Aftermath: A Salve for the Spirit - The Balcony

[Blueblood]

The two mares he's been talking to before didn't seem to have much to tell him, other than that Ice had been involved in the rescue of Twilight Sparkle. *Hm, that will go under the headline: Purple Princess Plucked from Peril!* As worried as they might have been over what the Editor would do, Earth had worked under Blue Pencil long enough to see that the paper wouldn't go out of it's way to stir up trouble.

Still, it wouldn't hurt to lighten up the edition, and wouldn't you know it, Snowfall had provided it! "Engagement? Proposal? Fantastic! That will do wonderfully; companion piece to the tale of Lilac and Alexandrite. Headlined under: Love Blooms on the Battlefield!" Excitedly, the stallion whipped out the notebook and jotted down the details. It was a moment or two before he realized where he was again, and gave an apologetic laugh as he blushed.

"Ah, excuse me, slip of etiquette. Earth Writer, Canterlot Chronicle." He took off his hat to Snowfall and Frostlace, and nodded at the griffon standing with them. "Sorry if I butted in, but I've been hunting down every scrap of good news I can out of this business. Like I was telling Ice and Sunrise here, this is going to upset a lot of ponies when it hits the presses. The less harsh we can make it, the better we'll recover. Leastaways, that's how I see it."

[IceStorm]

A soft smile came from Ice Storm as she and Sunrise moved over to where Frostlace, the griffon, and the other pegasi stood. Sunrise was the first to introduce herself, and the first to offer their thanks in allowing them to get Twilight, and everypony else that couldn't fight out safely. Every pony that was there during that troubled time had played a very vital role one that could not be downplayed by any means, and every pony there had to brave a very real danger, even the ones that Ice Storm, Sunrise, and the others were escorting out. Frostlace was the first one to respond to them, enticing a blush from Ice Storm when she thanked the two pretty mares for their efforts as well. Her blush deepened as Frost began speaking of valiant she was, but needed to learn to use her magic in a less flashy manner to try to conserve it a bit more, and perhaps not come so close to death next time. A small laugh escaped from her only to be cut off once again from her side before smiling.

"To be honest, I wasn't really thinking that much. I was mostly running off of instinct just trying to protect everypony the best that I knew how. The sliding staircase is actually what took most of the toll on me, but was also the most efficient way of getting everypony out of the spire, and without any time to spare. You were right behind us with the guard pony and the tower started to fall as soon as you reached the airship. I don't think we could have cut it any closer," she commented

Although her eyes opened up a bit more as Frost told her that Snowfall was getting married. Judging by her color, and now by her name, she almost guaranteed that the mare was a pony of ice. There were enough ponies know that they could probably form an official sub-guild of spellbound now for ice based magic, that was if either of them wanted to join the guild. But that was for another time. There was a pony here that somehow through everything that had happened had found a way to get engaged! She knew that events like this always brought ponies together, but she wasn't really expecting them to come together that much! This was quite the good news after a few days what appeared to be nothing but negativity and depressing arguments. She was glad at the very least that Snowfall and whomever she was getting married to had managed to find happiness in this mess.

The icy blue mare began to speak herself. She started by introducing herself as the chief executive of Northern Storm Industries. Ice couldn't say that she had heard of it before, but at the same time she doubted that anypony here would have heard of her franchise either. She added that she was a very close friend of Frostlace, although she could already tell this from Frost's introduction of her, she did thank them for helping protect her and the others keeping them safe. She also blushed a bit more as she said that she must have especially impressive to earn such praise from Frostlace. she smiled and reached a hoof out for a hoofshake. "Name's Ice Storm myself. I run a frozen treat franchise in Ponyville and Canterlot called Frozen Delights. If it's consumable and it's frozen, I carry it. From popcycles and snow cones, to milk-hakes and smoothies" she smiled.

"Although I still don't feel like I did anything special. Like I said I just did what came naturally to me. As soon as I saw that the princess was still alive, and was in no condition to be in a battle ground, getting her and everypony else out became my top priority through any means. I appreciate the thanks though," she said contently. "Enough of that though, as Frost said, in the midst of this tragedy there is still something to celebrate," she said grabbing one of the lighter drinks from the trays with her magic and joining Frost in a toast. "You are quite the lucky mare. I wish you and your fiancée the best of luck and I hope that you both never have to deal with this sort of catastrophe again," she finished still wearing her smile and taking a sip of her wine. She was immediately happy. Turned out it was a strawberry wine, and was quite sweet. She loved everything strawberry related, and this proved to be no exception as she downed the entire glass herself.

At this point the reporter started talking again. He spoke of the engagement would work wonders in the story. That in the midst of everything that happened from the Crystal Empire in the last couple days anything good that he could put in the article about the event would be beneficial to the recovery process. Although it essentially boiled down to whether this mare wanted her engagement to be publicly announced. "Just make sure that whatever your putting in the article is unbiased," she reminded him. She wasn't going to add anything else to it because honestly, she didn't want to tell the stallion how to do his job. She wouldn't like it if somepony came into her store and told her how to run it, so she wasn't going to try that here, she just wanted to make sure that the stallion realized how much of an impact the written word could have on ponies in general.

At this point her eyes began to wander over towards the Griffon. She only saw him briefly during her escape with princess Twilight, but the fact that he stood here relatively unscathed meant that he had previous experience or supreme training in combat scenarios. "I would like to extend our thanks to you as well. I only caught a very small bit of what you were capable of, but considering your standing here almost completely uninjured leads me to believe that you were more than capable, and I appreciate your efforts in dealing with the Viking Bou. If it weren't for you, Frost, Rose, and that grey one holding the lines, Sunrise and I wouldn't have been able to get the princess, or anypony else out of there as quickly as we were able to. I just wish I could give more than a simple thank you," she said to the griffon, her smile returning to her face.

[Dio]

“I’ll hold you to that, love!” Alistair grinned cheekily and joined Frostlace in her laughter, his nostrils smoking like a dragon. Finally, he blew the last of the smoke out, giving them both a moment of respite to catch up with Snowfall. “And I will most definitely remember the Hoar Witch name.”

“I make not-so-good angel, I think. Snowfall could tell you thing or two about trouble I have got up to with foundry crew at Kuznitza pubs.”

​

She was a live one, this Frostlace. If she was hinting at what Alistair thought she was hinting at, the griffon was in for a wild ride this evening; from a pony no less! As if on cue, Alistair felt a bit of tickling near his ears. He looked up and reached a talon to his temples to figure out what had happened. Finally, he drew his claws over the horns of ice that had formed over his feathers.

“There. Now I am not-so-good angel and you are handsome devil. We will go to war or have great tragic romance like Poneo and Juliette!”

​

“Cheeky, cheeky! When Ms. Snowfall said you were trouble, she was right on the mark!” Alistair laughed and laughed before pausing to waggle an eyebrow at Frostlace. “Good thing they taught us how to handle trouble in the Marines!”

"Ah, you work for Lev then! Considering that, I'm surprised we haven't met sooner," Snowfall said, with a cheerful smile and laugh as the griffon answered her question. "NSI does so much wonderful business with Kalinka. It is a partnership we are quite proud to be a part of." She nodded several times. "I trust my dear Mr. Nobleheart is doing well?"

​

“Yes, Mr. Nobleheart is quite well. He has just opened a depot in Saraneighvo and is absolutely chuffed about it. With the High King of Whitescar back in play I dare say he’ll have his claws full for the next few months working out airlift contracts!”

"And you, Sergeant Goldmane, and all our friends with Kalinka will be invited as well. Do let Lev know that his invitation will soon be in the mail."

​

“I’ll pass it along to Mr. Nobleheart. I’m sure he’ll be delighted to come along!”

“Privet, friends, Privet!” she nearly sung, “I thank both pretty mares for their efforts too! Blue was especialvery valiant, but must learn to use magics less rashly. Be more clever with ice, use less magics, not come so close to death, yes? But nyet, no more talking battle and blood. My dear Snowfall is getting married! Is time for to be happy! Za lyubov! To love!”

​

“Indeed! To happiness! To love!” Alistair snagged a flute of champagne from a passing waiter and raised it in tribute. He nodded to each of the new arrivals; the journalist, the fashionable mare, and the one Frostlace had called “Blue.” Following Frostlace’s lead, he downed the flute in one gulp before dropping the empty glass on another passing waiter’s tray.

"I would like to extend our thanks to you as well. I only caught a very small bit of what you were capable of, but considering your standing here almost completely uninjured leads me to believe that you were more than capable, and I appreciate your efforts in dealing with the Viking Bou. If it weren't for you, Frost, Rose, and that grey one holding the lines, Sunrise and I wouldn't have been able to get the princess, or anypony else out of there as quickly as we were able to. I just wish I could give more than a simple thank you," she said to the griffon, her smile returning to her face.

​

“You flatter me, Ms. Ice Storm,” he grinned good-naturedly, “I just finished explaining to Ms. Snowfall about the little scuffle in the Spire. All part of a day’s work for an Equestrian sheepdog!”

“As for making it up to me, I will accept being pointed to the bar.” He tapped out the spent ashes of his pipe and gave a flirtatious glance back at Frostlace. “I have worked up quite the mighty thirst! Lady Frostlace as well, perhaps, since her drink seems to have run dry!”

[PyroBlaze]

Sunrise smiled as the others responded, Frost responding quite enthusiastically, offering her thanks in return. So, it was this third mare, Snowfall, who was engaged? Well, it was nice to have something like that to celebrate. She grabbed a drink in her magic as the toast was performed, nodding her head and taking a small swig of the liquid.

"Well, this is wonderful! Congratulations on your engagement, miss Snowfall, I wish you the best." Sunrise said, giving the mare a friendly smile. "If you need any assistance with the dresses or the ensembles in general, I would be happy to help with that." She offered the mare.

She gave a small giggle at the griffon's words as he requested directions to the bar, saying Frost and him needed a refill on their drinks. She pointed a hoof towards the stairs down from the balcony as she spoke.

"Well, I believe it is in the lower part of the building. As far as anything more specific, I am sorry to say I can not be much help. I did not spend much time down there before heading up here." Sunrise said, smiling at them.

[Elderflower]

"Indeed, this one is rather far from innocent," Snow said, shaking her head once more. "I've long envied the liberty allowed to her. Whenever in the past I had a more mischievous hair, I would invariably end up hearing about it from important investors, the board, my mother and the press. The Hoar Witch name, however, I suppose excuses much trouble," she added teasingly.

​

“Cheeky, cheeky! When Ms. Snowfall said you were trouble, she was right on the mark!” Alistair laughed and laughed before pausing to waggle an eyebrow at Frostlace. “Good thing they taught us how to handle trouble in the Marines!”

​

“Is not hard to get my freedom, friend,” Frostlace laughed in response to Snowfall, “My foundry boys are happy to be keeping secrets, and when I go to Kuznitza is usually after working bellows. I am too dirty for anypony else to see Frostlace of Hoarwitch Estates! Come work bellows with me sometime and I show you how we have fun in Kuznitza.”

Frostlace laughed at the gryphon then, a playfully challenging look about her countenance. There was not a doubt in her mind that this old featherhead would prove to be a fun one! “Your marines never taught how to manage my kind of trouble, that is promises. Don’t underestimate Stallian mares, blagoobraznyy.”

"The date isn't quite set," Snowfall said, as she was finally let free of the other mare's hug. "It's a quite recent development, and there's still a lot to think about. My fiancée... It was actually on the night before all this madness happened that she proposed..."

Snowfall smiled, Frostlace's happiness reminding her of how happy she should feel. "Pathfinder... she's really excited and eager to invite everypony she's ever met, so it seems like it will be a rather big wedding. Even were it not, however, you would be one of the first I asked to come, Frostlace, so I'm glad you are one of the first to know."

​

“Night before!” Frostlace gasped, lifting a hoof to her mouth. When she placed her hoof back upon the floor of the balcony her expression quickly changed from surprise to an indignant sort of anger. “Of all great offenses made by Red Jarl and thugs,” she growled, “To think they could make me more angrier. Pah! How dare they ruin sweet morning after proposal! I am glad my ice got better of some of them. Though your sweetheart must have been through moon, da?”

Frostlace hadn’t met Snowfall’s fiancé before, but she had heard much about her from her old friend. A caribou attack was probably something that Pathfinder was ecstatic to wake up to, even though most couples would be thrilled to snuggle up with breakfast and mimosas in bed. The unicorn’s usual grin was back in its rightful place as she gave her friend a wicked little wink.

“Big wedding sounds chudesnyy, Snowfall. I am happy to go! You know Hoar Witch wines and whiskeys will flow free whole night long if you will have them, of course!”

Frost’s smile was uncontrollably large, so happy she was for her friend. It took serious efforts in self control on her part not to smother Snowfall with yet another hug, but despite the inner struggles she emerged victorious. Any more rough hugs and she’d mess up the CEO’s pretty mane! And that would be an awful thing for a friend to do.

"To be honest, I wasn't really thinking that much. I was mostly running off of instinct just trying to protect everypony the best that I knew how. The sliding staircase is actually what took most of the toll on me, but was also the most efficient way of getting everypony out of the spire, and without any time to spare. You were right behind us with the guard pony and the tower started to fall as soon as you reached the airship. I don't think we could have cut it any closer," she commented

​

While Blue was talking, Frost’s horn came alight with magic once more, and this time a lovely blue rose made of ice materialized in the air. Smiling, the pale unicorn tucked the icy bloom into her friend’s mane and then waved off what she had said.

“You are too modest, Ms. Hero Blue,” she purred, “And too thoughtless about own wellbeing. As friend, promise to take better care of self if you find trouble like this again.”

"Enough of that though, as Frost said, in the midst of this tragedy there is still something to celebrate," she said grabbing one of the lighter drinks from the trays with her magic and joining Frost in a toast. "You are quite the lucky mare. I wish you and your fiancée the best of luck and I hope that you both never have to deal with this sort of catastrophe again,"

​

]"Well, this is wonderful! Congratulations on your engagement, miss Snowfall, I wish you the best."

​

]"Engagement? Proposal? Fantastic! That will do wonderfully; companion piece to the tale of Lilac and Alexandrite. Headlined under: Love Blooms on the Battlefield!"

​

It seemed as though the happy news of Snowfall’s marriage was well-received by Blue and her friends, though one in particular seemed to have something to gain from the snippet of gossip. It was quite clear this particular stallion was a reporter, and so Frostlace leveled him with a stern expression, one brow quirked as if daring him to speak against her.

“You are reporter, I see. Is true that all happy news from Attack should be shared to lessen blow of hearing about attack on Empire. But this is Snowfall’s news - you ask her if you publish her engagement. Is true, I should have asked before announcing her marriage to you all.”

The unicorn turned to her old friend and bowed her head apologetically, “I am sorry, dear Snowfall, I should ask before I tell world of your marriage. I let excitement get better of me!”

"I would like to extend our thanks to you as well. I only caught a very small bit of what you were capable of, but considering your standing here almost completely uninjured leads me to believe that you were more than capable, and I appreciate your efforts in dealing with the Viking Bou. If it weren't for you, Frost, Rose, and that grey one holding the lines, Sunrise and I wouldn't have been able to get the princess, or anypony else out of there as quickly as we were able to. I just wish I could give more than a simple thank you,"

​

“As for making it up to me, I will accept being pointed to the bar.” He tapped out the spent ashes of his pipe and gave a flirtatious glance back at Frostlace. “I have worked up quite the mighty thirst! Lady Frostlace as well, perhaps, since her drink seems to have run dry!”

​

Frostlace nodded in enthusiastic agreement with Alistair, “Yes, there is no better way to show thanks than showing way to drinks! But Blue may have to take raincheck here, because I know way to drinks quite well. This Sunrise is right, they are downstairs, easy as peas is to find! I should knowing - I made ice fountains for drinks tonight, after all!”

Unable to resist any longer, Frostlace gave Snowfall a final hug, pulling the pretty mare in tight.

“I go now to where stronger drinks are. All is being carried by on trays is champagne and frou frou drinks, and only frou frou drink I care for is HW own ice wine! Congratulations again, dear Snowfall, I am happiest of happy for you today! Now I must answer Alistair’s shameless flirting, da?”

With a chime of laughter Frostlace waved a friendly goodbye to the ponies gathered and made her way back inside, pausing only to turn around and invite the gryphon Alistair to follow her with a come-hither look and an impish glint in her eyes.

[RarityDash]

“Cheeky, cheeky! When Ms. Snowfall said you were trouble, she was right on the mark! Good thing they taught us how to handle trouble in the Marines!”

“Is not hard to get my freedom, friend, My foundry boys are happy to be keeping secrets, and when I go to Kuznitza is usually after working bellows. I am too dirty for anypony else to see Frostlace of Hoarwitch Estates! Come work bellows with me sometime and I show you how we have fun in Kuznitza.”

Snowfall laughed at the banter between her friend and the griffon. Forst really was a shameless flirt. Some things never changed.

"I'm not entirely sure it would be appropriate for me to have your variety of fun, Frost, now that I am engaged to be married," Snowfall teasingly commented. "Though I do thank you for the kindly offer."

​

“Yes, Mr. Nobleheart is quite well. He has just opened a depot in Saraneighvo and is absolutely chuffed about it. With the High King of Whitescar back in play I dare say he’ll have his claws full for the next few months working out airlift contracts!... I’ll pass it along to Mr. Nobleheart. I’m sure he’ll be delighted to come along!”

"Ah yes... I can only imagine all that this mess will have shovelled onto all of our plates. NSI will not be unaffected, I know that much. For one thing, the construction of our Crystal Empire office will have been set back considerably..." Snow sighed. "It's sure to be a busy time... not really ideal for a wedding, but all the same, I do hope that as many as can make it do come to be our guests."

Snowfall was honestly more hung up on it all even then her words probably indicated. In her was a deep consideration of what she could be doing to help. Could NSI with its resources and expertise do or make anything to help keep ponies safe from these sorts of terrible threats?

​

“Night before! Of all great offenses made by Red Jarl and thugs, To think they could make me more angrier. Pah! How dare they ruin sweet morning after proposal! I am glad my ice got better of some of them. Though your sweetheart must have been through moon, da? Big wedding sounds chudesnyy, Snowfall. I am happy to go! You know Hoar Witch wines and whiskeys will flow free whole night long if you will have them, of course!”

"Pathfinder was indeed pretty excited. Honestly she has a keen sense for these things. She actually suggested that it might happen the day before it did... but I was too naive to doubt that Whitescar was under control with the High King now in power," said Snowfall, sighing and shaking her head. "It was, as I said, a trouble to keep her from flying headlong into the thick of the danger."

She smiled then at her dear friend and nodded. "And that pleases me greatly, Frostlace. I am delighted to have both you and your wines at my wedding. I would dream of nothing less," she said, pleased to have her friend hug her again.

​

"Engagement? Proposal? Fantastic! That will do wonderfully; companion piece to the tale of Lilac and Alexandrite. Headlined under: Love Blooms on the Battlefield! Ah, excuse me, slip of etiquette. Earth Writer, Canterlot Chronicle. Sorry if I butted in, but I've been hunting down every scrap of good news I can out of this business. Like I was telling Ice and Sunrise here, this is going to upset a lot of ponies when it hits the presses. The less harsh we can make it, the better we'll recover. Leastaways, that's how I see it."

“You are reporter, I see. Is true that all happy news from Attack should be shared to lessen blow of hearing about attack on Empire. But this is Snowfall’s news - you ask her if you publish her engagement. Is true, I should have asked before announcing her marriage to you all. I am sorry, dear Snowfall, I should ask before I tell world of your marriage. I let excitement get better of me!”

"Don't worry for it, Frost," Snowfall said shaking her head as the reporter approached them suddenly. "I am used to dealing with such things. My life has never been exactly private, and truth be told, I am find with being a part of this story. It sounds hopeful and inspiring. Better that is how the news is broken then the spin on it that will come from the Stalliongrad tabloids." Snowfall laughed at this thought. "Oh, it will have them absolutely livid to see a Canterlot paper get to this news first."

She snickered some more and then looked to the young reporter. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Earth Writer," she said in a calm voice. "I do not mind at all, and would be pleased for you to include me in your news story."

"I am Snowfall, NSI chief executive and heiress, and indeed as you have overheard, I am, as of the night before the attack, engaged to be married," she added in a polite voice.

​

“I go now to where stronger drinks are. All is being carried by on trays is champagne and frou frou drinks, and only frou frou drink I care for is HW own ice wine! Congratulations again, dear Snowfall, I am happiest of happy for you today! Now I must answer Alistair’s shameless flirting, da?”

Snowfall chuckled at her dear friend and returned her hug gladly. "Thank you, Frost. It has been a delight to see you once more. We'll have to catch up more once we're both safely back home," she said while smiling. She giggled mischievously and then whispered to her, while glancing toward the griffon, "Good luck~"

​

"Name's Ice Storm myself. I run a frozen treat franchise in Ponyville and Canterlot called Frozen Delights. If it's consumable and it's frozen, I carry it. From popcycles and snow cones, to milk-hakes and smoothies. Although I still don't feel like I did anything special. Like I said I just did what came naturally to me. As soon as I saw that the princess was still alive, and was in no condition to be in a battle ground, getting her and everypony else out became my top priority through any means. I appreciate the thanks though, Enough of that though, as Frost said, in the midst of this tragedy there is still something to celebrate, You are quite the lucky mare. I wish you and your fiancée the best of luck and I hope that you both never have to deal with this sort of catastrophe again,"

"So we have Snow, Frost and Ice up here? What a cool coincidence that is," Snowfall joked warmly. "Charmed to make your acquaintance," she added, nodding to the mare. "And so you're a mare of business too? I'm not often in either Ponyville or Canterlot, but I do have a fondness for frozen treats. I'll have to be sure and try yours some time."

She nodded as the mare spoke of her part in the events in the Spire. Like the good Sergeant Goldmane, she seemed humble about her place in it all. She supposed most would be, and that was for the best. If she had truly played a part in saving one of the princesses, however, that wasn't going to stop Snowfall from considering her actions deeply heroic and commendable.

"Well... my fiancée does have an unfortunate habit of seeking out danger, so I'm not sure it's entirely off the table," she said with a laugh in response to the mare's final words for her. "But I thank you kindly for the well wishes all the same. "

​

"Well, this is wonderful! Congratulations on your engagement, miss Snowfall, I wish you the best. If you need any assistance with the dresses or the ensembles in general, I would be happy to help with that."

The words of the other mare to approach them drew Snow's attention then. This one had been called Sunrise, she had observed.

"Oh, so you are a dressmaker, Miss Sunrise?" she asked, eyes widening a little. "Thank you kindly for your offer and for the congratulations."

She thought about ti a moment, glancing upward. "I don't have a set designer I favor and certainly don't have one picked for my wedding dress. I would be delighted to see some examples of your work."

​

[Blueblood]

"Just make sure that whatever your putting in the article is unbiased," she reminded him.

Ah, yes, 'unbiased.' That was supposed to be the journalists' watch-word, though Earth Writer had begun to suspect that it was essentially chimerical. After all, how exactly did one report a marriage in an unbiased manner? One either celebrated it, in which case one was biased in favor; or one deplored it, in which case one was biased against it.

One could also simply report the fact, of course, but that would just make one a cold-blooded busypony, prying into private business. The only excuse for printing news of Snowfall's engagement is that it would lift the spirits of the Chronicle's readership, which threw the question of being unbiased right out the window.

All this would have taken far too long to explain, however, and since Ice didn't interfere further, he felt no need to. After all, she was only paying his trade a compliment as to its importance and influence. He should remember to stop by her shop sometime, whenever he was craving frozen treats.

It seemed as though the happy news of Snowfall’s marriage was well-received by Blue and her friends, though one in particular seemed to have something to gain from the snippet of gossip. It was quite clear this particular stallion was a reporter, and so Frostlace leveled him with a stern expression, one brow quirked as if daring him to speak against her.

“You are reporter, I see. Is true that all happy news from Attack should be shared to lessen blow of hearing about attack on Empire. But this is Snowfall’s news - you ask her if you publish her engagement. Is true, I should have asked before announcing her marriage to you all.”

The unicorn turned to her old friend and bowed her head apologetically, “I am sorry, dear Snowfall, I should ask before I tell world of your marriage. I let excitement get better of me!”

"Don't worry for it, Frost," Snowfall said shaking her head as the reporter approached them suddenly. "I am used to dealing with such things. My life has never been exactly private, and truth be told, I am find with being a part of this story. It sounds hopeful and inspiring. Better that is how the news is broken then the spin on it that will come from the Stalliongrad tabloids." Snowfall laughed at this thought. "Oh, it will have them absolutely livid to see a Canterlot paper get to this news first."

A more serious obstacle was presented by the Hoar Witch herself! Of course, if the opposition of aristocracy intimidated Earth, he would not have worked the reporter's trade in Canterlot, a city absolutely stuffed with them. The habitual opposition of the two groups had sharpened a kind of brazen class consciousness in the journalist, making him just as defiantly proud of not being a member of the respectable classes as many a noble was of being part of the respectable!

Of course, given what he'd seen of Frostlace, she was by no means as haughty as the usual lot of stuffed shirts that he normally had to deal with. Earth Writer guessed she would respond well to a little Bohemian wit and banter. "You know that's not how it works; you don't get to choose whether or not a thing gets published, only if it gets published in the honorable papers." He finished with a wink and a grin, turning back to Snowfall.

"You better believe it! We'll be chuffed to get the scoop on them, for sure. But I will ask permission for any tastefully flattering pictures of your fiancee. After all, if you're going to live in public, why not have the public love you?" He laughed, finishing his notes and folding his notebook once again. "Not as much as you love each other, naturally, but it never hurts."

The unicorn took a deep breath. Whatever effect it would have on the ponies back home, he himself was already in much better spirits. He turned to Ice and Sunrise, addressing the whole company with his next words. "Thanks everypony. I don't mind telling you I'd been in a blue funk all evening. Talking with you all, though, I actually feel ready to get back to the rest of the party, and hit the dance floor, even. Feel like coming?"

[Dio]

“I go now to where stronger drinks are. All is being carried by on trays is champagne and frou frou drinks, and only frou frou drink I care for is HW own ice wine! Congratulations again, dear Snowfall, I am happiest of happy for you today! Now I must answer Alistair’s shameless flirting, da?”

​
“Said the pot to the kettle,” Alistair snickered.

Alistair would loved to have stayed and chatted. He recalled many an evening spent in front of a roaring fire, a pipe to his beak, a stein of ale in one claw, and a hand of cards in the other while on shore leave. Contrary to popular belief, the military gave him plenty of downtime between patrols to socialize. Spinning yarns over drinks was second nature to the griffon.

That said, Frostlace presented a pretty convincing argument to depart from their present company. Drinks sounded like an excellent proposition. Drinks with a fine mare like Frostlace, even better. Thus, Alistair made bid his adieus.

“Ms. Snowfall,” he said to the pegasus with a slight bow, “a pleasure to meet you and congratulations again on your engagement!”

“Fillies and gentlecolts, it has been an honor. Have yourselves the best of evenings.” He turned to the others and gave an informal salute of acknowledgement.

“Now if you’ll excuse me...” Alistair paused for effect before stepping off, meeting Frostlace’s mischievous countenance with a wink and a grin. “Duty calls!”

[ Alistair and Frostlace exit ]

[Elderflower]

Pulsing under the conversation on the balcony was the constant, gentle rhythm of the waltzes the band played below. It was highly muffled but very present, so when the music drew to an early close it left a curious emptiness to the atmosphere. Those curious drew to the doorways that would bring them back inside, where they could see an empty stage. But it wasn’t empty for long, as a caribou cow in a white shawl stepped upwards, onto the stage. It would be hard to hear her clearly from so far away, tempting many to join the ponies in the banquet space or on the dance floor.

From the balcony, however, once the faint speech of the cow drew to a close, the rhythm of a drum and a song could be heard. The words were those native to the Whitescar, and the singing switched between a reaching melody and the guttural boom of throat singing. The caribou seemed to glow with the ethereal light of the aurora as she performed, and when she finished she made a silent exit from the stage. Whatever had happened, there would certainly be ponies buzzing about it downstairs soon enough!

​

[IceStorm]

A soft smile and a gentle blush was the only thing that could be seen on Ice's face as the conversations progressed. She listened as the griffon names Alistar sport to her, tellhing her that she flattered him. that what he had done was all in a day's line of work for him. Ice Storm could relate to the feeling actually as Frost made a small rose made of ice and placed it in her mane. She told her that she was being too modest, and a bit too thoughtless about her own well-being and wanted her to promise that she would take better care of herself if she was in a situation like this again. "I will try, but I make no promises. I just hope that we won't have to be in a position like this again for a long while, preferably not at all," she said with a smile before she and the griffon made their final comments and started to make their way downstairs. She made a mental note to go to Stalliongrad at some point so that she could spend some time with her and try to get to know her icy new friend a bit more.

That said, she began to turn to the mare that had introduced herself as Snowfall and couldn't help but giggle a bit as she commented on how there was Snow, Frost, and Ice all in the same spot. "Well, you know what they say, we ice types just love to accumulate," she giggled keeping the icy puns going. She listened as Snow identified that she was a mare of business and that while she wasn't in Ponyville or Canterlot often, she would love to try one of her treats one day. If she had any ice magic left to spare, she'd let her try one of her treats now, but she felt that if she tried anything ice related at the moment, she was going to pass out. Just the thought of it made her a bit tired. When she added that her fiancee made it quite a habit of seeking out danger though, she couldn't guarantee that they wouldn't be in circumstances like this again. "Well, I at least hope that through whatever endeavors that you and your fiancee partake on in the future, that they end with the both of you safe, sound, and preferably in one piece," she smiled as the reporter began speaking again.

She listened as she heard him start talking to Snowfall and began painting the wedding in a positive light, and throwing around different ideas and such of making the public love them since she was used to being in the public eye to begin with. It seemed a bit brash to Ice Storm, but on the flip side, at least everything that he was talking about was positive. the way he was building up the event it would be the perfect counter to this entire mess to begin with. He then spoke of being in much better mood now that he had a chance to talk with everypony and Sunrise seemed to be decently happy as well. This party was definitely doing what it was meant to do. Lift the spirits of those whom have been affected from the catastrophic mind-scarring mess that had just occurred days prior. She looked back out briefly to the spire. She knew that the spire wasn't the only place that was attacked, but it was the one thing that she was going to remember from this place. She used a bit more of her magic to levitate another glass of wine over and down it. "Normally, I would probably take you up on that offer to dance, but it's hard to just walk any long distances without agitating the injury to my side. That said," she said hearing the music coming down from the floor beneath them sound a bit heavy to her liking. "I'm in kind of a mood to just sit up here and watch the stars for a bit. I do wish we had a few chairs to sit on though," she said softly.

Her attention turned to Sunrise once more though as she mentioned that she was a designer. Or at least she told Snowfall if she needed any help with dresses or ensembles that she would be honored to help with them. Ice took a moment to think to herself. She knew that the dress that she had was one of Rarity's designs and to get that dress replaced, she'd need to go to see Rarity and ask her to remake it. Of course, that doesn't mean that she couldn't have Sunrise design her an entirely new dress. "You make dresses? I'll most definitely have to come pay you a visit now so I can take a look at some of your works, and get measurements for future orders," she said to her friend with a smile. "Once all this has settled down, when would be a good time?" she asked.

[PyroBlaze]

Sunrise smiled gently to Alistair and Frost as they departed the scene, giving them a friendly wave goodbye. It was always nice to meet others as nice as them. After they had departed, she looked over to Snowfall, smiling at the mare's words.

"Yes, I am indeed a designer. I work in Manehatten if you wish to see some examples of my work. I would show you the one I brought to the event, but it is not with me currently, and it is dreadfully dusty. So sorry." Sunrise said to the mare before turning to the reporter as he offered a dance to anyone in the group. Ice declined the offer, saying her wound would not allow her to really dance at all. There was a strange music coming from down on the dance floor. It wasn't bad, just not quite what she was used to hearing. She gave a small hum as she listened to the tune, looking at Earth before she responded.

"I would love to dance, sir, but I am afraid I must unfortunately decline. Ice needs some company, after all." She said, casting a small smile to her friend. "Unless of course you would prefer to be alone." She added, directing the last part to Ice.

"As for when you can stop by, Ice, I would say anytime. I'm sure if you ask for me, they would point you in the right direction, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I take a bit of a break for my friends." She said, giving the icy mare a friendly smile.

[Elderflower]

Once the stage is cleared the band makes its way back to get their instruments set up. There are a few new Equestrian faces to replace many of the crystal ponies and their energy has picked up. A stallion plucking a contrabass gets things started, the tempo upbeat and bumping. The music is modern, the rhythm infectious, and the mood is quickly becoming electric. It would be hard to resist the call of the dance floor now. Even up on the balcony the music can be heard rather clearly, as the band begins playing harder and faster and their good cheer spills out into the sound.

​

[RarityDash]

"You know that's not how it works; you don't get to choose whether or not a thing gets published, only if it gets published in the honorable papers. You better believe it! We'll be chuffed to get the scoop on them, for sure. But I will ask permission for any tastefully flattering pictures of your fiancee. After all, if you're going to live in public, why not have the public love you? Not as much as you love each other, naturally, but it never hurts."

Snowfall giggled at the words and nodded. This reporter was quite charming. Most reporters she had met were abrasive and invasive sorts who only got on her nerve as they dug for dirt, but this young fellow had a certain wit to him.

"Yes, I do believe I would be glad to see your Canterlot Chronicle break this story, Mr. Earth Writer," Snowfall said, giving a small nod. From a small black bag hidden in her dress, she then retrieved a fine looking wallet, which she opened. "As for a picture of her, I've always been rather fond of this one."

Snowfall kept a few pictures of Pathfinder on her. Most were of the mare in her most natural appearance, appearing just as Daring Do did, in her vest and pith helmet. This was fine, and was certainly how Pathfinder was most comfortable.. but in terms of being presentable, it likely wasn't ideal. Putting in the papers a picture of what at first glance was a pop culture icon would just cause confusion and concern. Instead, Snowfall found a picture of Pathfinder, still painted in the familiar Daring Do colors, but dressed in a pleasing dark green gown Snow had selected for her, hair combed nicely straight, no pith helmets in sight. Snow was in the picture as well, which had been taken at a party thwon at NSI headquarters, and was wearing a black gown not dissimilar to what she was presently wearing. She had a foreleg over Pathfinder, who despite some discomfort for the situation was smiling as she looked toward the camera.

"Do you think it would do?" she asked as she moved it toward the young reporter.

​

“Ms. Snowfall, a pleasure to meet you and congratulations again on your engagement!”

"Thank you very kindly sir," Snow said to the departing griffon as he wandered off with Frostlace, surely about to have a fulfilling evening if the stories were to be believed. "It was a pleasure to meet another associated with your fine company."

​

"Well, you know what they say, we ice types just love to accumulate, Well, I at least hope that through whatever endeavors that you and your fiancee partake on in the future, that they end with the both of you safe, sound, and preferably in one piece,"

Snow giggled politely at the joke and then nodded at the kind words. "Why thank you, Ms. Storm," she said with a smile. "i certainly hope we can as well."

"Though truth be told..." she began with some heaviness. "It isn't my own safety or hers with which my mind seems to stay..." Snowfall gave a heavy sigh before glancing downward. "I wasn't involved as you and Frost were, but the things that I am hearing, the things that I bore witness to... it's enough to bring pause. Is this the direction the world is moving in, and if so, I wonder what there is that can be done... "

She shook her head slowly then before slowly shutting her eyes. "In truth, I'm not sure it's just Pathfinder who has recklessness in her heart. I feel a want to do something more..."

Snowfall opened her eyes and gave a brief chuckle. "Excuse me. I fear I simply have a lot on my mind in the wake of what happened. I didn't mean to prattle on like that."

​

"Yes, I am indeed a designer. I work in Manehatten if you wish to see some examples of my work. I would show you the one I brought to the event, but it is not with me currently, and it is dreadfully dusty. So sorry."

Talk of dresses had Snow realize again that she should be in better spirits. She was getting married. That was a big thing. She needed to be happy.

"Well, considering all you did during all of this and all you went through here, Ms. Sunrise, I think I would be very much interested in making a special trip to Manehattan to see if your work suits my needs," she said with a smile. "If I find them satisfactory, perhaps you'll be selling two weddings dresses in the very near future."

​

[Blueblood]

"Yes, I do believe I would be glad to see your Canterlot Chronicle break this story, Mr. Earth Writer," Snowfall said, giving a small nod. From a small black bag hidden in her dress, she then retrieved a fine looking wallet, which she opened. "As for a picture of her, I've always been rather fond of this one."

"Do you think it would do?" she asked as she moved it toward the young reporter.

​

"Alright, let's take a look..." Earth Writer had developed a pretty good eye for photos over time, partly due to his profession, but partly also because his own special somepony back at home was an amateur photographer herself. It looked alright, not exactly a candid photo, and Pathfinder didn't look the most comfortable, but as a couple's picture for a mare well-known in society, the reporter had seen worse.

"I think that'll do nicely. Thank you, Miss Snowfall." With a smile, he carefully tucked the picture in between the pages of his notebook. "And if she's ever available, I'd like to meet the mare herself. Don't know if she's the type to give interviews, but that's secondary. It'd just help me to not misrepresent her, you know?" The journalist had long ago learned that if you wanted to actually get information, it was best to be polite, or at least personally appealing. Some ponies liked a little jabbing wit, but unless the subject was being outright rude, one shouldn't behave like a boor to them.

"Normally, I would probably take you up on that offer to dance, but it's hard to just walk any long distances without agitating the injury to my side. That said," she said hearing the music coming down from the floor beneath them sound a bit heavy to her liking. "I'm in kind of a mood to just sit up here and watch the stars for a bit. I do wish we had a few chairs to sit on though," she said softly.

"I would love to dance, sir, but I am afraid I must unfortunately decline. Ice needs some company, after all." She said, casting a small smile to her friend. "Unless of course you would prefer to be alone." She added, directing the last part to Ice.

The unicorn shrugged. "Fair enough. I can see why you might prefer to sit out, it is kind of nice out here." As the sounds below began to shift towards the more unusual, however, Earth Writer knew his place was now elsewhere. "As for me, I want to know what's going on down there. Sounds to me as if something pretty special is happening." He tipped his hat to the remaining mares on the balcony. "So long, until we meet again!"

And with that, he trotted downstairs to the Dance Floor.

(Exit Earth Writer)

[IceStorm]

With a gentle nod and the mentioning that  he understood their situation, the reporter started making his way down towards the dance floor. There was definitely some sort of strange music coming from below them and if it got any louder it could indeed make relaxing up here like she planned a bit difficult. It wasn't that she wasn't enjoying the sound but the percussive soundwaves from the music made themselves known as well as the motions of the ponies underneath them. She did manage to hear Sunrise tell her that she would be able to visit her boutique anytime. That she was sure that they wouldn't mind her taking a break for friends. She nodded. "Alright then. I will make note of that and I will be there as soon as everything heals up a bit and everything goes back to as normal as it can after this. Although you'll have to show me some sights while were there, as I don't really get away from Ponyville or Canterlot too often anymore. This was supposed to be somewhat of a vacation for me. Not to mention I was supposed to have a stall in the faire after the meet and greet. That's not really an option now," she told her.

 

Ice listened as well as Sunrise also declined the dance with the writer. She told him that she didn't want to leave her new friend up here all by herself, that was unless she wanted to be by herself. Ice Shook her head. "After everything that's happened the last few days and spending the last two alone in the hospital here, some company would indeed be nice. I'm sure there's a lot that we could talk about and get to know each other from a bit more." she added to Sunrise as Snowfall began to speak.

 

She spoke that it wasn't really her own safety, or the safety of her fiancee that concerned her. She said that while she wasn't as involved with everything that happened that everypony else here was. The things that she had heard and the things that she had witnessed was more than enough to bring her pause. That she wondered if this was the direction that the world was heading towards and if there was anything that could be done to help prevent it. That she wanted to do something more than just watch.

 

"It is rather nerve wracking. Far more so when one sees everything first hoof. I don't know much about the organization that we are dealing with, but I do know that they need to be stopped. This organization was somehow able to turn the royal guards against the princesses. I don't know if they are going to be able to do such a thing again, but it's something that we as ponies need to be prepared for because without the guards... in situations like what happened in the spire, we become the last lines of defense for the princesses. I would rather it not come to such drastic measures again, but if it ever came to the point where I was in the same situation in the future, I would not do anything differently than I did. I don't think anypony else would have either. But alas, this isn't the time for such negative thoughts. It is hard to think about much of anything else at the moment, but hey, you have a wedding coming up. I just hope that this doesn't put a damper on my new job with Princess Luna. I'm supposed to be getting hired on as one of her stewardesses soon. Although I still have no idea what's expected of me in the role. I've had no contact with Luna since she offered me the position. I'm sure that especially with recent events she's been extremely busy," she told Snowfall. She began to wonder now about everything. Was there something that could be done to prevent these types of disasters in the future? She at least was hoping so.