Frostpony: Of Hounds & Horses

“The army is rounding up everypony they can without being loud about it.” Gale explained, not that it was news.

What was news were the numerous stories they began telling shortly after, Pencil Sketch, a local artist, was first and already Rini could tell the Unicorn’s emotional struggle from his face alone.

“They set fire to my house while I was at work. When I got back they lied to me and tried to make me sign stuff.” He trembled, voice cracking. “All my drawings, my equipment, my family photos…I ran right then and there.”
Rini frowned and looked to him in sympathy, ready to provide a word of comfort only for Two Bits to step in and cut her off.

“I’ll say, both mine and my late father’s account were seized, not frozen, seized!” He declared, sending those around him a few steps back with his voice. “Property of the crown this, inheritance tax that, and the nerve they have to literally charge me for verbal assault? Honestly it was a miracle all they sent after me were Chiwawas.”

Her gaze snapped between both him and Pencil, struggling to address either as Path spoke up.

“The practice of prayer’s practically been penalised!” Radiant proclaimed. “First city hall tells me they have no plans to rebuild the church or establish it somewhere else, then they prevent me from organising public prayer, and then declare those of the Harmonic Faith a cult?”

He shook his head and wiped his brow. “It’s madness.”

Rini gave up and stayed quiet as more shared similar horror stories. Each remarking the many ways in which the military or its control over the town had dismantled their lives. Every time ending with them being offered a way out if they simply did as instructed.

Bakers burned out of business, writer’s works were written off, and the livelihoods of labourers shut down.

The majority of ponies present had anticipated what was to come and preemptively fled. Their gut instinct weary from the apocalyptic weather, while more recent cases like Gale and Two Bits were lucky.

She quickly became numb to the tales, and such fatigue soon prompted them to stop. Rini didn’t blame them. This was the first time they’d probably gotten to vent some of their frustrations since they’d arrived here. The fact it was to a dog sympathetic to their plight also likely played a part.

“Okay listen, I understand, and I wanna help.” She then turned to Gale and Corn, standing behind the map table. “It’s risky, but if we pull it off, not only will we escape Cherrywood, but we’ll do it in a way in which the military can’t follow us.”

Gale smiled. “We’re listening.”

“When they arrived, the War Dogs parked this massive mobile vehicle workshop at the Scrapyard. It’s the only thing they got keeping their motor fleet running. Without it, they can’t fashion spare parts to fit their stuff and everything would break down within days.”

“What?” Scoffed Corn, “What kind of backwards engineering is that?”

“Diamidian engineering,” She replied, giving a smirk. “They’d have to cannibalise their vehicles for parts, but with everything already fitted with second or third-paw parts, and modifications made to have them fit the vehicles, they are barely being held together. I doubt the spares from one truck would even fit another of the same model.”

“Sweet Celestia.”

Murmurs arose from the crowd as more and more curious sets of eyes were drawn to her. For a moment Rini thought back to her encounter with Caleb, and felt the weight of so many souls gazing upon her. Gale however was quick to act and moved up beside her, patting her on the back.

The weight suddenly lessened, her mind cleared of incorporeal conflict and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Rini looked at him and shared in his reassuring joy.

Their moment was soon broken by Corn Kernel, who’d raised a few questions.

“So how do you reckon we steal it? Must be half a garrison protecting it if it’s so important.”

“Can it really fit everypony? You said it was massive, right?” Spoke another. “What about everypony else in town? Are we going to try helping them?”

Rini braced as question after question was thrown at her, each more difficult than the last. A relentless assault that came after her blow after blow. Yet she didn’t buckle, she didn’t feel threatened or nervous, not with Gale by her side.

That was until one question in particular was asked.

“Hey! Aren’t we jumping the gun here? Can we even trust her?”

Suddenly, the dozens of eyes set upon her stared like pointed daggers and she felt herself shrink. Ponies weren’t a malicious kind per say, heck friendship was the basis for their culture, but they had a nasty habit of falling to herd mentality all too quickly. Typically the only two things that could wrangle back control was either a big, flashy sign, or strong leadership…..or a song and dance routine but she wasn’t pulling that off.

So as they began to close in on her with increasingly suspicious glares, she feared her time would be cut short.

A sharp whistle cut through the crowd like a hot knife through butter, and all turned to a thoroughly unamused Gale.

“Was Corn Kernal the only pony ta get the memo?” He asked, panning his gaze. “Rini’s ma friend, she has been for bucking years! Why do ya think she was let in?”

Like a vice being loosened, Rini felt her ability to breathe return.

“If we’re gonna get through this we need creatures on the outside, and Rini’s a good girl. At least hear her out.”

The crowd settled and many backed away, their heads hung in shame while others returned to her expectedly.

It was honestly a little creepy seeing them switch tracks so fast. One moment they were an angry mob, the next they were listening.

With a deep breath, she rose and turned to them with newfound confidence.

“Look, I’m not gonna have all the answers, I’m just some scrapper!” The crowds quieted, themselves checked by reality. “I’m no leader, I’m no hero. I’m happy to do my part but I can’t hold up half a town on my back. Not alone.”

She paused to take a breath, pacing herself between words. Rini couldn’t describe it, but somehow she was managing to keep her nerves in check. Stage fright still struck her, no doubt about it, but there was no stutter or crack in her voice as she spoke.

“As much as I don’t like it either, we can’t hide forever. When the military is finished with their preparations we’ll all lose the ability to escape. They’ll take everypony they’ve captured to some far off slave camp and move onto the next town, probably leaving some kind of force here to pick up stragglers.”

Rini finished and stepped back, resisting the urge to let her tongue out and pant from the heat.

After a moment of quiet, only a single voice aired over them. “What’s our time frame?”

Rini pulled out her notebook and flipped it open, presenting the page with her notes towards Corn Kernel. “A few days, I think. They’re amassing a good stockpile and by now many of their trucks are in working condition. The landship also needs work but it’s good to go as is.”

“Can you slow them down?”

“Eh, sorta.” This was one of the parts Rini wasn’t completely sure of. “I can’t just straight up cut fuel lines and breaks, even for a Diamond Dog that’s too obvious. I’ve got a few ideas though, and I might be able to turn some of the workers to our side. I know my mom will help.”

At the mention of her mother, another important detail reared its head.

“That reminds me, Gale?” Her eyes lit up and she turned to him. “There was an accident, a pretty bad one. Brambles is in the hospital and I don’t think he’s in any condition to come with us. Heck, I dunno if he’ll even make it.”

“An accident? What kind? We both know Brambles Rini.”

Rini reached across the table and grabbed a chess piece and an empty tin can. She held one over the other and let go, allowing the chess piece to hit the ground before being “crushed.”

Gale’s face went white. “Oh…that kind.”

“Yeah, it wasn't pretty, I tried to help but the foredog had other ideas.”

Pacing back and forth in place, Gale rubbed his chin as if lost in thought. He processed the shock much faster than Rini expected as he then went under the table. There were several boxes and containers underneath it, likely a collection of personal possessions if she had to guess, and Gale pulled out his.

It was a small chest with a lock on it, only here lay a gemstone where the keyhole traditionally was. “Well, lucky for you, I like to stay prepared for these kinds o’ situations.”

He blew into the gemstone, Rini watched as it glowed and the lock clicked open. Inside were a number of items, some Rini recognised from Gale’s apartment like his ring of warmth, and the bit bags she’d given him before they split. Others she wasn’t so knowledgeable about, like a seemingly random bar of soap she spotted, or a knife with a gleaming, icy blade and metallic handle with a strap.

Gale rummaged around before taking out a large, corked bottle. The kind she’d expect to see sitting alongside several brands of beer in a bar somewhere. Its contents consisted of a crimson red liquid that dimly glowed against the room’s darkened backdrop. A label on the face of the bottle advertising it as the stuff of fantasy.

“Is that a healing potion?” She asked, awestruck. “Like, an actual, Zebrican made healing potion?”

“It's Equestrian made but close enough.” Gale stood up and set the bottle next to Rini, locking eyes with her to emphasise his words. “This is potent stuff Rini, the real deal. If Brambles really is hanging on by a thread, he’ll need…maybe half a bottle? Three quarters? Depends on a lot of factors.”

“It's…really that powerful?” She stared at it, briefly reminded of the bruise on her back and the gap in her teeth, tempted to try a sip. “Why not use it to heal his wing?”

“It's really that powerful. I only have one so don’t waste a drop.” Gale replied, unintentionally answering her question.

Rini looked between him and the potion, prepared to say something but catching herself last second. She opted to give him a simple thumbs up and smile instead. With a quick nod she grabbed the bottle only to find something else occupying her pocket.

“Oh…yeah…that…”

She padded her coat and looked over the others, hesitation mounting as she cast an eye over the reservist. “Do I really want to enable potential murder?...”

By now Gale had caught on to her pause, and she could feel the pressure climbing. At the same time, the mental image of a dead soldier- “Screw it, it’s not like the war mutts will give us the same courtesy anyway.”

“Let’s make it a trade, I got something I think you're better off with anyway.” Rini then slowly pulled out the revolver from her coat pocket, placed it on the table alongside its ammunition, and turned to Corn who stared at her wide eyed.

With equal sluggishness he picked up the weapon, inspecting it. “Girl, where in the field did you find this?”

“You find a lot of things in the Scrapyard, you’d be surprised what creatures leave in their storage compartments.” Pocketing the potion, she turned to Gale, equally stunned by her concealed carry. “As nice as it's been, I have to go Gale. Mom’s waiting for me but curfew isn’t.”

Shaking his head only to then hastily nod, he gave her a smile. “Y-Yeah! Think we can meet up tomorrow? Come up with a plan?”

Rini nodded as she reached for the door. “I’ll bring my mom with me, we’ll think of something.”

Closing the door behind her, she was once more drowned within darkness and had to navigate the stone steps. After lifting the trap door she was bathed in dim moonlight, the half clouded gaze of luna light casted upon the dull brickwork.

Once Rini had got her barings it was a race against the clock.

She didn’t know how long she had until that horn blew, but she wasn’t about to take the chance after meeting Gale’s little resistance. Getting caught this early would’ve been downright embarrassing, among other things. At least this time she wasn’t being chased by a pair of thugs.

By the time she reached the front door, she was exhausted.

A day of stress and labour, an exercise of the brain followed by a pleasant reunion and now a home run.

She heard Riley call to her in relief just as she entered through the door, to the blaring of bells and whistles as if to announce her.

Her mother halted in place when those horns blew, but not because of the audio shock. Rini looked like a royal mess as the door closed, yet gave her a smile all the same.

“How was your day?” Asked Riley, more concerned than cheerful.

“Let’s just say I ain’t doing overtime tomorrow.”