TMMDW #2: Act I

The Mysterious Mare Do Well #2: The Truth of the Matter

Act I: "The Truth"

***

It was like stepping into a different world when I left Manehatten. I was used to ponies being constantly suspicious and on the verge of a fit of rage. It was strange to see ponies so happy and care free like the Pies were. They worked their mineral farm and they lived happy productive lives. In the city you worked a job like the Barrister at a Starbucks or a Diner waitress and you just muddled through life.

I learned that even if you have noting left, these ponies out here want to help...

***

Amber Lights stepped through the old roadside gate with Clyde and the rest of the family seeing her off. Clyde gave her a warm smile and stepped forward, extending a hoof.

"Don't be a stranger now," He said as Amber took his hoof in hers. "And be sure to tell dear Pinkamena that we miss her, and look forward to her visits very much."

The sisters took up positions to his side. Inkamena, to the left spoke first.

"Also, be sure to attend one of her super awesome parties while you're there," She said, her grin widening as she thought about the celebrations her sister could throw. Her sister stepped forward and continued.

"Yeah! You won't regret it!"

Both sisters leaped forward and wrapped Amber in a breath stealing hug that they only broke when she began wheeze, tapping them emphatically on the shoulders. With ther release, Amber fell to her hooves, gasping for air.

Lilly Pie was the last to say her fare well. They hadn't spoken much but there was a kindness between them. "Be safe dear, and try not to starve yourself again," She said, inclining her head towards Amber. She turned and lifted a saddlebag from the ground behind her and laid it on Amber's back. "Clyde thought it would be a good idea to send you off with some decent supplies so I packed this bag with food and water enough to take you to Ponyville at the least."

"Thank you Lilly," Amber said, hugging the older mare. "Thank you everypony. I honestly didn't expect this much Hospitality after all I've been through. I still can't tell you everything, but I can at least give you my real name. My real name is Amber Lights."

Blinkamena piped up before anyone else could react.

"Oh, what a pretty name!"

"Yeah!" Inkamena said, agreeing with her sister. "Why would you want to hide such a nice name?"

Blinkamena let loose a gasp like a bellows. "Maybe she's a spy! Out searching for some mysterious pony with some sensitive government secrets!"

"Oh, OH! Maybe... She's a mercenary pony! Whoever she's looking for must be her mark!"

Amber just laughed. "You two must read the Half-bit Funnies," She joked, but got gasps from the sisters and a chorused 'How did you know!' and a singular 'See! A spy! What did I tell you?'

"Now girls, that's enough," Lilly intoned. Turning back to Amber, she smiled. "I do hope you find what you're looking for Miss. Lights," She said, ushering the girls back towards the house.

Clyde remained for a moment, considering Amber with a serious face. "I can read ponies. I told you that already, so believe me when I say, you're going to do great things Miss. Lights."

"Hopefully I'll get the chance. Thank you Clyde. And next time, just call me Amber?"

"Sure thing. Be safe now, and don't forget yourself wherever you end up."

Amber smiled and shook Clyde's hoof once again. As the two parted ways, she gave a smirk.

"Count on it."

The old country roads were deserted this early in the morning. Amber considered herself lucky, even considering the circumstances. She would never in a million years have met such nice ponies in Manehatten. They were willing to help and expected nothing in return.

She trudged on, taking the miles at a brisk trot. Her legs burned but it was a familiar feeling, harking back to her days and nights spent pounding the cobbles of Manehatten. It was a feeling she could relate to, and appreciate. It helped her mind work the tough problems but today, the only problem was finding Mare Do Well, and that required only one thing. The Third Pie Sister, Pinkamena Pie. Such being the case, her mind was allowed to wander over the less consequential thoughts that plagued her.

Stone Shifter, for all his deceit had gone quite a way towards redeeming himself in her eyes. If Ruby Tooth ever found out that he had let her go, there's not telling what horrors that beast would inflict on him, which was why she couldn't do anything herself to try to thwart the gem toothed Diamond Dog. She was banking her freedom and the freedom of one of her closest friends on the willingness of a superhero to be found, and to help a stranger that's not even from her town. It was a long shot and Amber knew it.

She was snapped from her reverie by the sound of cart wheels behind her. Turning, she spied a cart laden with large bulging burlap bags being pulled by an emerald green Earth Pony with a short scruffy brown mane.

"Howdy!" He called. "Headed my way?"

"Ponyville?" Amber questioned as the Farm pony pulled even.

"Sure as my name's Emerald Sand!" The pony replied, thumping his chest, obviously exceedingly proud of his title. "Need a lift?"

"Sure!" Amber said, gratefully climbing onto the seat of the cart. "I really appreciate this Mr. Sand."

"Think nothing of it," He said, pulling the cart into motion again. "And please, Call me Emerald. Mr. Sand is my father!"

Amber laughed, at the lighthearted joke. "Well then Emerald, Thanks. My Name's Ambrosia by they way. Ambrosia Stars."

"Mighty fine name ya got! So, Ambrosia, You don't mind if I call you Ambrosia? What's takin you to Ponyville this time o' year?"

"I'm actually looking for somepony," Amber said, scanning the horizon for any indications of how long she'd been traveling.

"Oh! How interestin! Let me guess! Visitin distant Family? No, that ain't it... Uh... Oh! Seekin a lost love! Yeah, that's more the ticket! Just like one of those old novels mah wife reads!"

"No, it's nothing like that," Amber said with a chuckle. "I just have some unfinished business that this pony may be well equipped to help me deal with."

"Oh, well that's still intriguing, but it sounds personal so I'll not pry any further..."

The two companions continued to chat as the day wore on. When Emerald became tired, Amber offered to pull the cart and let him rest up which he steadfastly refused siting, "A gentlecolt never let's a lady exert herself if it can be helped," to which she stated simply, "it can't be helped," and stepped into the harness. Still moonbent on being chivalrous, Emerald walked alongside the cart instead of riding in it and resting like Amber had intended.

The latter-day sun was shining bright but the chill winds that cut over the fields countered it's warmth at every turn. They reached the crossroads around nightfall and the winds were picking up steam along the road. The signage that directed travelers was pristine. This was one of her highness, Princess Celestia's Grand Highways. They were a network of roads that connected every major city with Canterlot. Celestia had once been quoted as saying 'they say, "All roads lead to Canterlot", well I've decided to make it true.' Amber chuckled at the strange memory as Emerald pulled a tent from his wagon and pitched it on the wayland.

"I wasn't expecting any company so I only brought the one tent," Emerald said, by way of apology. "We could share, or I could bundle up with the spuds."

Had this been Manehatten, Amber would have sent him to sleep with the tubers without a second thought, but this wasn't Manehatten was it? This was a rural stretch between Canterlot and Appleoosa. She looked at the Colt, who was industriously driving stakes into the loam with a hoof. She didn't feel any hostility or ill will, and as a cop, she was used to spending hours on end in cramped quarters with members of the opposite sex. Stakeouts were no pick-nick in the park.

"Don't worry about it," She said. "We can share the tent. Just keep your hooves to yourself and I won't have to buck your block off," She said jokingly, but she could tell Emerald spotted that little hit of truth to her words.

They both clambered into the tent and wrapped themselves in the thick woolen blankets that Emerald had brought. The tent was small but there was just enough room for them to lay curled up, back to back. Amber allowed herself to relax when she heard Emerald's soft snoring and she drifted off to sleep.

Morning came quickly, but Amber was thankful for that. She didn't wish to waste any more time in finding Mare Do Well. Outside in the pale predawn light, her breath hung in the air and the grass crunched loudly under her hooves, enthralled as it was in the early winter frosts. In the new light, Amber spotted a dark foreboding treeline in the distance that was previously hidden by the night. The Everfree, it was called. An unnatural place where pony magic had little sway. The thought sent a shiver up her spine.

Emerald was collapsing the tent when Amber turned around again. Smiling up at her, he tossed a bread roll to her from a pack at her feet, which she ate readily.

"Mite bit cold this morning," he said, as the tent fell to the ground and he began to roll it. "Might keep the blankets out till it warms a bit, ya think?"

Amber nodded, and finished her roll. "How far till Ponyville?" she asked, looking down the path.

"About another three or four hours. We'll be there in time for market. Thinkin about it, that'll probably be your best time to be lookin for anypony."

Amber smiled at the green pony and helped him to secure the tent. With all the supplies stowed again, Emerald began pulling and Amber walked alongside him. They continued their banter and that really helped to speed time along. Before she knew it, the duo crested a hill and there laying in the pit of a valley was Ponyville. It wasn't overly large but it was a trade hub for the area so on market day it held enough ponies to be a small city.

They entered the town and went their separate ways. Amber was sad at the thought that she may never see the amiable green stallion again but she just squared her shoulders and moved on. Her first stop, Sugar Cube Corner. The sisters had said that Pinkie was a Confectioner there and lived in the loft above the store.

Despite the fact that she had never been to Ponyville before, and only knew of it's existence because of the media coverage of Mare Do Well, she found Sugar Cube Corner almost as soon as she started looking. There before her was a large two story store decorated to look like a massive gingerbread house with a cupcake on top. It this wasn't the place, she was a gryphon.

The door gave a merry ring as she stepped through and almost immediately, she was assaulted by the aroma of baked goods, chocolate and for some reason that she decided didn't bare thinking about, hot sauce. As the chime sounded again with the closing door, a pink pony with poofy bubblegum hair came bounding from the back room and took up a position behind the sales counter.

"Welcome to Sugar Cube Corner!" She Chirped, beaming like her dream stallion had just proposed to her. "How can I help you?"

"Are you Pinkie Pie?" Amber asked, already sure of the answer.

"Yup! Sure am!" Pinkie replied, her grin somehow widening to an alarming degree. "Do I know you? I don't think so... I know everypony in Ponyville and I don't know you, so that means you must be new, and if you're new that means," There was a pause, and then a gasp like a bellows... she was definitely one of the Pie sisters. No question. "THIS CALLS FOR A PARTY!"

"What? No! Pinkie Pie!" Amber all but shouted trying to derail the rambling pink pony before she started tacking up streamers. "My name's Ambrosia. Your father, Clyde sent a letter about me?"

"OOOHHH! Okie Dokie Lokie," She said, pausing mid bounce and drifting to the floor.

Amber stared for a second before shaking her head and pressing on. "The sisters said you could help me find somepony," she stated, trying to keep the whole situation from degrading as it seemed was it's wont to do. "But you can't tell a soul about me."

Pinkie nodded vigorously, but Amber wasn't about to take the eccentric pony at her word so easily.

"Pinkie Pie, promise me you won't tell anypony about what we talk about today."

"Cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-fly, stick-a-cupcake-in-my-eye!" Pinkie Pie ticked off, performing hoof motions for each part, ending with jabbing her hoof into her eye. Amber was totally dumbfounded.

"Pinkie Pie... What... was that?" She finally managed to ask, almost afraid of what the answer might be.

"Well that was a Pinkie Pie Promise! Duh!"

"A what?"

"A Pinkie Pie Promise! You said, 'Pinkie Pie Promise me,' so I did!" Pinkie was sitting on her haunches looking at the increasingly confused look on Amber's face.

Amber put a hoof to her temple and rubbed in small circles. She decided that for the sake of her sanity, she would just accept this pony's strange ways and move on. It was for the best.

"Okay, so, I'm looking for Mare Do Well. Your Sisters, Inkamena and Blinkamena said that you were to go-to pony for finding ponies in Ponyville," Amber said, looking up at Pinkie, who for her part had remained quiet while Amber spoke.

"Why do you need to find Mare Do Well?" She asked, looking genuinely interested in what Amber had to say.

"Okay, what I'm about to tell you, cannot leave this bakery. Remember, your promise thingy," amber said, looking Pinkie Square in the eye.

"I won't tell a soul. I made you a promise, and breaking a friends trust is the fastest way to lose a friend... for-EV-er!"

Amber just shook her head. With only a brief hesitation, Amber recounted the events that led to her decision to seek out Mare Do Well. Pinkie listened in rapt silence, nodding occasionally. When Amber finished, she remained quiet. Waiting for a response, Amber just looked at her. When it became clear that she wasn't going to say anything, Amber spoke.

"So Pinkie," she said, eying the mare hopefully. "Can you help me find Mare Do Well?"

Pinkie glanced down at the floor guiltily. "I'm sorry Amber," she said, the usual pep gone from her voice, now replaced with genuine remorse. "I can't help you, even though I really really really really want to. I promised. All I can tell you is that If you want to find Mare Do Well, you need to find Dashie. She's the only one who can help you with this."

Amber deflated a bit at the Pink Pony's words but she understood. Pinkie Pie was loyal to her friends, and Amber could respect that. She thought for a second before she spoke again.

"Thanks Pinkie, I understand. So since you can't help me find Mare Do Well, can you help me find Dashie?" Amber thought the name was a bit odd, but for all she knew, Dashie was a zebra or something.

"Oh! Yeah!" Pinkie immediately perked back up and began hopping in a tight circle around Amber. "But I can't right now, I've gotta watch the shop for the Cakes! Oh! I know, meet me at the library, it's the big tree right over there!" She said, pointing out the window across the town plaza. Sure enough, there on the far side was a large oak tree with it's leaves still lush and green despite the season. Windows and balconies jutted from it's sides and there was a door at it's base. "I'm off in three hours, so just hold tight, and your Auntie Pinkie Pie will take care of the rest!"

"We're not related..." Amber said before she could catch herself. "Anyway, I'll see you then, Later!"

"Bye Bye!"

Amber left the bakery fairly excited by the events of the day thus far. If this Dashie would be able to help her find Mare Do Well then she could finally be able to get the help she so desperately desired. She hoped Mare Do Well would be willing to see her let alone help her. She walked over to the library and nosed the door open. The inside was a large open room with shelves lining the walls covered in books.

Standing off to the side, a lavender unicorn was reordering books along a shelf. She was humming tunelessly to herself and didn't seem to notice the door opening behind her.

"Uh, Hello?" Amber called. The Unicorn gave a squeak of fright and dropped several books to the floor, as she turned to face the door.

"Oh, uh, Hi! Welcome to the Ponyville Library," The unicorn said, using her magic to lift the fallen books and stack them on a table. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, I'm the Librarian. If you need any help please don't hesitate to ask me or my assistant Spike. And before you meet him, you should know, Spike's a baby dragon so don't be alarmed when you see him."

As if on cue, a door near the staircase swung outward and a stack of books rose out, apparently supported by a pare of stumpy purple legs. The Books dropped to the floor and what could only be Spike, stepped around the stack.

"That's the last of them, Twilight. Can  I take a break now? My arms are killing me," the Dragon bemoaned, stretching his arms in front of him.

"Sure, just make sure our guest here doesn't need anything first," Twilight said, returning to her sorting.

Spike approached Amber with a smile. "Can I help you find anything Miss?" he said, motioning to the library at large.

Amber thought for a moment before an Idea popped into her head. If she was going to be waiting for three hours, she may as well entertain herself in the meantime.

"Yeah, can you take me to your Periodical Archives?" She asked. Spike promptly motioned for her to follow him and he led her up the stairs and around the perimeter of the main room until they came to shelves with cabinets built into the bottoms. He opened one and pulled out a drawer. Inside, marked and dated were old magazines, newspapers and various other periodical publications. Going back a few years, Amber let out a bark of triumphant laughter as she pulled a slim paper book from the drawer. The cover was old and faded but it read clearly at the top 'Half-Bit Funnies' and images of various characters were printed beneath that header.

"What's that?" Spike asked, looking at the old comic book curiously. "I've never even seen those around here before."

"I grew up on these comics," Amber explained, opening the issue to a random page and setting it on the table. The pictures were all hoof drawn cartoons. One such caught Spike's attention. A muscular stallion with a costume the colors of the Equestia flag and a shield with the royal insignia emblazoned across was in pitched battle with a legion of Gryphons bearing strange weapons that were shown casting little stones that would ricochet off of the Stallion's shield.

"Who's that?"

Amber smiled down at the young dragon. "That's Captain Equestria, a magically enhanced super-soldier developed during the Gryphon Wars to battle alongside our troops. These comics are  based off of him, and they're so much fun to read. He was a real hero. One of my Idols."

"Woah," Spike looked overawed. He hurried to the archives and pulled another issue of Half-Bit Funnies and turned to the Captain Equestria story. They sat in silence for about an hour when Twilight called spike back to work. Not fifteen minutes later, the door banged open and a brash voice echoed through the library.

"Heya, Egghead, How's it goin?" the voice inquired. Twilight sighed and looked pointedly out the door at the speaker.

"Hi, Dash. What brings you to the Library?" She asked, motioning for the speaker to enter and shutting the door behind her when she did. The speaker was a pegasus with a cyan blue coat and an outrageous rainbow mane and tail.

"I was just at Sugar Cube Corner, and Pinkie Pie told me some pony came in lookin for me. Said they're waiting here. You know who she's talking about?"

       so 'Dashie' was a nickname, she thought as she watched the pegasus talk with the librarian.

"The only pony here is up there," Twilight said, pointing towards Amber. Rainbow Dash turned to look she was directed. "You can see if she's the one." The Cyan Pegasus took to the air and was in front of Amber in a flash.

"Name's Rainbow Dash, Fastest flier in Equestria and future member of the Wonderbolts!" The tomcoltish mare proclaimed with an arrogant smirk, thrusting a hoof forward which Amber shook politely.

"Ambrosia Stars," She said, with a smile. "A pleasure to meet you Rainbow Dash."

"Likewise," Rainbow said, landing on her hooves with a thud and folding her wings with a flourish. "So, what brings you all the way out to Ponyville to see me? I mean besides the obvious. I am pretty awesome after all."

It was all Amber could do not to facehoof at Rainbow Dash's overly cocky demeanor. She swallowed her snide remarks and cut right to the chase.

"Rainbow Dash, I need your help finding somepony. I was told Pinkie Pie could help but she was unable to. She did tell me that you would likely be the only one who could."

"Well? Who're you trying to find?" Rainbow asked, becoming impatient.

"I'm looking for Mare Do Well," Amber said. Rainbow's eyes betrayed a bit of anger at the mention of the name, but she buried it so quickly that Amber was hardly sure she even saw it.

"Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but Mare Do Well's long gone," Dash said, with a severe look in her eye. "I happen to know she won't be coming back to bother me or anypony else ever again." She looked across the table at Amber, whose face was locked in a shocked expression.

"G-Gone?" Amber repeated dully. "Mare Do Well's... gone?"

"Uh, yeah," Rainbow Dash said, suddenly feeling ashamed of herself and not entirely sure why. Amber just stared down at the table a hoof resting on a page of one of the comics, showing Captain Equestria standing tall and proud, shield held high as a Gryphon war-machine barreled down on him. "Hey... Um... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"How do you know?" Amber asked quietly.

"Know what?"

"How do you know she's gone? She won't be coming back?" Amber said, looking up at Dash, a look of hopelessness washing across her face.

"Let's leave it at 'I have it on good authority'," Rainbow Dash said, rising into the air again.  "I really am sorry," She said before flying somberly towards the door and leaving.

Amber felt all the drive that had kept her going over the last few days leave her. Mare Do Well was gone. She couldn't think of why, but the way the Pegasus spoke was with an air of truth that was hard to shake. She wanted to think that Rainbow Dash had lied to her, but her cop mind was screaming that it was the truth, or at least close enough to it for the courts.

After a time, who knows how long, Amber stood and left the library, ignoring the librarian's questioning gaze.  It was late afternoon and with no real place to go, Amber just wandered the streets. Aimlessly she walked, not really paying any attention to where she was going. Night was approaching when she ambled into a park. She found a soft patch of earth under a tree and settled in. Thinking idly to herself that maybe she would head for Appleoosa. They were always looking for strong able bodied Earth Ponies to work there.

She drifted off to sleep but for how long, she didn't know. She was shook awake by a hoof and when she opened her eyes, she saw Rainbow Dash hanging over her, a serious look on her face.

"Finally found you" She said, pulling Amber to her hooves. "Been looking all evening. C'mon, follow me. I've got something you need to see." She led Amber back towards town, flying slowly ahead so that she could keep up. Amber made a few attempts to ask where they were going but Rainbow either said she'd see when they got there or would ignore her outright.

Most businesses in the area had long since closed up shop for the night so the one building that was still lit was like a beacon in the night. It was a two story building built to look like a carousel. Rainbow went to the door and motioned her through. Inside five other ponies sat and chatted idly amongst themselves. Pinkie Pie was there, as was Twilight. The other she didn't recognize but she did remember seeing the orange earth pony in the stetson when she arrived in town with Emerald. She had been tending an apple cart in the market. The other two, she had never seen before. One was a white unicorn with heavily styled purple hair and the other was a timid looking yellow pegasus with long pink hair.

"Oh good! You found her!" Twilight said, standing to meet Dash and Amber.

"Yeah, she was sleeping by that big tree in the park," Rainbow Dash siad. "Everypony, this is Ambrosia Stars, the pony I told you about."

"Howdy," the behatted earth pony said in a southern accent. "Name's Applejack, Pleased to meet ya!" She said, shaking Amber's hoof rather violently.

"A pleasure dear," said the White unicorn chimed in, shooing Applejack away. "I am Rarity, owner and proprietor of this, the Carrousel Boutique." She made an expansive gesture with a hoof. "and my I say you have a simply wonderful figure. You must come and model some of my designs."

Amber looked to the yellow pegasus who was doing her level best to vanish behind her forelock. After a moment Rarity spoke up. "Please do forgive her," she said, smiling at the pegasus. "Fluttershy is quite shy around new ponies, but once she warms up to you, you'll be hard pressed to find a nicer pony or better friend." Fluttershy blushed and sank further into her mane at the compliment from her friend.

Just then Rainbow Dash spoke up again, catching the room's attention.

"Now listen up everypony. This is kinda important," She cleared her throat and continued. "I know we all agreed to keep quiet about 'you know who' but from what I saw this is all a pretty big deal for Ambrosia and she has a lot riding on it." The others nodded, none more so than Pinkie Pie who had the advantage of knowing the whole story. "So, I think we should tell her. I think we owe her that much."

"Ah don't know Dash," Applejack said. "How do we know she won't go blabbin?"

"We don't AJ, and that's not the issue anyway." Rainbow Dash landed with a thud, and furled her wings. "What we did brought her all the way from where ever she came from lookin for help from somepony that couldn't give it. It's our fault she came all this way."

"Ah recon you're right," she said, "But I still don't like it. We need some insurance. If she goes and tells anypony, the media would come down on us harder than hail on a hen house."

"Oh!" Pinkie shouted suddenly, making eveypony jump. "A secret for a secret?"

Everypony looked at her, and then at Amber, suddenly aware that the pink pony knew quite a bit more about their guest than she was letting on.

Amber's curiosity was burning for her to know what they were talking about. She knew it had to do with Mare Do Well and that this was why Pinkie couldn't help her before, but to give away her secret to so many didn't seem like a good idea. What if one of them talked? What if they didn't believe her and decided to turn her into the authorities? Not only would she more than likely be sent to prison, but Stone Shifter would be found out and who knows what Ruby Tooth would do to him.

But then, what if this was her ticket to finding Mare Do Well. These six obviously were tied deeply in the whole business but how deeply? If Mare Do Well was simply in hiding, maybe she could convince her to return. The thoughts battled it out in her head, until finally she heard herself speak.

"A secret for a secret then," She said, and she told them her story. How she was cast into this situation, and how she hoped for Mare Do Well to help her put a stop to Ruby Tooth. She even told them of her time spent with the Pies and Emerald Sand. She explained her conversation with Pinkie and Rainbow Dash and stopped only when she reached the point where Rainbow had woken her under the tree.

The story had taken several minutes but eveypony had been listening raptly save for Pinkie Pie who had already heard the story before. They all looked between one another, and then to Applejack. Applejack was eying her with deep suspicion, seemingly contemplating her very existence. Finally she spoke.

"I believe her... Don't trust her none, but Ah believe her," She said, matter-of-factly. "Alright RD, we cn' tell her."

Rainbow Dash nodded and turned to Rarity. "You still got 'em Rare?" she asked the alabaster unicorn.

"Of course, if you'll all just follow me, I keep them in the basement." She stood and led the gathered ponies from the main room into the hall and opened a door leading off to the right. The group went down, with Amber taking the rear. Once at the bottom, Rarity moved forward to three tarped figures. With her magic, she removed the cloth coverings.

Amber gasped aloud. There before her were three Mare Do Well costumes. One cut for an Earth Pony, one for a Pegasus and the Third for a Unicorn. They looked like bad movie props.