//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: Magic Paint Brushes 3: This Ice Life... // by Ugly-Duckling123 //------------------------------// In the library, everyone was speechless, shocked from the story Jack had just told. Not only did he cross paths with Old Stallion Winter, but he also fought him, got given powers over ice and snow by him, and met the spirits of the Founders of Equestria. After a few minutes to let the Six, Sarah, Eric, and Suzy time to get this into their heads, Discord spoke up. "So believe that there's an Old Stallion Winter now Rainbow?" he asked looking towards a starstruck Rainbow Dash, her eyes wide open. "No," she answered after a bit "I bet he just made that up to scare us or something." "He was not lying," Suzy, Sarah and Applejack said together just above a whisper worried looks to their faces. "Oh come on..." Rainbow said turning to the girls. "No!" Sarah said firmly "Yes Jack holds the record on being on Santa's naughty list, with his pranks, and tricks, and lies..." she began counting off her fingers "But at least one thing he doesn't lie about, is anything that comes when it comes to Emma. Yeah I don't believe the second half all that much, but the first half is 100% real. And as he said... How else would he of gotten the powers of ice and snow if Discord doesn't have that power and he's a Student of Chaos?" Over in Whitetail Wood, for the first time since he had froze the pond, Jack unfroze it and was looking onto the conversation that was playing out back in Canterlot. Sighing not wanting to hear anymore, he shut it off and re-froze the water. Looking around, he looked for something to do to let his feelings out before he went back to the others looking to the rainbow icicles each one a different length meaning when he hit them a different note would play out. Thinking up a neat idea, Jack formed some iced instruments and using his chaos powers asked the wind to play them for him. Then after making up an audience of snowbabies and changing into an appropriate outfit and giving a spotlight to himself and a snapping up a mike before himself... he began to start the music and sing a song he had loved since the moment he had first heard it. The snow glows white on the mountain tonight Not a footprint to be seen A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I'm the king He began quietly at first looking around his winter wonderland. The Wind is howling like this swirling storm inside Couldn't keep it in heaven knows I tried Don't let them in, don't let them see Be the good boy you always have to be Conceal don't feel Don't let them know... Well now they know... Jack smiled as the babies began to cheer for him and his wonderful voice. Let it go let it go Can't hold it back anymore Let it go let it go Turn away and slam the door I don't care what they're going to say Let the storm rage on The cold never bothered me anyway As the first instrumental came in Jack unhooked the mike stepping forward a bit looking out to the audience. It's funny how some distance Makes everything seem small And the fears that once controlled me Can't get to me at all It's time to see what I can do to test the limits and break through No right no wrong no rules for me.... I'm free... Taking a bold move because of the timing in the music Jack leaped into the air and flew over to crowd to enhance the next couple of lines. Let it go let it go I'm one with the wind and sky Let it go let it go You'll never see me cry Here I stand and here I'll stay Let the storm rage on... The second instrumental began, and Jack started to make snowponies and snowflakes in midair, to the cheers of the babies then as it came to the end held the mike to his mouth again. My power flurries through the air into the ground My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around My one thought crystallizes like an ice blast Coming back to the stage. I'm never going back The past is in the past... He cried ripping off his outfit revealing his Student of Discord one. Let it go, let it go And I'll rise like a break of dawn Let it go, let it go The perfect boy is gone And with a flick of his wrist turned this outfit into his Warrior of Harmony one smirking just a bit. Here I'll stand In the light of day... Let the storm rage on.... The cold never bothered me anyway. And like that the spot light went out and the wood was filled with cheers of fanning snowbabies all climbing over each other trying to get to Jack to congratulate him. "Thank you..." Jack said the lights coming back "Thank you, it was an honor to sing for you tonight. Please, please no pictures." After a bit Jack made all but one of the snowbabies disappear so he'd have some company. He was about to go into the cabin for some hot coco when a slow solo mocking applauding rang around the wood. Trying not to show he was afraid, because he had a very good idea on who it was, Jack pulled out his sword and span to see who the unwanted guest he had in his wood was. After a few more arguments and trying to get Rainbow to see reason, alarms began to ring out making very one jump and Fluttershy zip under a table to be safe. Quickly Discord zapped up his movie screen and set it to where the alarms were coming from, Whitetail Wood. Where stood Jack in his Warrior of Harmony outfit facing an Alicorn who's mane and tail were as white as snow, his eyes ice blue, the tips of his horn and wings violet. "Now believe that there is an Old Stallion Winter, Cloud-Butt?" Eric asked pointing to Rainbow who's eyes were wide open in shock. Over in Whitetail Wood, Jack was glaring at the Alicorn before him waiting for him to make the first move. "Ah so the magician returns ay..?" Winter asked as he began to circle the boy examining him. "Hmm... I would of thought you'd of grown a bit more then this since the last time we met." "What do you want Winter?" Jack asked sword out before him eyes following the stallion, while the snowbaby was clinging onto his leg scared. "Oh my boy..." Winter said chuckling "I would of thought that you at least would know what I would want... I want this land to suffer in eternal winter to pay for each of those 3000 years of that blasted holiday ruining my MASTER PIECES!" he screamed returning to the front of Jack. "But it turns out," he said looking toward Jack "That I need all of my magic over winter, to even begin that. So if you'd be ever so kind as to hand over that little speck of my magic you took away from me when we first met... I'll just be on my way." "Ok a few things Winter..." Jack said lowering his sword and leaning against it. "One, I didn't take anything from you, you gave it to me when you lodged it in my heart when you were trying to freeze me. Two, I've kind of grown to enjoy these powers over ice and snow so I hardly think I'm going to hand it back to you for you to use them harshly on the ponies of Equestia," he continued firmly. "And three, The Founders say you lodged it into my heart so much it can't come out anyway. So sorry about and all that and everything old chum..." Jack said mocking an Old English accent "But that was going to be an impossible task to do anyway." With that Jack bent down picked out the snowbaby and turned his back to Winter walking away. "You want this to go the hard way?" Winter hissed "Fine we'll do this the hard way..." If Jack hadn't suspected this, and dodge out the way, he would be frozen to one of the trees. Thankfully he was suspecting it and after he dodged shot a string of icicles right back, anger and frustration on his face. "What kind of guy shoots someone who's back's turned? Huh?" Jack cried as he jumped out the way of another attack from Winter, the baby still in his arms, shifting his sword to his staff. "The smart kind, Boy," Winter said forming an ice shield to block the cold wind attack coming from the boy. "Rather the cowardly kind," Jack retaliated, setting the baby down and jumping into the air, bringing his staff down in both hands releasing a large amount of ice and snow only to be met by the same but stronger attack by Winter, pushing him back a bit slamming him into a tree and making him fall to the ground. "Ha! Give up, boy," Winter said gloatingly. "I have more experience, I have more power, I have been doing this job since before you were even born!" he said stepping closer to Jack with each statement. "What you have... Is a big fat mouth that needs to be shut off," Jack said groaning as his got back up a new look of anger on his face his eyes narrowing turning from brown to blue because of the amount of winter magic he was using. "Here let me help with that..." he said swiping his staff at the Alicorn who dodged the attack and fired a few shards of ice towards the boy pinning him to a tree. In the library, everyone was on the edged of their seats hoping with all their hearts that Jack would succeed, but having a feeling that he won't make it. "We really need to rethink the laws about fights here in Equestria Sister," Luna whispered to Celestia who nodded. "Why doesn't he just snap his fingers and get out of there?" Suzy asked afraid. "Jack's... One of those people who keeps fighting until the very end," Sarah explained "No matter what the outcome is, or how bad he'll be in the end." Back in the woods Jack was trying to get down from the tree but was stopped when an icicle began to grow towards his neck, Winter controlling it "How about we try this again..." he said from where he was. "Hand over that piece of winter's magic you stole from me... and in return I will not kill you." he said giving the boy time to think. Panting a bit Jack was about to tell Winter that that task can't be done when he saw the snowbaby bouncing around getting his attention and giving him an idea. "Ok... alright," he said quietly "You got me... I'll give you back your magic... But you have to find me first." he said grinning, snapping his fingers bringing back the snowbabies then using his new Changeling powers shifted into one too, jumping down and running to join his 'brothers' disappearing into the middle of the clan. Knowing it will take forever to go through these horrible little beings, Winter just scream to the sky in anger and in a flurry of snow spread his wings and took off back to his palace. *** After a bit, to make sure it was fine, Jack shifted back to normal and made all but that one baby go again. Kneeling down, Jack spread his arms silently requesting for a hug, which the baby gratefully gave him. "Thanks little guy," Jack said standing up clothes shifting back to his Student of Chaos outfit, and eyes turning back to brown. "Now I'm guessing everypony saw all that just happened," he said looking into the trees trying to find those cameras Discord is said to have. "But I think we should head back and tell them what just happened."