A viney hoof rose out of the ground in front of Snowy Skies.
"Pledge your allegiance to me."
"I, Snowy Skies, hereby pass my debt to Barometz.* In return for this, I shall bring him whatever he requests, to the best of my ability, whenever he so requests it." As he spoke, he fashioned a quill out of pure magic, invisible to all but him, and as he presses his hoof to the wooden extension of Barometz, the quill sandwiches in between them. He could feel it pulsing, writing in an asterisk and a clarification:
*As transfer of the recipience of a paid debt is not possible without the presence and consent of the current debt recipient, I shall instead pass the debt itself, of 1 equine soul, wrapped in the emotions that feed all conflict, to Barometz, the other party of the agreement.
In his mind, Snowy rose up, off the ground, away from Viola Manor and towards the icy coffin in the sky. Up close, he could see a small rune, where a handle might be on a door of this size, in the shape of his cutie mark. Wordlessly, he pressed his hoof into the coffin, and watched as it opened, flooding him with unholy light.
He couldn't let it control him, nor could he let it enchant him. He fed it into the wooden hoof, into every plant and vine he could find nearby. He poured every last inch of it into Barometz as the pact was sealed.
Spoiler
When it was all gone, all lost, Snowy felt...drained. Oddly light. But he had to get his wits back about him fast. The hard part was over, and the harder part was beginning: Though Barometz couldn't hide from the Windigoes as he had, they wouldn't be here immediately, and he had to survive until then. To that end, he charged at the vines, tearing through them and ignoring the thorns as best he could. "MOONBEAM WRIT, PLEASE HELP ME!"
"No one can help you now little pony! Since you are under my command, I already know what I would like you to do first. I've had time to think since we first met. The fish pony stated that there was one who needed to know about the deal. One called Brisk Iron. I feel it would be best if we met. Whether through verbal or physical means, I command that you bring her to me."
There was a fairly sinister glint in Barometz's eyes as he smirked at Snowy Skies. Suddenly, the temperature in the room dropped. Barometz looked around in confusion until he lurched in pain. Pulling out of the ceiling and floors, he assumed his full form and pulled out a wand that he held in his vines. Snowy Skies could see that the handle was like several vines coiled like a braid while the head of the wand was made of six flower petals that floated disconnected from the handle and spun in a circle. Ferociously lashing at the walls with his vines and waving around the wand to no avail, Barometz began to freeze in place. His grip loosened and the wand fell to the ground as Barometz became frozen like a statue.
"The Keep certainly seems worthy of respect. All of you have such high opinion of Brisk Iron and discoveries bring so much good to Equestria. I've discovered that the Keep effectively owns most of Caballuston but mostly doesn't leverage such power. Fascinating. It's like Brisk Iron is some sort of Princess of Science.
Petrichor Falls has...a reputation. I feel opening up some cooperation will lead to new ventures for my town. With how things have been going the past few years since I've been here, it feels like that would be the grandest plan."
"If I may, I think Brisk garner such respect because she doesn't leverage such power easily. Oh, she won't put up with anypony's crap...but neither does she make a show of her power unless she has too."
"It's part of why I respect her. If she reeeeally wanted to exert control...she probably could. I've only seen a drop in the bucket of what she could do. But she gains the respect of those around her...and therefore...her power base...by not using that power wantonly."
Static pauses...giving Grape Vine a significant look. "I say what I'm about to say because I have no idea what to think of you. But I want to give you every chance of being somepony great...somepony I respect as much as I respect Ms. Iron. So if what I say sounds unpleasant or harsh...it may be something to look into."
With a great sigh, Static continues. "You yourself said it. Petrichor Falls has a reputation. You've made great strides in trying to correct the image and making ponies feel safe. The darker side of the city by all looks seems to have gotten an actual code of honor. I've heard that gamblers have been more...compelled...not to welch on their debts. I've also heard you have personally vowed at making sure any stolen property will get returned. Crime seems to have really been cleaned up...compared to before you were in charge in any case..."
"Problem is...I've lived in some rough places myself in my life. In my experience...crime doesn't disappear. It hides better. It gets more clever to get around the new enforcers...or buy them off."
"Mind...I'm not making accusations...just bringing to your attention certain perceptions I've heard. Like you said...Petrichor Falls does have a reputation...and...fair or not...so does its leaders."
"If you want to beat that reputation..." Static takes another deep breath. "You may want to watch how you say things. Little things...little word choices...'Boss' instead of 'Mayor'...'moths drawn to a flame'. Not to put too fine an edge on it...but I've heard Petrichor Falls' reputation before I came here...and certain word choices have done the reverse of easing my...misgivings."
"You want to have the same power and respect that Ms. Iron has earned...that's where you start. Make those under you know that they're safe giving you that power. Let them know that you are every bit as against crime as you try to show. Give them no reason to doubt you...by what you say...by what you do. Do that...you won't have to fight for power. Pony's will want to give it to you because they trust you." Static's eye's go back to the 'Ode of Extravagant Ocean'. "Where did you get that painting?"
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