//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 "Brace Yourself" // Story: Equestria Noir Case 20 "Red Snow Fall" // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Chapter 2 “Brace Yourself” The first thing I noticed was how cold it was. I blinked open my grey eyes and saw I was standing in a vast snowy area. Mountains dotted the background, but aside from that all I saw was a vast plain of snow and rock. Very little vegetation could be seen anywhere, and there was little cover from the wind as it blew on me. I shook and held my trench coat tighter around me. I was glad that Twilight gave me the scarf. It and my trench coat were the only things keeping me truly warm. I looked over and saw Raiden’s flank sticking out of the snow. I smirked as he struggled trying to get his head out. “Sounds like Voidera’s teleporting skills are a little lacking,” I said with a grin, using my magic to pull on my friends tail until Raiden’s messy maned head came popping out of the snow. “Brrr!” he said, shaking his head so that all the snow came off. “Alright, next adventure, we’re going to Haywaii.” “Two minutes in and you’re already complaining,“ I said, with a roll of my eyes. “Where’s Big Mac?” I felt a rumbling beneath my feet and jumped aside just as Big Mac and Swarm shot up out of the ground. Swarm was in his true form and was wiping his wings. Big Mac shook off some snow as well and said, “We got teleported into a cavern twelve feet below us.” He pointed to Swarm. “He helped dig us out.” Swarm buzzed his wings and then transformed into his typical unicorn form. “I honestly prefer underground, less cold down there,” he said. “Question is, where did Applesnack end up?” I asked. “Over here,” I heard a deep voice answer. I looked over and saw Applesnack was standing a little ways away. He had a pair of binoculars over his eyes. I walked up to him and he hoofed the lenses to me. “Check out that pass over there,” he said. I put them to my eyes and saw a small town not far away from us. I looked down at the inhabitants, they looked ragged and tired and most of the stallions were covered in soot. I found the leading cause, a nearby factory spewing out smoke. “Looks like a coal factory of some sort,” Raiden said, looking over at the factory in question. “Why coal?” I asked, looking at the workers. “They look ragged, tired beyond belief. I wonder why they’re putting so much effort into coal?” “I don’t understand,” Swarm spoke up. “Isn’t coal used to power pony machinery?” “Maybe back when my grandfather was alive,” Raiden answered. “Most ponies nowadays use magic or electricity as their main source of power. Coal is kind of becoming obsolete.” “Maybe in a nation with a lot of races,” Applesnack said, “but Private, look at all of the workers.” I eyed each of the workers that came out. In fact, one thing stood out about every inhabitant in the village. “They’re all earth ponies…” “You sure?” Big Mac said, looking down. “That would explain why they need coal. Even still, t’ain’t no excuse to drive yer workers like that.” “Either way,” Applesnack quipped. “We can’t go in there with two unicorns and a pegasus. We’d draw too much suspicion.“ I nodded and looked at Swarm. “Lose the horn, Swarm. I’ll be able to cover my horn with my hat and Raiden can find a cloak or something to hide his wings,” I said. Swarm nodded and his green magic removed the horn from his head. I tilted my fedora so it covered my horn completely. As the others were walking I felt a strange dread. A chill ran down my spine. Somepony was here, but where? Thieeefff! I turned around and my eyes grew wide at what I saw. A huge cloud of shadow gathered before my eyes. Two green eyes with red irises were glaring at me as a fanged mouth slowly formed. No, it couldn’t be. “Private, what the hell’s that?” Raiden called, I turned around and saw the others staring. “Get to the village now!” I ordered. The others didn’t need much encouragement as the cloud came closer. I stood my ground and lifted my fedora, aiming my horn at the beast. I fired a magical bolt at it, but the beast just laughed as it passed through him. “Truly pathetic mortal.” “I know who you are, Sombra,” I growled, hoping to keep his attention on me long enough for the others to get away. “You’re not getting Tenacity on my watch!” “That power belongs to me,” I heard a sinister voice growl, recognizing it from my vision back at Attrotica. “As will your friends, once I am through with them.” “Over my dead body, you bastard,” I cried, firing another bolt at him. This time the bolt missed him completely. I growled, feeling hatred in my heart for this bastard. “Yes,” he said with a smug grin. ”Give into the hate and anger you hold within you. With that you can unlock Tenacity’s true power!” “I know what you did with that power, Sombra,” I cried. “I’m not using it for any gain of mine.” “I care not for your measly morals, thief,” he growled. “I simply wish to take what is rightfully mine! When I do, I shall have the Crystal Empire, and perhaps dear Twilight Sparkle as well.” “If you lay one hoof on her, I’ll kill you,” I shouted, my horn glowing a different color, one of green and purple magic, which I used once before. “Funny, that’s what Eclipse said to me a thousand years ago,” he gloated, with a smirk. “It seems your line still is trying to make up for the sin of Prometheus.” “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I growled, my horn glowing bright with the sickly green color, “but you’re going right back where you belong!” I fired the green magic with all my might towards him. Sombra cried as if in deep pain. He deserved it! Every bit of pain for threatening… “Prometheus, stop! I looked down, tenacity was there? I saw the cord of light coming from it. I followed it slowly and saw a wondrous sight before me. She looked like an earth pony, only unlike any I have ever seen before. Her coat was pink, glistening like a shining crystal. Her eyes seemed like jaded blue orbs rather than spherical ones. Her mane was long and tri-colored, almost exactly like Cadence’s. Her blue eyes looked on me, as if she was close to true tears. For some reason, that faltered me. I'd said a name, as if I’d known her all my life, “Aria?” “Prometheus, just stop!” she said, tears flowing from her eyes. “Don’t do this! I can’t bear it if you fell again!” Was she talking to me? Just who… I felt the earth shake around me, Sombra’s eyes blinked and he glared off in the distance. He smirked at me and said, “Don’t think this is over mortal! I shall have what is mine!” With that he vanished in a puff of shadowy smoke. I looked back where the strange looking pony was. But she was gone, was I hallucinating? Her voice seemed so familiar. How did I know her name? Aria. The name, I know it from somewhere, but where? What was with that earthquake? It only lasted for a brief moment before. “Hey!” I turned around and saw Raiden running towards me. “Dude, are you alright? What was that?” he asked, with concern. I shook my head to clear my thoughts, looked at my now cloaked friend and replied “Just a horrible nightmare. “Where are the others?” “Everypony down at the village was freaking out by the earthquake,” Raiden explained, “but we managed to sneak in using it as cover. We’re setting up in one of the local inns.” Raiden walked away, careful not to use his wings. I looked back to where Sombra was. There was nothing there except the endless plains and mountains of snow. I felt uneasy. I swayed and fell into the snow. I heard Raiden’s voice speaking over me. Aria… Aria… _____________________________________________________________ Aria… Prometheus, I’ve been looking for you all day. Aria listen, I wanna talk. About what? When you said you loved me, did you mean it? Why wouldn’t I mean it? You made me after all. It’s just that, I’m the only stallion you’ve ever known. I’m just thinking about what mom said. I made her mad at you, didn’t I? No, it’s not your fault. I just didn’t want to face the fact. That I only love you because I didn’t have a choice? …. Prometheus, you made me, you’re the first true friend I’ve ever had, and you’ve cared for me and taught me so much, what mare wouldn’t love that? Aria. Do you love me, Prometheus? I do. What of Izanami? She, she doesn’t want me. She never did… Am I a replacement for her? No, no you’re not. You’re something far more to me. Then you. Yes, Aria. I do love you! ___________________________________________________________ I blinked open my eyes to find myself staring at a wooden ceiling. I rubbed my temple and realized my horn was visible. I sat up and came face to face with a gun muzzle, held in the teeth of a large dark blue earth pony. His teal eyes glared at me as I raised my hooves in surrender. He lowered the gun from his teeth, knowing I wasn’t going to try anything. “That fedora, where did you get it?” he asked, in a local accent. This was an odd question; I raised an eyebrow and said, “From my mentor, fellow by the name of Fenlock Rusty.” He looked at me for a long time, and then a wide smile came to his face, “I wanted to be sure your friends were not bullshitting me.” He set the gun aside and held out a hoof and introduced himself, “Rushanwin, I was Fenlock’s partner for nearly ten years.” “So you’re the great Rushanwin!” I said, flashing a smile “Fenlock told me a lot about you. Said you were,” I cleared my throat and imitated Fenlock’s Manehattan accent, “the best damn partner this side of Equestria, too bad he has no taste in music” “Ah,” he said, waving a hoof. “Still hasn’t changed I see, so how is the old bastard?” I reached over to the night stand, put on my fedora and replied, “He’s retired now.” “Damn waste of a good detective,” He smirked, but then turned his head and said, “Your friends are downstairs. It is safe there to speak, we all have little love for Red Hammer, so don’t worry about speaking your mind.” I nodded, getting out of the bed. We walked out of the door and down the stairs. “How long was I out?” I asked. “About fifteen minutes,” Rush explained. “Your friend Raiden had quite a fantastical story to tell, something about a smoke monster or something?” I shuddered at the memories of my encounter with Sombra. I looked down around my neck at Twilight’s scarf. I held the end to my face for comfort before reaching the main room of the inn. I looked around at all the ragged, drunken workers voicing quite raucously their opinions of local politics. “Way I see it,” one shouted in a drunken state, “we’re all screwed anyway. Between soldiers and the food dying out there ain’t nothing we can do!” “Hush, you idiot!” his friend hissed. “Do you want everypony to hear?” “Aww let em 'ear!” the drunken one hiccupped. “Maybe it’ll finally get those revolutionary bastards off their flanks to help us once in a-“Finally he keeled over in a fashion I have seen Berry Punch do right after a rant about Celestia’s flank or something. Rush rolled his eyes and explained, “More of them every day, poor lads constantly drinking themselves into stupors in order to escape the suffering this country has wrought.” I nodded and saw my group sitting off to the corner. Raiden waved at me but got a look from Applesnack and that calmed him down. No need to draw more attention than we already have today. “Thank Luna you’re okay, Private” Big Mac said, as Rush and I took a seat at the table. “What was that thing anyways?” “Long story,” I answered quickly. “Anyway, how did you find us?” I asked, looking over at Rush. “I was here drinking myself into a stupor,” Rush admitted, “but when I saw your friend come in with you on his back I had to help. I know the innkeeper here, so it wasn’t hard for him to look the other way.” “Pardon my interruption,” Applesnack spoke up, his deep voice giving an air of command and firmness “but I couldn’t help but notice, we haven’t seen a single unicorn or pegasus since we arrived here.” Rush closed his eyes and said, “You are lucky it was me who found you, if one of the soldiers found you, you and your large friend here would’ve been imprisoned as spies.” “What about us?” Raiden asked, afraid of the answer. “What happens to unicorns and pegasi?” “They are taken to the Yards,” Rush said darkly, his expression crestfallen. “Any unicorn or pegasi caught goes there. They are never heard from again.” Applesnack narrowed his eyes but didn’t say anything. I decided to move on “I can imagine you know who we are then?” “Ponies from Equestria,” Rush said with a smile. “It has been long since I’ve seen the land. Is it true Princess Luna has returned?” “Dude, that was like years ago,” Raiden replied, “You hafta remember,” Big Mac pointed out. “They’ve been locked in for almost three decades. They wouldn’t know about all that’s happened in Equestria.” “Either way that doesn’t matter,” I said. Then I reached into my trench coat and hoofed the picture of Princess Snowflake over to Rush, asking, “Do you recognize her?” Rush gave the picture a long look, then his eyes grew wide. “I had heard rumors, but I never believed them to be true!” he exclaimed. “Then that’s really her?” Applesnack said, his eyes still gazing at Rush. “I would recognize her like I would my own daughter,” Rush said, trying desperately to keep from shouting to the world in joy. “That is Princess Snowflake! I had not seen her since she was three! She’s still alive!” “You knew the Princess?” Raiden asked in shock. “I was part of the royal guard,” Rush explained, his smile infectious. “I had known her since she was born. She was such a sweet filly growing up. Never fought with her siblings, always tried her best to please her papa and mama.” He let out a small sigh. “I remember her playing with my son when he was her age. She didn’t care that he was a peasant, she was just happy to have a friend.” “Well, looks like that filly grew up” I said, looking at the picture again. “What can you tell me about the incident when her parents died?” Rush’s expression quickly turned to one of sorrow. “Frostwind tried his hardest to help the people during the longest winter, but the ruddy nobles wouldn’t let him give food and shelter to them. They wanted to horde all the food for themselves. Frostwind wouldn’t listen to them, however. He opened up his palace so that the sick and poor would have a place to stay.” “That guy sounds awesome,” Raiden said, smiling a little. “It was all for naught, though,” Rush said, his expression turning to one of anger. “That bastard Red Hammer came along and riled the peasantry up. He claimed that Frostwind was causing the winter to stay on purpose so that we would suffer. My king tried desperately to stop him but it was too late.” “Then the sacking occurred,” Applesnack stated bluntly. “Yes, my friend,” Rush said, nodding somberly. “I still remember it was the coldest night of the year. I remember hundreds of angry rebels attacking the palace, slaughtering any in their path. I saw my king die as Red Hammer struck him down.” “He took down an Alicorn?” I asked, in shock. “Frostwind’s power had already been weakened trying to fight off the other soldiers.” Rush looked down and continued, “We fought valiantly, but I guess even Alicorns have limits. Red Hammer tired him to the point that a knife could kill my king. It was horrible to watch.” “You escaped?” I asked. “Yes, through a laundry chute, believe it or not,” Rush said, he laughed a little at the memory, as if trying to stave off total depression. “I remember coming out on top of a rebel as he was reloading his rifle. I saved the lives of two servant colts that day.” “The family?” Raiden asked, again afraid of the answer. Rush bowed his head and said, “The entire royal family was killed, save Snowflake who was never found. Queen Hearthglow, Princesses Freewind, Orchid, Icicle, Tambrina, along with their brothers Nightstill, and little Alondrel, were all slain by rebels.” Raiden looked ready to smash the nearest wall. I put a hoof on his back to calm him down. He and I gave each other a look and we decided to move on “Where would Snowflake go?” Rush put a hoof to his lips and looked over his shoulder. When it was apparently safe we all drew in to listen. “I have heard rumors that she has taken up residence in the old palace.” He gave one last look to see if anypony was listening in and whispered, “If you find her, take her to the Black Boar pub. There you will find help.” We all nodded and broke, ready to find the princess and put a stop to this madness. ___________________________________________________________ The five of us left Rush behind at the inn and he gave us directions to the palace. When we arrived there were no guards present. Raiden looked around as I tried to pick the rusted gate lock. “Where are they? This is the palace of Frostwind and you’d think they’d have guards everywhere.” I looked up at the palace in question. It looked like it was almost carved out of a glacier. The walls were white and looked to be made of some kind of marble and wood. The place looked like it had been abandoned for years. Windows were boarded over, the gates looked rusted and parts of the palace were crumbling. I wondered what it must’ve looked like in its prime.” “Bad memories,” Applesnack replied. “I’m guessing Red Hammer doesn’t think anypony would want to come back after what happened.” “Be ready for anything though,” I said, levitating out White Tiger, getting used to it’s weight before finally managing to open the gate lock. With that the five of us walked forward to the massive gates of the palace. I tried giving them a shove but they wouldn’t open or budge. I looked between the doors and saw some ice had frozen over the middle. “Somepony sealed the entrance with this ice stuff,” I said. Swarm sniffed the ice like a dog would. “I smell reminiscing here, as well as pain. Somepony is definitely here and has come recently.” he informed us. “Either way we aren’t getting in this way,” Raiden said, crossing his forelegs in frustration. Big Mac walked up to the door and slid the bracers on his forelegs. “About time, ah gotta test these out.” He then stretched his legs and hooked his forelegs around the handles, giving a mighty heave. The gauntlets glowed a soft red before a small creak could be heard. I saw the ice sealing the doors crack under the force of Big Mac’s strength. Finally the doors gave way, opening wide before us. Big Mac wiped some sweat from his brow and smiled at us. Raiden and I closed our jaws from their dropped position and entered the palace ahead. Swarm was on the ground like a dog, sniffing the area. I’m guessing his nose detected things other than Raiden’s bad smelling cologne. I used my horn like a flashlight and saw the palace interior was covered in cob webs and dust. Hundreds of paintings adorned the walls of the palace. There were also several suits of armor and other decorations that had fallen apart after ages of neglect. Raiden ran a hoof along a table, frowning at the dust. “Dude, talk about your fixer uppers,” he remarked. “You’re sure somepony is here, Swarm?” I asked the changeling. He nodded and stuck his nose in the air, giving a wide sniff. “I smell, sorrow again, along with memory and joy?” It was then that we all heard it. Dancing bears, painted wings Things I almost remember And a song someone sings Once upon a December “Do you guys hear that?” Raiden asked. “Somepony is singing!” “Shh!” We all shushed Raiden and listened intently to the female voice singing. Someone holds me safe and warm Horses prance through a silver storm Figures dancing gracefully Across my memory We followed the sound of music and entered a vast ballroom. There in the center was an Alicorn. She was dancing with an invisible partner as we stared, just singing her heart out. Far away, long ago Glowing dim as an ember Things my heart used to know Once upon a December We all just watched her dancing in her own fantasy world. She was oblivious to our presence and we liked it that way. She didn’t seem to care, just dancing in her own world, but slowly her singing turned sad and she held herself in her white forelegs. I saw traces of tears in her soft blue eyes... And a song someone sings Once upon a December…