Chapter IX: Crusaders' Reunion and Midnight's Interrogation

As they entered the second day following the attacks, the many residents of a particular Victorian house waited for news and attempted to live their normal lives on the edges of their seats.  With their shop closed, the Trois Fleurs focused their attentions on preparing to defend their city, learning battle magick from Sunset.  Midnight was studying at the local university; she withdrew from all on-campus classes, keeping only those she took online.  For those with work they could do from home - Sunset, Lemon Zest, and Twilight - things continued as normal.  The others made their own arrangements.  Sweetie Belle had never overcome her stage fright and made a living as a songwriter, a role which required some travel.  She put a temporary hold on new contracts and began renegotiating existing contracts to minimise or to eliminate time away from home.  Button Mash worked for a small mobile game developer in the city and continued going to the office, taking Pixie to and from school along the way.  Violet already rarely needed daycare, and all the extra people at the house all the time only helped.  Trixie continued to perform, though she began warding herself far more heavily than normal.  Those leaving the house had a long-term Space spell on them that they could activate to pull them back to the sanctum instantly, though it risked Paradox if they disappeared when Sleepers were present.

On the third full day after the attacks, Pearl sent a message to Sunset asking her to visit the farm with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.  They arrived to find the area heavily warded, both Talons and First Talons staying at the property.  Since the farm's land encompassed several ley lines and a large nexus, it produced copious amounts of Mana.  Given all the Mana available, Pearl allowed it to crystalise into tass that she traded to the Consilium.  It made her farm one of the most valuable sancta in the city.

Pearl was smoking her corncob pipe as she waited for them.  When they were parked, she emptied her pipe to speak.  "Ah wanted y'all here 'cause Apple Bloom's comin' in."

"She's coming here?"

"Ah invited her.  She's had a couple days ta clear her head, 'n Ah wanna have a talk with her.  Us farmers need ta stick together, 'n Ah figured y'all would wanna be here ta support her."

They waited for Apple Bloom, who arrived by taxi.  Pearl paid the cabbie before welcoming the young woman to her farm.

The last Apple looked terrible.  She clearly had not been sleeping and must have spent much of the previous days crying.  It made sense to Sunset; her family meant everything to her and losing them, especially to what must have seemed to be senseless brutality, would have been catastrophic to the girl.  Sunset could feel the same anger that so nearly dominated Scootaloo as well as the ever-present sorrow.  There was also guilt, which Sunset tentatively guessed to be 'Survivor's Guilt.'

The Crusaders shared a group hug, Apple Bloom's friends offering her love and support.  She squeezed them in return, their togetherness impacting the dark emotions within the young woman.  It did not make a large difference, but it was visible even without magick.

Sunset remained further back, conflicted as to whether she should offer support.  Her own sense of guilt over the deaths was continuing to grow each time she saw the devastation they wrought in the survivors.  Rarity would cry at seemingly random triggers; even she could not predict what would cause her emotional outbursts.  Sunset had found her sobbing as she clutched a blanket the same shade of blue as Flash Sentry's hair.  Scootaloo had been forlorn, though she tried to act tough.  At night, Sunset dreamt of Pixie's birthday party and her final conversation with one of her oldest friends.  Even if none of the others blamed her, she felt it would hypocritical to join the commiseration.

When the Crusaders were ready, Pearl offered her primary visitor a seat on a cushioned lawn chair.  The others used the grass, none of them complaining.  She waited until Apple Bloom was settled to say, "Ah asked ya here ta offer ya a place ta stay if'n ya need it, anytime ya want it.  Ah also wanted ta talk a bit, if'n ya feel up ta it."

Apple Bloom looked to her friends for moment.  She was drawing strength from their presence as she placed a small, grateful smile on her face.  "Ah'd like ta take ya up on that offer.  Thank ya kindly, Pearl."

A few more tears formed at the corners of her eyes, but she wiped them quickly as she took a few deep breaths.  Sunset could see how Apple Bloom struggled against her sorrow to present a façade.  Whether the farm girl did not want to bring further depression to her friends or had some other motive for it was beyond Sunset's abilities to know without directly reading Apple Bloom's mind.

"What do ya wanna talk about?"

Pearl placed a hand over Apple Bloom's.  "Please let me finish what Ah'm gonna say before ya tell me what ya think.  First thing Ah wanna say is that yer Granny Smith was one of mah best friends when we was young'uns, just like y'all.  Ah've also grown right fond of ya in yer own right over the years, which is the other reason Ah wanted ta have this talk.

"Here's the part Ah wanna explain, so listen close.  Ah wanna buy Sweet Apple Acres-"

"What?  How could ya try ta use mah family's murder like that?"  Anger walked within Apple Bloom, temporarily subsuming her grief.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo knelt on their friend's other side to hug her.

"Please let her finish, Apple Bloom."

"Yeah, we've known Pearl a long time.  She'd never try to take advantage of you."

The anger receded as quickly as it had appeared.  When she had control of herself again, Apple Bloom apologised and resumed listening.

"Ah don't blame ya fer misunderstandin', 'specially with what's happened, but please let me explain mahself.  Now here's the rest of it:  Ah wanna buy the property in yer name.  Think of it like a business loan that don't have no interest or a time limit.  Finish yer learnin', get yerself a job, 'n pay it back as ya can.  Ah'll make sure Sweet Apple Acres keeps runnin'.  Ya can decide what ta do with the sales."

Apple Bloom's eyes widened as a few tears escaped to run down her cheeks.  She did not bother to wipe them this time as she regarded Pearl with a mix of appreciation and grief.  "Are ya sure ya wanna do somethin' like this?"

"Like Ah said, me 'n Granny Smith used ta run around just like y'all.  She was right pleased ta see ya have such good friends.  Yer not much different from her, 'ceptin' yer schoolin', which made her mighty proud."

"What good's a mechanical engineer on a farm?  Ah only did it 'cause they wanted me ta do it.  Why bother now?  Ah was gonna move back after school and work the farm with mah family anyways.  Now they're gone.  Ah don't wanna go back ta school, and Ah don't wanna work the farm alone.  Ah feel like Ah cain't move forward anymore, but Ah don't have anywhere ta go."

"Y'ain't alone.  They're gonna watch over ya as long as yer still here, 'n ya've got yer friends that're still here with ya.  Sweet Apple Acres will be here when ya finish school, so take yer time ta decide what ya wanna do."

Once she promised to think about Pearl's offer, they settled her into the older farmer's guest room.  Apple Bloom was taking a break for the semester, granted for the family tragedy, and would need to decide whether to return for the next one.

Seven members of the Adamantine Arrow were posing as additional staff for harvest season.  Since her protectors were living in the flat, segregating Apple Bloom was Pearl's best option.  The farm girl would not even be aware the basement library existed, and she would be reasonably safe if the Witch Hunters decided to look for her.  While they had not yet shown any interest in extended family who were not also involved with magick, they may have selected their primary targets for the first strike.

At Apple Bloom's request and with Pearl's permission, Sunset left the Crusaders to stay the night.  They all needed each other, and she remembered one of their famous pledges:  'Crusaders Stick Together.'  She wished them well before leaving.

Midnight was alone at the kitchen table when Sunset returned.  She was pouring herself a glass of chocolate milk when she noticed a bit of Midnight's magick flowing.  It felt odd, so she peeked at the table.

In front of the teen sat the Supernal Tarot.  She had removed the cards from their pouch but had not otherwise touched them.  Not saying a word, Sunset took a seat and looked at her friend.

"I thought I felt something when I got here.  These cards were concealed pretty well, Sunset.  Would you be willing to tell me where you got them?"

"From a Seer stronghold in Philadelphia."

Midnight nodded.  She held a hand over the cards.  Sunset felt her magick flow again.

"I have so many questions.  Before I start, I'm going to assume you know what these are."  When Sunset nodded, she continued.  "Okay.  It's funny; these cards aren't responding to me.  I don't mean I can't use them, though; they don't want me to use them.  Would you mind channeling a bit of Mana through them?"

Doing as she was instructed, Sunset felt the cards respond to her.  Her magick mingled with the cards, and she imagined it would feel warm if pure magick affected the mundane senses on its own.  At Midnight's signal, she retracted her hand.

"The cards are Bound to you."  Midnight shook her head.  "I never wanted to be in this position with you.  Sunset, I ... need to ask you some questions, and I need you to be completely honest with me.  No twisting meanings, no half-answers.  After we're done here, assuming I don't learn anything I can't ignore, I'm going to try to pretend I don't know about this, understand?"

"Yes."

"Good."  Midnight took a deep breath.  "Are you a Seer of the Throne?"

"No, not now, not ever."

"Are you involved with any of the Left-Handed Paths?  Have you studied anything about them beyond the necessary knowledge to protect yourself?  Do you have any sympathies for them?"

"No, I am not, have not, and do not.  Not now, not ever."

"Why did you steal the Supernal Tarot from the Seers?"

"Someone with influence over me ordered me to do so."

Midnight sighed, closing her eyes for a moment.  "That answer doesn't help.  Who ordered it?"

"I can honestly tell you that I don't know."

"You need to tell me everything about this.  Everything, Sunset.  Please don't hide anything, even if you think it'll look bad."

Sunset related her meeting with the strange figure in Pandemonium and how she had come to be in that person's debt.  She detailed each of their discussions, as well as her theories about the figure's identity.  Midnight remained silent throughout the story.

"Damn it all to hell!"  Midnight slammed a fist on the table.  She may not have been physically strong, but it was sufficient to rattle the table.  The cards did not move.  She took a few calming breaths.  "That just screams 'Seer.'  If I report what you've told me to Marble, you'd be called before a formal enquiry panel right now.  Is anyone else in your cabal involved in this?"

"They helped me steal the deck, and I did tell them most of what I told you.  They only don't know why I'm in this debt."

"'Don't ask if you don't want to know the answer.'  This is the only time in my life that I've wished I weren't in the Guardians."  Midnight closed her eyes for a moment, shaking her head before opening them again to look directly into Sunset's eyes.  "Here's what we'll do next:  I'm going to explain exactly how this looks, then you'll get a chance to respond.  If I can't find sufficient evidence that you're not a threat to this Consilium ... I'll have to report you.

"First, we have that you're in possession of the best-known Artefact in the world.  Everything else aside, that's going to draw attention to us.  Then you admit that you've been communicating with an Ascended Being, even swearing obedience.  Whether or not you're limited to three tasks, you could still be ordered to do things that would cause harm.  Only days after these cards arrived, we came under an unprecedented attack.

"The Witch Hunters are invisible to all of our magick and the Banishers have disappeared, yet you didn't use the cards to help us.  On top of that, your 'boss' promised to protect you.  With such a valuable treasure and god-like magick on your side, it's entirely possible that you did something to draw our enemies here.  Fewer rivals for the cards, an order from an Exarch, plain insanity ... the possible reasons are endless.

"Please give me a reason not to report you.  Not only would you be suspect, your whole cabal could go down with you.  Even volunteering to let us search your mind won't help, since we learnt long ago that the Seers can hide themselves."

Sunset had to think about her response.  She had long prepared for the possibility that someone would discover her pact, but did not want to see her friends in trouble for something they had not done.  She also feared for Midnight; if the Exarch thought Sunset would be unable to complete her bargain, there was a very good chance that something would stop Midnight's interference.  Listing that would only seem like a threat, though, so she removed it from consideration.  All that remained was honesty.  An emotional appeal could work, and she was not above using it, but she hoped Midnight would believe her without it.

"I know how bad this looks.  All I can say is that I am not involved in these attacks except as a victim.  Do what you have to do."

Midnight had a few tears in her eyes as she stood.  "I can't not report you.  I'm sorry."  She wiped her eyes.  "There's only one other option."  She turned her back to Sunset and began lowering her magickal shields.  "You'll have to stop me."

Sunset leapt from her seat to grab Midnight by the shoulders, turning her friend to face her.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" she shouted.  "That's like stripping naked to walk into a dark alley.  You are a Guardian of the Veil, Midnight.  I can't imagine how hard this is, but you have a responsibility to this Consilium.  I don't want to be put on trial, but I'm not going to hurt someone - especially a friend - just to avoid that."

"You didn't threaten me with Exarchal intervention."  Sunset was surprised when Midnight pulled her into a hug.  "And you didn't attack me.  Thank you, Sunset."

"Was that some kind of test?"

"Yes."

Sunset pushed Midnight back until she could look in the teen's eyes.  "That was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen.  If there was any doubt, any chance-"

"I didn't doubt you."

"What?"  Sunset released Midnight, whose face was flushing.

"I believe in you.  I had to ask the questions because of who I am, but I trust you."

Sunset dropped back into a chair, her legs suddenly unwilling to support her.  She stared up at Midnight for a moment until her brain started working again.

"That means a lot to me, but please don't ever do something like that again.  If you had been wrong...."

Midnight sat next to her and pulled her into another hug.  "And it means a lot to me that you care about my well-being.  Please don't ever stop being who you are."  She ended the embrace and looked at the cards still in their neat little stack on the table.  "How much do you know about the Supernal Tarot?"

"We're doing this, huh?"  Sunset could feel a smile forming, mostly from the relief of knowing Midnight would trust her.  "Fine.  I don't know much except that the Mysterium had it stashed in London, the Seers took it, and it's generally considered the most valuable Artefact in the world."

"Let me tell you a bit about their history.  We don't know why or how, but the cards just started appearing one day.  Over a couple decades, almost the entire deck came together pretty much by happenstance.  Six cards were missing when the Mysterium moved them to London.  When I looked through it, all the cards were present."

"Oh."

Midnight snickered.  "Yeah, that might not mean a lot if you haven't studied them.  When I say it 'came together,' I mean that people with a card or two would have accidents, and their cards would join others.  Theft, murder, relocation, all kinds of things brought this deck together.  That six cards were missing for two hundred years made people think they were just gone.  We've suspected the Seers, Banishers, Scelesti, all kinds of guesses.  Looks like the Seers did have them.  They stole the cards three years ago, and we couldn't find them, no matter what we tried.  Do you know how we rank Artefacts?"

Sunset nodded.  "Rank Zero to Rank Five, right?"

"For most, yes.  The most powerful, like the Supernal Tarot, are considered Rank Six.  All the ... normal Artefacts can be Bound to just about any Mage, but Rank Six almost never Bind.  Do you know what it means that these cards respond to you?"

"I can make a few guesses.  They want to be with me?"

"Pretty much.  These Rank Six Artefacts seem to have a will and power of their own.  They don't require that we channel Mana to use them, since they seem to have an unlimited supply of their own.  The Mage using them doesn't even have to use the Fate Arcanum because they can it provide themselves ... somehow.  Did you know any of that?"

"Not at all."

"Would you mind laying a spread?  I can read it for you."

Sunset began shuffling the cards, a particular question in her head.  When she felt it was right, she began laying them in a five card cross.  The spread was what the cards told her to lay, though they did not speak to her.  The whole time she was handling them, it was like she was on autopilot and simply allowing herself to be a conduit to another force or mind.

Midnight studied the spread.  "Your question?"

"How do we find our enemies?"

Several minutes of intense scrutiny followed.  Midnight even consulted one of her books.  Finally, she said, "You need to find a woman.  She's probably young, most likely anywhere from my age to yours, based on the Page of Swords.  I think The Moon relates to being lost in this case, but I don't know if that's her or you.  The Tower means losing your footing or having your security taken, but I can't tell which one it relates to.  The pentacles probably mean money here, so she might be well-off, or you might need to follow or use money to find her."  She tapped the last card at the bottom-right of the cross.  "The Devil is temptation.  Again, I don't know if that means you or her."

"I'll have to think about it for a while.  Do you want to do another?"

Though Midnight's eyes sparkled at the suggestion, she shook her head.  "It's best I not get too close.  Rank Six Artefacts tend to inspire jealousy, and I don't want to risk losing myself.  Put them away, but find somewhere better."

Sunset hid the cards in her underwear and sock drawer, placing a Mind ward over it to cause people to bypass the drawer or not to pay attention to it.  As soon as the spell was in place, she felt the Supernal Tarot's presence dissipate, despite the ward not obscuring magickal resonance.  As their presence vanished, it was almost as though they whispered words of obedience to her.

Midnight's behaviour around the cards had been odd, and her words echoed in Sunset's ears.  Even hidden and not speaking to her, Sunset felt that the cards were waiting for her.  She ignored them and continued reading Dune.  The urge to lay spreads all through the night was tempting, but she worried about opening herself to whomever was on the other end of those cards.