Calling In The Second String

Starlight Glimmer's illusion changed her less than Golden Wind's. Her horn vanished behind the illusion, replaced with a pair of wings that never moved, remaining neatly folded at all times.

Like his, the disguise went only skin-deep. Her horn still glowed, even though it wasn't there, as she traced the lines of her careful spell. She drew onto the ground, making a perfect circle surrounded by dense runes.

"This should get us to San Palomino," she said, tossing the chalk aside and stepping carefully over the lines. "Getting back should be easier, so long as I have some time to think. Can't prepare a spell like this with a spear to my throat."

"I won't let that happen," Golden said, stepping carefully over the edge. "I can't fight an army on my own, obviously. So long as they don't send one, we should be fine. How strong is the Storm King's grip on... San Palomino?"

Starlight shrugged. "Haven't been there since he took over, so your guess is as good as mine." She looked him over, grinning. "Little closer. Don't want to leave anything outside the circle."

He moved closer—close enough that his wing brushed against her side, and her tail flicked his leg. That wasn't so strange, so long as he didn't look back. I still feel my wings, but can’t see them.

"You know where we can find this... Starswirl?"

She nodded. "Assuming the Storm King hasn't found him first, yes. But I can't bring us straight there—knowing Starswirl, he'll have wards around the shelter for miles. And we wouldn't want anypony to see us teleporting in; that would look suspicious. Only the Storm King's servants are allowed to use high magic. Now hold still."

The castle vanished from around him. For an instant, there was a terrible cold crushing in on his body, tearing the breath from his lungs. Light returned seconds later, briefly blinding him. They were outside in full sun, bright enough that he tried to lift his wing to shield his eyes.

The wing lifted, and he felt feathers against his brow. But the illusion was too strong—his wing cast no shade.

Little bits of ice flaked away as he moved his feathers, falling from the open air.

The “Pegasus” next to him faltered, her legs shaking with the effort of keeping herself upright. "That was... far." She gasped, her breath emerging in the cold fog. "Need... a night's sleep... before I do that again."

Golden held firm, wrapping his wing around her back to keep her steady. Even if neither of them could see it, she would still feel it. "I'll take flying any day."

They weren't in the castle anymore. Instead, a rough trail surrounded them, stretching in both directions through a wilderness of scraggly weeds, deep green plants, and occasional wildflowers. It was warm—too warm. He'd be sweating already if it wasn't for the spell.

Most importantly, there were no watching soldiers, or any other creatures that might ask awkward questions about their arrival—only buzzing insects, and the occasional bird passing over the trees.

He reached into his saddlebags with his other wing, removing the canteen from inside. He was getting better at using his wings the way natives did, even if it looked a little like magic right then. He still might not understand exactly what the “Elements of Harmony” were, but Rarity sure did cast a powerful illusion. "Here."

Starlight took it and drank. She passed it back a few seconds later, leaving it mostly empty. "Looks like I got us close. San Palomino is on the coast. From there, we just need to ask around for the recluse living on his own."

She straightened, shaking herself out without opening her wings. No real Pegasus would move like that. "And he'll want to help us?"

They set off together down the trail. At one time, it might've been well-maintained, but time had not been kind to this place. Much of the gravel had washed away, or else been swallowed by mud that softened and hardened again in many rains. Numerous hoofmarks in the ground suggested the space was still well-traveled, with many thin marks left in the mud by cart wheels.

Equestria's new king didn't care much to maintain his conquests, at least not here. Soon, Golden’s companion recovered, and they began a brisk trot instead, through warm hills, rolling grass, and singing birds.

Few signs of civilization broke the otherwise uninterrupted natural beauty. Their path took them down with every step, descending a steady switchback towards the coast.

He wasn't sure how long they had walked, but it was long enough for the sun to rise high overhead, and for Starlight to tire more than once.

She stopped again as they came to a particularly high bluff overlooking the valley below, settling down onto her haunches to rest. "Just... need a few seconds." She looked up, running one hoof awkwardly through her mane. "Not everypony can be an inexhaustible... warrior."

Golden sat down beside her. His eyes were still for the trail, and occasionally at whatever flew overhead. He saw no sign of patrols, or any other occupants in this distant place.

From his high vantage, he could make out dense streets and narrow buildings. It felt like looking down at a historical photo. He could imagine many towns like this across the US in an earlier age. The streets were far narrower, only wide enough for a cart drawn by two ponies at most. A railroad passed almost directly through the town, its tracks snaking up the coast and out of sight.

"You can almost forget you're conquered," he said. "Seems... peaceful from up here."

Starlight looked up at him, her expression distant and pained. "Not everywhere is big enough for the Storm King to notice. But nowhere escapes—his work crews take ponies from everywhere. Never know when he might decide to give your job to somepony else, or move your whole family out. See those fields up north? They should be full of fruit right now. But without the weather teams, you can't get enough water for strawberries."

She closed her eyes, resting her head up against his shoulder again. "At least we found you. I almost gave up before that. Nothing worked... he was always one step ahead."

"I'm glad you didn't," he replied.

She looked up, opening one eye. "I thought you were still upset that we foalnapped you."

He shrugged his wings, which of course the mare couldn't see. Maybe she felt them twitch. "You could've asked. But I'm not mad. I never thought I'd get to fly, so that was nice. Equestria has some things going for it." He looked down into her eyes, then away again, before he could say anything stupid.

"Wait until you see it free." She stood again, and they returned to their walk. "The princesses presided over a thousand years of peace. The streets were full of music, the weather always scheduled, and every harvest was overflowing. Nopony went hungry or cold." She lowered her voice to a bitter mutter. "If I have to sing the Storm King's stupid anthem again, I think I'll throw myself off battlements."

"We can't have that," Golden said. "I'd like to see Equestria when it's back to the way it should be."

She flicked her tail at him, speeding up. He broke into a trot, then a canter, and still she kept ahead of him. Starlight wasn't half as tired as she claimed! "Careful saying things like that, Golden Wind! Almost sounds like you want to stay after we win."

He said nothing to that. Phil had no answer. Golden Wind—maybe he did. Besides, he had some time. They had to win first.

San Palomino proved somewhat less peaceful and welcoming when they actually arrived. The streets were mostly empty, save for furtive ponies hurrying in tight groups from one section to another.

Posters were plastered to every wall and pole, showing a judgmental creature scowling at them. Most said more or less the same thing "Report Dissident Activity to the Stormwatch. Be vigilant or be complicit."

Many shops had closed, while others had most of their shelves empty. What had obviously been the town's central grocer had only a few meager crates inside, with bags of grain, hay, and salt piled up in front of vivid harvest murals covered in fruits and vegetables.

They had good reason to fear. He'd only made it a few steps inside before they met the “Stormwatch” for themselves, a pair of ponies in black and blue uniforms, with a handful of military-police looking ponies trailing behind them.

Too small to have ogres. The king really doesn't care about this place.

They carried weapons of old and battered wood, and their uniforms had been patched several times. He wouldn't know their lowly station from the pride in their voices, though.

"Papers, please," said the tall earth pony with the biggest hat.

Starlight produced them, removing two sheets of worn paper from her own saddlebagswith her mouth, so there were no obvious breaks in the illusion.

The stallion squinted down at them both, then back up at the two of them. After a few seconds, he passed both of them back. "Reason for your visit?"

"Visiting my grandfather," Golden said, without missing a beat. "He's been getting on in years. You never know when a pony's time will come."

The two stern ponies shared a look. "You are... both needed for this?" His attention settled on Starlight now. "You know unnecessary travel remains suspended. Our great king requires all to work where they live, unless they obtain a royal travel license. Why are you here, Pegasus?"

"To... comfort my husband!" She wrapped her foreleg around Golden's neck, pressing up close to him. "They were so close. I fear this is the last time our king will permit my husband to see him in this life. Without me, the grief might overcome him!"

Golden nodded along, holding the mare closer to him with his foreleg. "We won't burden your town for long, sir. I'm only here to say my last goodbyes."

The two stared for a few more seconds. Finally, the earth pony scribbled something on his notebook, and tucked it away again. "Have your business concluded in San Palomino by tomorrow morning. I expect to see you at the station for the morning train. Our king has no time for sentimentality."

Then they were gone. Police marched behind them down the street. A few gave them sympathetic glances as they passed. Most didn't even look up, their eyes always on the ground. They don't want to do this. But those collaborators do.

They asked around town for a few minutes after that, now playing the part of a couple who had come to pay last respects to an ailing family member. Maybe it was coincidence, or maybe Rarity's illusion did the work—either way, no pony seemed skeptical that Golden might be the old stallion's grandson.

It was early evening as they left San Palomino proper and hurried down a narrow road that led to their “grandfather's” property. If their directions were right, the trip would be brief, another mile at most.

He waited until they'd left the town behind, and he saw no sign of others following down the road.

"Husband, huh?" he said. "Guess that makes me the luckiest stallion in Equestria."

Starlight's ears folded back. She laughed, but the sound came out nervous and forced instead of confident. "First thing I thought of. Storm King wasn't supposed to have ponies out here. It's fine... we'll be gone before morning. I hope those jerks spend weeks hunting for us."

Even in this bleak land, Starswirl's hideout was among the least welcoming places Golden Wind had ever seen. It was little more than a solitary shack at the center of a fallow field, surrounded by skeletal brown trees and parched soil. Just looking at it made him want to turn around and hurry in the opposite direction.

"You sure this is the right place? I'm getting Hills Have Eyes vibes. Maybe we teleport back now."

Starlight nudged his shoulder. "That's exactly how we know it's the right place. Aversion spell, come on. Don't look at anything, just walk. It can't work if you don't think."

Anyone else would probably have trouble forcing him. But for Starlight Glimmer—he let the mare tug him forward, albeit reluctantly. It took effort, but if all he looked at was the mare ahead of him, he could keep moving.

They trotted right up to a pair of heavy wooden doors, and a dirty glass peephole that stuck through haphazardly at eye level.

Starlight knocked several times, quiet and urgent. "Hello? We're here to see you, and we don't have much time."