Equestria Divided

“I hear the Earthborn tried to attack Everfree.” The sultry voice of a siren mused. “Savages fighting Savages.”

“Careful, Penumbra. Those savages, as you would call them, can easily dispatch our little band... and a few used to be friends.” A dignified voice replied, followed up with a chuckle. “IF they can get past your seduction and my lies.”

“I know, Silver. It’s just such a bore around here lately.” Penumbra said, nuzzling Silvers neck as the duo walked through the streets of Manehattan. A Sapphire Siren and a Pony of Fortune. An odd combination.

Silver nuzzled Penumbra back, and paused, looking down an alleyway. “Hold on, dear.” Silver trotted down the alley, seeing two larger colts kicking at a mare. “Well, that hardly seems fair, gentlecolts. I’d suggest you stop, before you get hurt.”

They stopped, looking toward Silver. “Wot did you jus’ say ta me?” One of the two asked, taking a step toward Silver.

“I’m just saying, A mare such as herself has to have strong allies. In times like this, no one is as defenseless as they seem.” Silver looked toward the mare, and blinked, gesturing for her to run off.

She stood, and ran out of the alleyway toward the waiting Penumbra. “And ‘ow about you?” The second colt asked. “You got some sorta allies hidin around ‘ere?”

“Quite the contrary, actually. It’s just me, and the lovely Penumbra standing behind me with the mare you were attacking.”

One of the two colts made his way around Silver, blocking his exit from the alley. Silver just grinned, not faltering one bit. “Well, then, looks like we’ll ‘ave to take the money she owes out of your ‘ide.” The colt stepped forward.

“Come now, dear fellows. Think for just a brief moment about what you’re doing. Surely you’ve heard the name Silver Tongue around these parts.” The two stopped, nodding. “Well, he’s the one you’re about to be attacking, are you sure that’s a wise idea?”

“I knew you looked familiar... You still owe us a ‘undred bits.” The pony behind Silver said. Silver winced as the realization hit him. The two continued forward, and Silver grinned once again.

“Well, if that’s the way it has to be...” Silver flicked his tail quickly, the blade humming as it cut a quick slash across one ponies chest. He spun, bringing the blade across both forelegs of the other pony. He jumped, pushing off of the back of the first pony. As he landed, he grinned toward the two. “I’ll just take the rain check, fellas. Can’t keep my lady waiting too long. She gets more insufferable than usual.”

Silver ran out of the Alleyway, rejoining Penumbra as the duo walked the mare up the road. “Insufferable, eh?” Penumbra asked, narrowing her eyes at Silver.

He shrugged. “Well, yeah. Using your sultry voice and beautiful figure to seduce other colts? Using those same assets to tease me... Makes a Colt feel unloved. Even after I bought you that necklace you wanted... And the replacement after Thud stole it.”

“Awe, poor Silver,” Penumbra said, nuzzling his neck once again. “Don’t worry, my love. You’re the only colt that can truly win my heart over.”

The mare cleared her throat, snapping the two out of their conversation. “Not that your conversation isn’t interesting, I’ve gotta get going... I’ve gotta get back to my shop.”

Silver bowed, tipping his hat with his magic. “Farewell, M’lady. Be careful, those brutes are still about.” The mare nodded and trotted off, leaving Penumbra and Silver to their business.

“How about this. When we get back home, I’ll sing that song you like so much, and if you’re lucky, I may even dance.” Penumbra said with a soft smile.

“Sounds wonderful, my dear. I’m sorry I called you insufferable.” A resounding thud echoed through the streets, followed by a cackle, cut short by another thud. “Whelp, looks like it’s not going to be boring much longer, my dear.”

The two rushed forward to see a Diamond Dog wielding a large hammer fending off three Revelers from the Cult of Laughter. Two stood on broken legs, still cackling around the chain in their mouths. As they swung at the dog, he swung his hammer, knocking the two broken Revelers aside. The third landed a strike on the back of the dogs leg before a blade cut his cackling short.

“Thud, my large Canine Ally, what happened?” Silver asked, cleaning the blood from his blade on the revelers coat.

“Thud was walking. Laughing ponies attack. Thud fight back. One pony with Mask still near.”

“A Jester?” Thud nodded. “That’s not good... Not good at all. We’ve gotta get out of here. Back to the safer parts of town.”

A laughing filled the street. “Oh, Silver Tongue. How I’ve missed you!” The voice reverberated all around the empty street. “How easy it would have been to just end you and you’re lovely siren right here and now. Or maybe just your siren, let you really feel pain before your end!”

“Well, that seems like something the cult would enjoy. Tell me, who is this?”

“I’m shocked, Silver. You don’t recognize my voice?” The jester hopped from a fire escape and landed in front of Silver, taking the mask off and grinning as she stood face to face with him.

“Stormy?” Silver recoiled a few steps as the Jester put her mask back on. “When did you...”

“A few years ago, dear Silver. The cult showed me the joy in the world. The joy in everything!” Stormy spun on her rear hooves with her forehooves spread wide, letting out a gleeful squee.

“And now you’re as insane and twisted as the Laughing Mare. I’ll warn you now, Stormy. Don’t get too comfortable. The Cult is on a downhill slope. They WILL fall to the other houses.” Silver snapped.

“Awe, poor Silver is getting all angry? You know what would cure that?” The Mare put her mask back on and put her face up to Silvers. “A SMILE!” She pulled a pair of blades and brought them toward Silvers face.

Thud swung his hammer toward the jester as she finished speaking, but as if she knew it was about to happen, she jumped and flipped backward, disappearing behind Thud. As he turned, she was nowhere to be found.

“You three.” Another voice entered the street. Silver turned to see your average, run of the mill Militia. “You’re immediate presence is requested by Jet Set.” The pony said, looking between the three. “I am to escort you to him.”

“I guess I could handle an audience with Jet Set...” Silver said with a sigh, following the militia pony

It didn’t take long for them to reach Jet Sets office. The trio entered, Silver and Penumbra took seats, and Thud stood toward the back. “Silver Tongue, Penumbral Haze, and Thud, do they call you these days? Welcome.” Jet set said, a smile on his face. “You’re probably wondering why I summoned you three here?”

“You’re about to offer me an absurd amount of bits for something that can easily be done?” Silver quipped with a grin.

“Not quite. I’ll pay you a Moderate amount that you’ll have to work for,” Jet Set replied, pulling a bag of bits from the drawer of his desk and setting it in front of Silver. “Ten Thousand bits. We’ve got word that there was a Jester of Baltimare nearby. Targeting our more highly regarded citizens. Gather as much information as you can, and the reward is yours.”

Silver chuckled slightly. “I knew you were going to give me another easy one... Sit back and relax, I’ve got a story to tell you.” Jet Set raised an eyebrow, but listened. “Twenty years ago, there existed a Showpony in Canterlot. Thunderhead the Unicorn with his Steel Pinion spell. Catching and casting lightning from storm clouds that his lovely assistant, Cloudwalker.
“Fast forward a few years, Thunderhead and Cloudwalker settled down in Hoofington and had three children. The oldest, a Colt, left when House Moon and Star came into existence. The two younger children were taken into the hands of House Moon and Star when the Cult started showing their faces.

“A few more years, and both children are old enough to fight. One gives up on House Moon and Star and joins the Cult. That mare grows up to become a Jester of Baltimare, making her way through Manehattan, taking out high ranking members of society.” Silver finished, grinning toward Jet Set. “I’ll take my Ten Thousand bits, then.”

“I should’ve known you’d know more than you should... Next you’re going to tell me that you know her name...” Jet Set said with a roll of his eyes.

“Stormy Skies.” Silver said, taking the bag of bits and sliding it into his saddlebag. “Still young, and with stunted growth from an accident involving a stray lightning bolt. She was a unicorn, but her horn was shattered from the same incident. She was still such a small filly when it happened.”

“How could you possibly know all of that?” Jet Set asked, uneasily.

“She’s my sister.” And with that, Silver exited the building, leaving Jet Set with his bewildered look.

He was a few blocks up before Thud and Penumbra finally caught up with him. “Silver... Are you okay?” Penumbra asked worriedly.

“I did all I could to keep Rose, Stormy, and my parents safe. Stormy joined the Cult... I’ve gotta find out what happened to the rest of them.”

Penumbra nuzzled the side of his neck once again. “Not today, dear... You need to gather your thoughts. You’re no good to me if you can’t think straight...”

Silver nuzzled Penumbra back, sighing. “Thud... You go meet up with your brothers. Do whatever it is you do. We’re headed home.” Thud nodded, turning and making his way toward the center of the town. “Is the offer of hearing your beautiful singing voice still on the table?”

“I think it could be arranged, dear.”