Moving Forward

The basement floor of the pub was dripping wet, and reeked of earthy mould. It was something of rarity; walled with stone, it was the closest thing to home like her own cider cellar. She didn’t drink profusely, it wasn’t her style, but a cautiously growing supply for get-togethers made her that much more favoured over her competition. It also tasted pretty good.

Berry was clawing through her personal chest, the one she kept hidden. It wasn't brimming with bits anymore. It held enough bits to keep her healthy, but she had to be wary on how she spent it. No luxury lunches 'til she got paid; that had been her duty for at least a week. For herself, anyway.

Turning around, Berry walked out of her rented room, climbed up the staircase and out of the building.

“Juni!” she exclaimed having found her, wrapping a hoof around the mare's neck. “Y'said she'd be coming today, huh? Want something nice from the lettuce stand? Ooh, I heard the new fruits arrived, too. How about some?”

Juniper waved her hoof at her. “I'm flattered, really! I don’t think we should do it today, though. Not today. Your extra rations have got me an eye or two from the one in admin. I think she hates me.”

Berry chuckled. Embers would hardly hate her, she doesn’t seem the type. Not sure about those miners, though.

She tried to push her luck, hoping for a chance to buy that cider. “Her? Nah... but you're probably right. I mean, if you think it's not worth it.”

“More food is always worth it... or it is, mostly. Yeah, I think I’m fine for eating today.  I don't have a clue how you can cope, sharing all this food with me.”

Oh glorious luck, she thought, and smiled back at Juniper. “Oh, I’m fine. We're friends, right?”

Juniper smiled back. “Of course. Well, I'd go so far to say you made this tolerable, even if we have been stuck here for the past few days! Waiting for ma's a right pain in the flank. Ma's always been slow.”

“They always are. Heh, I'll go check out the fruits, then. See ya!”

“G'bye Berry,” Juniper said.

Berry let off a sigh of relief as they parted ways. The last day. It's okay, you can do it. Her patience was wearing thin, but the reward! Oh, it would save so much time and money. All she had to do was endure Juniper's friendship.

It was difficult. Shortly after her forage into the fruit stalls she had popped half the cider, while Juniper walked up and sat beside her. She started chatting away about the beauty of Everfree, or something. Rather than try to suffer a two-way conversation, Berry decided to keep her quiet.

“Y’wanna go do some of that sightseeing you’re always askin’ for?”

“Do I ever? Of course!”

She paid for a single chariot, touring as far as their fliers would dare. Juniper, at least, was eager to go. The charioteers weren’t. “It's dangerous so close to Maredon, and the border-forts,” one told them. “A skilled magician can ground a chariot in seconds.”

“A buddy of mine,” Berry started, finally finding a talking point she could appreciate, “he's a jute merchant just north of Canterlot. Same thing happened to him during the war, and he didn't get out of jail for a year or so. They did it to anypony that'd be a benefit for the Republic should they let 'em go.

“Y'can guarantee I was dead scared hearing that. I'd been all over the place, alicorn's know how I dodged 'em.”

The fliers either couldn't or didn’t respond, having turned their backs on her to focus moving their vehicle. Juniper was still looking over the side, awed by whatever it was she liked so much. It felt to Berry that every action Juniper did was in stark contrast to hers, just to be annoying; and if that were the case, she did a damn good job at it. Berry sat disgruntled in the back until they got back to colony dirt, after which Juniper praised her for joining her on the trip, and Berry headed to the pub as quickly as possible.

The original plan to drown in more drink was stifled at the door. Berry had sight of an older pony, of similar colour, but a darker shade to Juniper’s, and sitting exactly where Juniper’s Ma was meaning to. The older pony sat with crossed legs on her chair, picking dirt out of one of her rear hooves.

“Ma!” Juniper exclaimed, apparently having followed suit. “Look, she's on the far side.”

Berry lightened up as she confirmed it. She couldn't help but grin, that her torture was almost over. “So she is. Wanna join me?”

“Of course. I haven't seen her in weeks!”

Berry presented her hoof ahead of them. “You first.”

“Me? What for?” Juniper rose a mocking grin. “You aren't nervous, are you?”

“I wouldn't let 'ya waste lovely family bonding over some petty job, right?”

Juniper beamed at her, and raced towards the table. When the two met, her mother looked up, and Juniper lurched over half the table to wrap her mother in hooves, dragging her head and shoulders in for a hug. The mother showed restraint at her gesture, but it could just have easily been shock, and eagerly returned the embrace with a squeezing hug of her own soon after. “It's good to see you so energetic,” the older pony said. She shifted her legs off her chair with difficulty, trying not to bump into the mare on top of her. “How's... the work?”

“Oh, it's boooring! Well, I say that. We've been waiting out here for days, but it was a mad reason, you'll never believe it. A scylla attacked us.”

Berry could only just make out the mother's brow peaking, an inch above the hulking, hugging mass of Juniper. “Scylla? The... beast with heads of dogs, and the body of a ...serpent?”

Juniper ended the hug, and slunk on a nearby chair. She flung a hoof playfully. “Don’t worry. Nobody died, I don’t think.”

The mother shook her head, now able to move freely. “I'd call you a bad liar if it weren't for where we are. Tartarus be damned the Everfree's a dangerous place, from what I've heard of it. But it looks like you're safe and well, and I only have one pony to thank.”

Juniper gestured at her as Berry walked towards them. “And here she is.”

Berry nodded. “It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss.”

She nodded, and leaned onto the table. “And yours mine, Berrytail. Call me Pepper.” Her eyes narrowed. “Certainly, you couldn't have picked a better place for my young mare to stay.”

Berry could tell that this mare was someone she knew, but wasn't sure where from. “Well, heh, hmm... Sure is a lovely view.”

Juniper briskly nodded. “We went sightseeing this morning, ma. You wouldn't believe what it looks like, those mountains, like a quill drew a straight line all the way to the forest. There's a waterfall too, beautiful like the rainbow falls back home.”

Thank the alicorns for you, Juni.

Pepper appeared unfazed. “Is that so? I'll have to check them out sometime quick, before a scylla attacks me.”

“We could check them out tomorrow, if you like,” Juniper said.

Pepper smirked. “As nice as that sounds, I'll have to decline. Many other jobs to be done, you can imagine. My line of work has taken habit of hiring the best.” She paused, looking at Berry’s dull miner clothes, and directed a sidelong glance at her. “Fashion's a bit stale over here in Everfree, merchant?”

Berry glanced briefly at her own clothing. Brown, weathered, torn at the holes. She blushed. “Yeah, I'm sure... how 'bout we talk about the job? Get this all cleared up from the get-go.”

“Of course,” Pepper said, turning to her daughter. “Juni, I'll be just a second. That okay?”

“Sure, of course, Ma.”

Juniper smiled at both of them and got off her chair. Berry saw Pepper watching as she left the pub, the thumps on the dirt quickly drowned out by casual patron-talk.

“Why'd you get her out?” Berry asked. “It's not like we need to make this private.”

“I get her to stay away from my working life,” Pepper said, still watching the door. “Something about a mother who steals for a living doesn't seem like the best example.”

“No, I s'pose not. Your choice, though.”

Pepper scowled at her, and hushed her voice. “I wouldn't expect any less of a response from you, Berrytail, merchant of Hibernia. How did you lose your wear? I assume you had something better than a sack to wear, unless, well...” she looked into her eyes curiously. “You're not into one of those Griffon sects, are you?”

Berry looked at her oddly. “‘Scuse me?”

Pepper shook her head. “...You know, nevermind. You're probably one of those types who does all they can for the sake of bits, their clothes included.”

Berry eyed her carefully. “If y’ must know, they were stolen.”

“Better me than them,” Pepper chuckled. “What's this stealing job then? That's all I've heard about you so far. Well, that and my daughter.” She adopted her most sincere look. “Thanks for keeping her... pleasant. It's coincidence that we both have met, what with her making her own living and that, and it seems like she’s fine.”

Berry was pleased to see Pepper’s temper had started to better. “The job's as simple as you get. I need a book from the Maredon library, specifically one about bison culture.”

She saw Pepper's eyes light up at ‘book’. “Some light reading for you?” she asked. “What a strange request. You know, I can't read myself.”

“You can’t read? Or y’can’t read yourself?”

Pepper glared. “That’s a stupid question.”

Berry shrugged. “Sorry, thought we were on the same boat there. You started out insulting me, then y’started thanking me. Weird stuff.” Pepper didn’t respond. “Uhm anyway, yeah, it’s a weird one alright. It's good pay, too. Three hundred bits.”

Pepper scoffed. “A thousand for the book.”

“ 'Scuse me?”

“That's what I want. No less. You should know the thieves rate.”

Berry couldn’t believe her ears, it coming from somepony who seemed to be a professional. “The thieves rate is nothing but a rumour, a breezytale for paranoid shopkeepers... I'm not owing you ten times the rate 'til you give me ten books, n' that's the only reason.”

“I bet scyllas were breezytales to you,” Pepper said, smiling. “There's truth to some breezytales.

“Listen Berrytail, you've dragged me out here. You want a thief? You'll pay for a thief. I don't mind catching up with my daughter and leaving in the morning if that's what you want. I'm sure you can find some sneak in an alleyway to do your dirty work, but don't expect her to be reliable. She'll probably ask for the same fee too... and you'll be back where you started.”

“And what about your own reliability?” Berry snarled. “How’re you better than anypony else ‘round here?”

Pepper grinned like she'd heard a joke. “Because I'm old, Berrytail. You know many cutpurses that live to forty six?” She paused, glancing at the door. Berry looked over too, seeing nothing but the slightly-opened woodweave door.

“No normal featherbrain knows a Scylla without seeing one. You know how I know? Years ago, I was told to steal a statue from some wealthy Canterlot house with the name and features. They'd hardly heard a peep before I disappeared, and I did it in broad daylight.”

“Bet you didn't ask them to pay ten times the price,” Berry remarked.

“Well, of course. Exotic items such as a golden statue are a bit hard to price, and chances are the recipient wants to make some sort of profit. Books are easy to price, even if they're costly for somepony like yourself.”

“Ridiculous's a better word,” Berry muttered, doubtful of her prices. The mare was talented enough to sound professional, at the least. “You're thinking I'm made of bits. We have to compromise on a better price. Maybe... seven times? That gives you enough for months and more.”

Pepper glared at her. “Are you trying to insult me?”

“I’m trying to pay you a reasonable price. Tartarus, I’m lying. Even seven times ain’t reasonable. I’m trying my best to be pleasant, Pepper, but you’re the unreasonable one.”

The older mare had gone back to looking unfazed. “Not for me. Ten times is what I’m asking for, and ten times is what I’ll get if you want me to do this. This deal is over unless you make yourself reasonable, which I'm starting to think is impossible. I should have known it from the start. Ignorant merchants that know nothing about paying their fees.”

Berry couldn’t believe the irony of a thief saying a merchant, of all ponies, couldn’t pay their fees. “You’ve got to give me somethin’ to feed myself ‘round these parts. Eight times, then.”

Pepper got off of her chair. “I'm leaving to find my daughter.”

As Pepper started walking out. Berry made to get her back. She was one of her last options, maybe the last. “I've been paying her well, y'know? Ugh.... Can't y'see what I've done for you? Negotiate a little! C'mon... anything less than a thousand?”

Pepper looked back, smiling at her. “You merchants, you're all pathetic, aren't you?”

Berry found herself starved of smart ways to draw her back. Unless if force her. She shouted out. “Hey! That daughter of your’s gonna be in deep trouble with a horde of what they call ‘bison’ around here. Without that book, ponies ‘round here won’t have a job to pay them. The colony’ll be abandoned, or they’ll all starve.”

Berry looked to that barkeep. “Y’hear that? This mare, the one standing by those doors, is the one way you’ll be keeping your job ‘round here! In fact, all of you! And she’s walkin’ out!”

Silence reigned through the pub. Pepper stood frozen by the door. Ponies glanced at her, then Berry.

The barkeep muttered something under her breath, and walked out from behind the bar towards her. Berry watched her, anticipating the fallout.

The barkeep put her arm of the back of Berry’s mane, and wrapped it around to the front of her neck. She spoke sternly, “Right. I asked y’ the last time, you’re going out.” She held on tight, pressing hard Berry’s airpipe.

“Cah.. What?” Berry tried to halt, attempting to grip free of the mare’s hoof, but the barkeep was crushingly strong. She was being dragged.  “Bu… but your jobs. Your last hope to keep-”

The mare kept walking her out. “I told you I’d throw you out. We’re very good thank you, without none of you’re mishap. Don’t come again.”

~~

“Tch… ha! You made my week.”

Berry grunted. Her neck hurt, and she’d been flung face-first into mud. She lied on her belly, face out, and trying to avoid eye-contact with some grinning watchers. Will I still have my room? I better still have my room.

“You’re a… hmm, convincing mare, Berrytail. How about this? I'll cut it down fifty bits, provided you can pay me.”

Berry sighed remorsefully at the petty cut, but she couldn't think of getting better from the stuck-up mare. Said stuck-up mare would laugh at her if she tried. “I can pay you once you've done the job. Only then.”

“Of course, of course... I can do that.” She stuck her hoof out. Berry grabbed hold of it, bringing herself up. Flakes of mud flew off in the breeze, and other larger chunks plopped down. “Provided you drive the chariot to Maredon. Be seeing you.”

She walked out, leaving Berry fuming. “'Drive the chariot to Maredon... pff.” She stomped over to the main building, got herself refitted, and began waiting for the barkeep to calm down, drinking a new lemon cider at the side of the main path through Pegas. She reminisced back to the days when she didn't have to deal with terrifying monsters and ridiculously expensive thieves on a day-to-day basis.

~~

Both parties had formally agreed, albeit disgruntled, to the job. A few hours before their trip, Berry asked to use the meeting room, alone.

The entry was granted by Embers, who sat in the small reception room at the front of the building consisting of a desk made of used ration crates. “It looks about time,” Embers remarked. “Before you ask, I'd recommend Marietta's Wardrobe in Manehatten. Everypony knows it, and you won't be disappointed.”

“Thanks for the advice, but I'm not writing to buy new clothes. I ain't giving up on those overgrown cow-thieves yet, wherever they are.”

“Suit yourself. Don’t worry about your room, by the way. The mayor herself sorted that one out.”

That didn’t sound right to her at all. “She… helped me?”

Embers nodded apprehensively, her ears falling. “Well, yes, you’re helping my sister out directly. Why would you think otherwise?”

“Nevermind.”

“What's the letter for?”

The meeting room was the only place in the colony where there was a stock of parchment. When meetings were over, the only colonists who entered the room were those who wanted to write home.

With that in mind, Berry glanced over at Embers. “It's important stuff. Home stuff.”

Embers looked curiously at her. “Home stuff? Huh... well, better get on with it. The messengers stop taking requests at noon. And I know how long it takes some ponies to write a letter home. Make sure not to hog all the parchment.”

Berry walked to the room, and took a sheet of parchment and a quill when she got there. With quill in teeth she wrote the request neatly for military assistance, of any kind, to the highest representative she could think of. The one that came to mind was named Rodellia Weaver, the high-ranking mare in charge of a fort in Cloudsdale. “Huh...” I supplied her soldiers at Lake Neighagra with a big cut, gambling she'd pay it off later. If there's anypony I know, she's the one that's closest to Lancer's lances, and maybe she'll return the favour.

Having finished writing, she walked out of town hall without attracting attention, her letter sealed and hidden in a purse strapped to her side. She headed to the mail area near the chariots. She posted the letter, giving specific details on who to give it to with the mailpony.

~~

“And you're still sure you want me to drive the chariot? Positive?”

Pepper chuckled. “You're one of the few merchants I know who’s got a funnybone, Berry. Now go on, get the ropes and fasten them tight. I'm sure neither of us want you breaking off and me plummeting to earth.”

Berry looked over that chariot, only imagining how heavy it would be for her. If only donkeys had wings. Berry glanced at Pepper. Oh, right.

She checked the ropes attached to the front of the massive vehicle. “This is my first time, Pepper. This ain't as worth it as you may think when you're bumping this way an' that.”

“Oh, don't be so coy,” she replied. Berry heard the hoofsteps on wood boards behind her. “The turbulence is meagre unless you go really fast. Trust me, I've made enough speedy escapes to know as much.” Two more stomps on the wood. “It's a sturdy thing too. The Cloudsdale military make great balance in their chariots, and this is certainly one of 'em, you can tell by the patterns of columns, air-races and the like. I'm seen much worse.”

Berry thought she'd tied it right, but the knot frustratingly came loose on the left

steel rod. She cursed under her breath, having to tie it up again. She heard Pepper. “So, I saw you a mare out not too long ago. What was that about?”

“Nothing you need to know,” Berry muttered, forcing the rope to overlap with varying success. She looked up. “Were you spyin’ on me?”

“Merchants aren't the only folk who know everything they aren't supposed to. But no, I was just curious. If I were spying, I'd get somepony else to do it. Oh, if my vision was what i' t'were...”

“If it was what it was, y'might have gone off with your pay the instant y'heard about it. Don't think I don't know you're type.” The rope finally got into place, and she gave it a couple of hard tugs to make sure.

“Oh, don't be so sure I haven't.”

Berry looked up at Pepper, with her hooves lazily perched on the back of a seat in front of her. They met eyes. “Excuse me?”

Pepper grinned. “Come now. You really think I'd help you if I had the money? Besides, you're paying my daughter. Why would I steal from you?”

Berry grunted. She didn’t want to be thrown in mud again. “Whatever you say.” She turned her back on Pepper.

The take-off was the part she feared second-most. She had seen others do it before of course, but doing it herself was a whole other issue. The thought of how ridiculous the situation was, her compromising a lift to thief of all ponies, stuck strongly in her mind. She decided to stay silent, lest she provoke Pepper to cancel the job, and tried to pull all her focus into the task, pulling a weighty box off the earth, by herself.

They'd picked out the smallest they could find, a two-seater, but even that seemed like a monumental task. By herself she'd only worry about lifting herself off the floor. A few minutes of tough wingwork and failures, and she managed to launch off the ground, steering far away from the wall on her right and the tents everywhere else.

The ropes around her dug tightly into her chest and shoulders as she flew higher, and the colony steadily left her view, replaced by trees and vertical mountains. She was distraught, exhausting herself from the effort of a great heavy burden behind her, and the wind caught her throat. She gathered a few short breaths before giving a great sneeze, obscuring her sight for a moment.

“We're higher than trees,” Pepper barked at her through the wind. “Level out, you should be able to steer better at this altitude. And for alicorn's sake, long, same-length flaps. Match it with your breathing, oh, and slow your breathing. I don't want you wearing out half-way.”

Berry only realised it when she said it, remembering the charioteers who guided her party to the river. They looked a lot calmer and cooler than she did, she bet, but they had been practising their skill for years, rather than making fortunes. She slowed her flaps, levelling out as Pepper suggested. She was still aiming a bit higher to avoid the trees she thought were a bit too close for comfort. Berry tried shouting it out to Pepper, but the constant intake of wind, and hyperventilation from the exerted effort prevented her.

Before long, she gave a split glance below, checking if she was far enough above the trees. The very sight of her distance from the ground struck her with pangs of fear. She sped up and stopped looking down for the remainder of the trip.

The sensation of pain from the ropes numbed until her only thoughts were about flying, the risks of not flying, and the orders Pepper told her. She drove herself into a state of half-consciousness, feeling herself ebb away bit by bit, the only sounds from the mare behind her and her own breaths, the only things existing being the treeline and herself, and a growing ache that came from where the ropes once were and through the bones of her wings. She couldn't tell how long it had been since she started.

There was something new, something in the distance, a silvery white in contrast to the greens and greens and blues and aches that were her world. She could hear herself panting ever louder, and then she heard a voice. “Descend.”

~~

She laid sprawled out on the floor, eyes closed, mouth wide and panting. I did it. It’s done. We’re through. The grass never felt so good, but that didn't stop everything from hurting.

The smarmy voice spoke from above her. “How was your first chariot-ride, Berry?”

She opened an eye. Of course it was Pepper. She'd seen her yesterday, and... she was on the chariot, wasn't she? Of course she was... Pepper made her do it. The feeling of spite engulfed her like a loved one rejoined. “Never... agai...”

Pepper laughed. “You know, I've never seen a pegasus quite so unfit as yourself.”

“Yeah, pretty sure I'll be taking us on the return ride if I want a thousand bits from a live mare.”