is that I have from the lips of both Heather Bloom and Tam.”
Clarence stuck his bony skull in through the door to the cave's back chamber, where Grumpy did his Workings and kept a few things precious to him. He came forth, every bone of his skeleton burnished to a gleaming finish.
He actually bowed to Daphne and said, “I am indeed here. What is it that has brought you, Daphne?”
She formally laid her big dirk, that was a part of her Arms in Service of Red Hoof, crossways between us as a token of peace, according to the customs of the Far Northern Dales. “My Lady, Heather Bloom, Duchess Red Hoof and her Heart Kept Lord, Tam O' Canter, Baron Dran Dale, extend to you both a formal invitation to attend the Red Hoof Starvation's Night Feast.”
Dropping the formality, she added eagerly, “We all want to see how it plays out that Tam gets his music back! We have heard so much of what it used to be! Please come!”
They were both bemused and delighted. For some strange reason Grumpy did not get invited out often at all. Clarence, the Litch King and Lord of the Dead, is invited to dine even less than Grumpy is!
They both replied, “Of course, Daphne. We will be delighted. Please tell them that we will be there!”
She took her leave and Grumpy got back to making money from the hate, jealousy, greed and envy of Ponyville and the lands about.
The snow was not deep on the trail as Clarence and Grumpy trotted down to Ponyville, somewhat early, really, for the Starvation's Night Feast of Red Hoof.
For this day, Clarence simply appeared to be another goat, like Grumpy was before he got killed. They drew little attention as they made our way through the neatly plowed but already snow dusted streets of Ponyville.
Both passed through the town and on out, past Sweet Apple Acres. They came to the gates of Red Hoof. The big stone pillars had torches flaring in iron sconces to welcome the guests.
Standing by them, to add to the welcome of guests, were Daphne by the left pillar and Tam on the right. They were warming their hooves over big braziers of hot charcoal. Both were fully armed with swords and wearing light battle armor.
This was the custom of Tam's homeland, the Far Northern Dales. They were armed for the defense and safety of their guests.
Grumpy, surprised, pointed out to Clarence, “Look at the sheer size of the Great Hall! It must be easily two hundred feet long and near enough to seventy feet wide!”
Just behind them, a most unwelcome voice brayed out, “Tam O' Canter! I am here to save you! I have brought a sword to strike down the Vile Changeling and end her thousands of years of terror! We can also slaughter the Murderous Mare!”
Two pairs of powerful hooves double bucked Sawnax away from the gate. By the time that he landed in a tumble of tangled pony in the middle of the road, both Daphne and Tam had their swords out and at the ready.
Before Tam, trembling with rage, could speak, Daphne did. “Sawnax, you know that we have legal papers barring you from this place! Go now and go free. If you try again to enter or bring a weapon to Red Hoof, you may spend far more than merely the holidays in the jail. Go!”
The dazed pony rummaged in the wayside snow banks and retrieved an old, beat-up looking cutlass.
Grumpy snickered, “Unless I miss my guess, that antique dates from the Great Southern Bay Invasion War!”
Compared to Daphne's trim leaf blade or Tam's mighty Clydehamare, nearly as long a pony, it was a puny weapon indeed.
His “heroic” moment ruined, Sawnax sourly walked back down the road towards Ponyville.
Grumpy raised his eyebrows at the sheer skill and speed of Daphne. He told Clarence, “I have known Daphne since she was a filly, before the coming of Red Hoof to Ponyville! I would never have guessed her potential!
Several guests coming up the road had seen the altercation too.
It did not stop them. Red Hoof's Starvation's Night feasts were famous and this one was being catered by Caramel Treat!
They all went on into the hall, where Heather Bloom herself greeted her guests. “Grumpy! Clarence! I am sa glad that ye could make it! Sorry for the scene at the gate. Sawnax is never the bearer o good things.
“Soon the gate shall be shut and the feast proper will begin. We are honored to have some Rom here who are among the Royal Family! The famous Dancer, Black Lotus, a Royal Goddaughter, will be among the performers.
“Fer now, help ye to the sideboard appetizers.”
Grumpy's glamored ears shot up! “Caramel Treat snacks at the sideboard? You bet that we will!”
Soon, as promised, the doors were closed and the guests all engaged in the orderly rampage for seating at the many tables. Clarence and Grumpy were personally escorted to the Great Head Table by Daphne, now in a white blouse and green sash decorated by the red thistle bloom, overlaid by a great sword, all crossed by a sheaf of grain, that was the emblem of Red Hoof. Her sash was secured by a big circular brooch with two glowing brown gems.
Grumpy and Clarence were seated only a few places down from Mayor Mare. There was a place fully set, next to Tam, that was empty. In the seat was a set of Far Northern Dales bagpipes. This seat was known as Annie's place and was traditional at all Red Hoof gatherings.
Down the table on the Duchess's side, were a black horse sized unicorn and a donkey, both in traditional Rom sashes and harness. I blinked. This was the first time in my life that I had seen the Famous Black Lotus, Rom Dancer, and the equally famous Ghost Who Guides. Both were members by adoption of the Royal Family of Equestria. Just down from them was the lovely Coalsmoke. This was shaping up to be an interesting feast in any case.
The first course, along with drink, was a multi grain pudding with many fruits in it. The guests had barely begun to tuck into it when, like a bad copper bit, who should charge in, right up the center of the room, between the tables? No points if you guessed Sawnax!
He was waiving his cutlass and screaming, “Death to the Changeling! Death to the Murderous Mare!”
Tam cleared the head table in a single bound. His mighty Clydehamare raised for a downward angled strike. Sawnax did manage to get his cutlass in the way of the stroke but it did no good. His weapon was driven from his grasp and the huge sword's stroke to his neck drove him from his feet entirely.
Seeing what was happening, Grumpy hopped across the table too. Goats are nothing, if not agile. It took only one bounce to land solidly on Sawnax's neck. Tam had used the flat of his blade rather than bring shame to their Starvation's Night by shedding blood.
With Grumpy there on his neck, Sawnax could not rise. Tam could not easily strike again, either. Sawnax, however, could still squall his idiocy. He could see the empty place and went for a hit below the belt, as it were. “Annie's Place! If you played that squall-bag at her, it is no wonder that she left you!”
Tam's face purpled in his rage but he very carefully put away his Clydehamare.
He reached across the table and took the pipes from the seat of Annie's Place. A few quick puffs and the bag was tight. A thump started the drones to their steady complex deep tones. A moment only he spent, tuning them. He took up the chanter and began.
The song was lovely, sweet and utterly desolate. The music rolled out, filling the hall. Not an eye was dry as everyone there heard Annie's Lament. Not even Sawnax could hold against it. Under Grumpy's rear, he was blubbering. Not alone, either. All about the hall, ponies were weeping for a loss that they had not suffered but could truly feel.
Clarence turned to Heather Bloom and asked, “My Lady, may I go and return with another guest? She should hear this tune moreso than any other.”
At the Duchess's nod, Clarence, Lord of the Dead, slowly vanished from sight. In only moments, he returned. Beside him was a mare in the same garb as Tam. It was a paradox. She seemed solid but you could see thorough her as well.
Eyes running tears that did not fall to the floor, she came before Tam, as he strode back and forth with the music of long held pain roaring forth. She kissed him.
Though she spoke softly, every ear in that hall heard her clearly. “Thank you, my love. This is why I took the stroke for you. I did not want this wonder of music to die from the world.”
The music of the pipes changed in an instant. They sang of joy. Sang of a wounded heart healed. Sang a dancing tune.
Annie sprang to the center of the room and took Sawnax's fallen blade and laid over it the ghostly form of her own blade. She began to dance, swiftly but with precision. She skipped joyously about stepping into the spaces between the blades in a Far Northern Dales Sword Dance. The blade of the fallen covered by the victor's! The dance Proclaimed that the Failing was done!
Black Lotus watched the dance intently for a few moments and gracefully leaped to the floor before the tables. She picked up the steps and moved like smoke, swirling into the place opposite to Annie. Reaching across, she linked hooves and without missing any beat danced her joy with Annie's.
If all were weeping their grief before, they were now weeping their happiness.
The tune changed and Annie led off in a fling. It took only seconds for Black Lotus to follow. Soon others were joining in. It was the happiest madhouse ever seen.
Two of Ponyville's constables, who were at the feast in their off duty time, came quietly up and efficiently manacled Sawnax. They led him away, freeing Grumpy to join in.
He found himself dancing claw to hoof with a huge Everfree Ridgeback Wolf. “Hi, Caramel! Great party, isn't it?”
Looking about, Grumpy saw that Clarence was dancing too. He was taking turns with the Duchess, Coalsmoke, and Annie.
In a while, Tam let the music die. The guests all returned to the interrupted feast. Annie could no longer seen but when the healths were called at the end of the dining, the glass at Annie's place caught all eyes.
It rose without support and a sweet but heavily accented voice called out, “To my Tam! A long life and a happy one!”
The glass tipped and emptied without spilling a drop.
