Summer Winds raised an eyebrow, “It’s just Summer Winds, or Hoplite Winds. And sorry, no cake. It would’ve been eaten by now anyway, with whiskey drizzled over it.” She pulled out another flask, “I’ve got plenty of the latter though, your sister seems to like it… a lot.”

Armifera chose that time to materialize next to the pair and telekinetically pluck the flash from Summer Wind’s grip, draining it in a few gulps. Scrunching her eyes shut for a moment as the burning liquid washed down her throat, Armifera grinned in satisfaction. 

“Ahh, you Stormwing pegasi know how to make that shutff niice.” She chortled, “S’s’good as whatever those Nhorse ponies make ifIdosaysomyself!” 

Summer Winds cast her eyes up to the heavens in exasperation, whispering to Sweeper, “The things immortal beings get up to.” before turning to Armifera, “Just how much have you drunk today?”

Armifera snickered, “A lot. Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots.” She sang, as she levitated another flask out of a pouch of her own, downing it slower and savoring the taste.

“Ye’ wanted to know how Summer here and I met?” She asked Sweeper.

“Well, it was a [i]fateful encounter[/i]. There I went! Soaring through the atmosphere! And then I hit the ground. And then Winds and her platoon arrived a short while later to see what the strange falling star was!” She took a breath, taking another swig of whiskey. “Good stuff, did I mention that? Anyway-”

“She dragged me into a crater. And then drank me under the table later. And did it again. And again.” Summer interjected.

“Exactly!” Armifera concurred, “Battle-drinking-buddies! The best kind!” She passed the flask to Summer, who accepted it. Though the look on her face suggested that this time it was a different reason than drinking contests, “Why are you even drinking all the whiskey right now anyway?” 

“Seemed like a good idea at the time.”
_________

Steel Storm watched the scene on the lake unfold with wide eyes, and then with growing concern and horror at the abominations in the lake. She didn’t know much about the Cult of Laughter, but something about them, and the one in the jester hat speaking to the alicorn, unnerved her. 

With a start, she saw Comet Trail moving behind his boulder, it almost looked like he was going to… “The idiot!” She hissed to herself, “Don’t do it, don’t do it, don- [i]shit[/i]!” She swore, as her boneheaded partner rushed shouting out from behind the boulder at the gaggle of macabre monstrosities. Storm was smart enough not to go after him.

She averted her gaze, not wanting to see what happened next, and to her surprise saw two other ponies near the lake, seemingly ignored by the cultists. [i]I have to get them out of here![/i] She thought, [i]Get them to safety and get reinforcements![/i]

She lunged to the tree next to her, breaking into a swift combination of low flying and launching herself across tree branches. Within a short time she was near the ponies she’d seen, though Storm didn’t take notice of whatever it was they were doing. 

Dropping down from the tree with a clank, she urgently called to them, “Hurry! I need to get you out of here! If you can’t tell there’s an alicorn and cultists about to destroy Old Ponyville even more, come on!”