//------------------------------//
// 1: The Beginning 
// Story: Everwinter 
// by Octaviafan 
//------------------------------//


Chapter One
The Beginning


Zecora looked over the land she had found on the side of the mountain, covered as she was in furs and skins to guard against the driving snow and wind. It was a shelf, several miles wide and very flat, but also covered in snow. In her usual cryptic tone she muttered to herself through frozen lips "I think that it may be alright to make my home on this plain of white."

The mountain was not completely barren. On the contrary, trees grew in abundance on the slopes. It was not as steep as the mountains near Canterlot and Ponyville, but it was every bit as high, if not higher. It had been quite an effort to climb all the way here, and it would afford her the privacy she had hoped to find... For a while, at least.

Having learned the ways of the igloo from the Dogs who inhabited the mountain regions, she began work on a temporary shelter. Using a large-toothed saw, she cut the hardpacked seasonal snow into blocks and began stacking them. It took perhaps an hour, but she was left with a nice little hut from which she could operate until she had constructed a more permanent dwelling. It was late, so she built a small fire, cut a hole in the ceiling of her igloo, and closed the entrance.

Shedding her many layers and her pack, she retrieved her book and read again the account of the project she would try to replicate while here on the ever frozen mountain plain.





Pipsqueak watched as his beautiful snow fort was wiped away by the weather team. "Sorry, sport! All the snow has gotta go!" spouted a young green pegasus with a wild lilac mane. Watching gloomily as his favorite season came to it's untimely demise yet again, Pip made a silent vow that he would someday live in a place where winter lasted forever. Though it was a childish thought, he had no idea that someday, he really would realize his dream.

Pip sighed, and went to see if Fluttershy needed any help with the animals. If there was anything good about the return of spring, it was the return of the animals from their underground dens and warrens. She was out in the meadow, with her head under the roots of a tree. When she emerged, a family of ferrets in tow, he said "Hi, Fluttershy! Need any help today?" 

She started, but then, realizing it was only him, said "Oh, yes! That would be just wonderful. Thank you, Pipsqueak." She gave him a small silver bell and directed him to a series of caves. "If you can't wake them or they don't want to come out, just mark the entrance with an 'X' and I'll come by once I'm done with these others." She indicated the series of tunnels she was working on. "I'll see you in a bit, and thanks again."

He started working on getting the animals up and about, and in what seemed like no time at all, the sun was setting and most all of the animals had been woken from their hibernation. "Good job, Pipsqueak! Who knew you had such a gift for working with animals?" Fluttershy had nothing but praise for the little colt, as waking the animals for Spring was one of the more difficult tasks of the year, and he had done almost as good as she had. "I would love it if you could join me sometime for tea, or maybe even dinner... I mean, if it's alright with you and your parents, that is."

"No problem, Fluttershy! I always liked animals, so I have no problem making friends with them. I don't know what my parents would think about me going to dinner with you. Maybe if they could come along, though, or perhaps if you came to our place for dinner first...?" Pip was unsure what his parents would think of their only son going to dinner alone with a pony they really knew nothing about. He was absolutely certain they would welcome her, though.

"Hmm," thought Fluttershy. "I guess that's doable. Now that I think of it, it makes more sense, too, for me to go over there first. How does tomorrow night sound? The day's almost over now, so I wouldn't want to impose." Pip nodded his head in agreement. "Sounds good! I'll ask my parents and let you know what they say. See ya' later, Fluttershy!" He headed to where his parents were waiting for him, and Fluttershy gave them a shy wave.  They waved back as Pip joined them and then began to trot back towards their home, and Fluttershy turned and started towards her cottage on the outskirts of town.

Pip was considerably more cheerful that night than he was in the morning. Not only had he learned more about Fluttershy and deepened their friendship, but his parents had indeed 'okay-ed' her coming by for dinner the next day. He lay in bed trying to sleep, but the loss of his snowfort still bothered him. The tiny Pinto earth pony tossed and turned, and when sleep finally took him, it was fitful. In his dreams he saw visions of a familiar Zebra mare hacking at evergreen trees, snow still swirling beneath her hooves. Suddenly, she turned to him, and smiled. "It is good to see a familiar face, after living at such a feverish pace."

Pip woke with a start, and immediately slammed his eyes shut again to shield them from the sunlight streaming through his window. His dreams were still fresh in his head. As far as he knew, Zecora had told noone except for Twilight Sparkle of her departure, but the last time he had seen her, she was giving what looked like every book in her cabin to the scholarly unicorn. He had been unsure what seeing that had meant, but after his dream, it made perfect sense. He'd just have to ask the librarian where Zecora had gone.