Chapter 1: New Blood
It was a cool Winter night, sun just setting over the small village near the frozen tundra. The name of the village was Eskapo, a tiny little place just outside of Equestria's most frozen regions. Snow pelted the area, locking most everypony inside their homes.
"That weather sure doesn't seem too good," Grey Shells stated. "We might be in for a while."
"I wouldn't doubt it." Ghost said as he turned to face Grey Shells. The winters in Eskapo are brutal. The winds coming off of the tundra howls through the village menacingly with a force that could knock the strongest of ponies off their hooves.
"We have enough supplies for a few days and an ample amount of firewood. There's something telling me were gonna be here longer than anticipated."
"I wouldn't suspect that," another pony said from the side. Violet Vee sat looking at the small flame in the corner. "It'll lighten up soon, I'm sure."
"Yea," one more voice called. "We'll be out of here before you know it," said Kleer Type.
"Don't let it fool you. I fear It's only but the beginning," said Ghost in a low, concerned tone.
The only source of heat in the small house was a rusty, aged wooden heater. It looked to be decades old.
Shells stepped over to the flame, rustling the cold off his grey coat while scratching his snowy mane. "I dunno. I might have to agree with Ghost. It doesn't look like it'll be getting better anytime soon."
"Quit your worrying," Violet said. Her magenta eyes, matched by the rest of her body and complimented with her rose red mane, all faced the other three with sternness.
"Yea," Type agreed, golden hooves propped against a chair. "Just sit down and relax. Nothing a good story can't fix," he continued, brushing the royal blue hair from his vision.
"I could go for a story right about now?" Ghost agreed sleepily. He then made his way over to the heater.
As the light from the fire danced across Ghost's charcoal coat, Grey Shells notices something, a scar. He yields to speak of it, but the curiosity still looms.
"So who wants to start us off?" Shells asked, taking a seat in the circle newly formed around the fire.
"How about you Ghost?" Violet stated. "Got an interesting tale to pass the time?"
"None here." Ghost replied.
The crimson streaks upon white in his mane bared the resemblance of blood. The way he did things seemed as though he was a trained fighter, a warrior of some kind.
"What about you Shells?" The stallion shook his head. "Type?" He followed suit. Violet sighed. "Somepony here has to have a story. Come on Ghost, tell us something about yourself. Something from your past."
"I have stories. Well, more like suppressed memories... I've already said enough," Ghost replied sternly. "I'm going to sleep now, if anypony needs me you know where I'll be."
Shocked, everypony's eyes followed Ghost out of the room. The curiosity sets in. So many questions, but none dare to ask.
"Should we... say something?" Shells pondered when Ghost was out of earshot.
"Let him go," Violet interjected. "He seems like one of 'those' types of ponies."
"What do you mean?"
"Ya know, a bit... kookoo in the head."
"I'm with her," Type said, agreeing. "He comes off a bit... unstable. And those marks."
"Lay off him," Shells said. "Probably just has a lot on his mind."
"Whatever," Violet answered, rolling over. "I'm going on to bed."
"Same," Type continued.
"Fine," Shells said. "I think I'll stay up a bit longer though. Somepony has gotta keep this fire going. Good night."
"Night."
The dawn came in what seemed like a flash, the snow covered ground glistened in the light of an early morning sun.
Ghost was the first one up. Shells entered the den and his eye was immediately locked on the charcoal colored pony.
"Good morning, Shells," Ghost said with a small bit of enthusiasm.
In awe, Shells thought to himself, 'What? I never made a sound coming in, not a single creak. Also, how did he know it was me?'
"Erm... good morning Ghost. How'd you sleep?" Everypony else still laid quietly still, Violet letting out a small snore now and then.
"Good." Ghost then turned his head and looked Shells directly in the eyes. "How about you?"
His crimson eyes matched the streaks in his mane. An uneasy feeling came over Shells.
"I-I'm doing fine. I got only about an hour of sleep in, but I'll manage." Shells looked away, to avoid those eyes. "So, has the weather cleared up any?"
"If you stay up late with the owls, it's hard to fly with the eagles at dawn," Ghost stated.
Shells went blank.
"Oh, and the weather... Not any better, I'm afraid."
"Ughhhh... could you keep it down?" Violet said from her slumber. "I'm trying to sleep."
"All apologies," Ghost said quickly. He then lowered his head and continued his work.
Shells kinda stirred around the floor with his hoof. "So,--"
"Shh, we still have ponies sleeping," Ghost interjected in a strong manner.
"Sorry," Shells whispered. "So, whatcha working on?"
He glanced to Shells.
"Shhh."
"But I--"
Ghost glared at him in such a way that shot chills down his spine. But he tried not to show emotion.
"I'll just, head back to sleep now..." Shells whispered.
Ghost said nothing. He made no movements or even a slight wince in reply.
An hour of silence passed before Violet stirred, and another hour before Type did the same, Ghost treating Vee much like Shells when he was 'disturbing' those asleep.
"Now that everypony is awake, can we speak?" Shells asked.
Ghost confusingly looked at Shells.
"Speak of what?"
"Oh, you know just kind of explaining who we are, and where we came from." Shells suggested.
Violet and Type glanced at each other with concern, then looked back to Shells and Ghost.
"Well, I mean... we might be stuck here a while, so I figured I should know whom I may be spending the next... however long with," Shells explained.
"We'll, I shall start. My name is Ghost, I'm from a small village due east of here. That's all you need to know. Excuse me, for I have business to attend to."
Ghost then entered his 'room' to gather his things.
"Jeez, testy much?" Violet commented as Ghost left.
"Well, we are asking about his personal life, and he obviously doesn't want to talk about it," Shells remarked. There was a soft rustle from Ghost's 'room'.
"Wonder what he's getting..." Type said aloud.
Ghost entered the room in heavy winter clothes. They looked of military-type origin, but with close examination they weren't.
"I heard every word. You ponies shouldn't worry about who I am, or where I came from. If you insist on worrying, then you should worry about what I am capable of. End of story." Ghost stated angrily.
He then slid his hood down over the top of his head and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.
"Wow..." Violet said slightly surprised. "How rude."
"One to talk, talking about him behind his back," Shells retorted. She shot him a menacing glare.
"Come on everypony, no need to get testy," Type said, stepping between them.
"Tsk, whatever," Vee snorted before turning her head.
Hours past by, Shells, Vee, and Type had been acquainting each other quite well. Sharing laughs and swapping stories, but then suddenly Shells got worried.
"Gee, do you ponies have an idea of where Ghost is off too?" Shells said with concern on his voice.
"I don't really know, and frankly, I don't particularly care," Violet stated. "It's much better here without his melancholy attitude bringing us all down."
"Don't be like that, he's very secretive and likes to keep to himself is all," Shells said in Ghost's defense. "Type, what do you think of Ghost?"
"I agree with Violet. It does feel much better without his dreadful and depressive cloud over us."
"I can't help to agree, I'm trying to find an acquaintance within him and he just has this shield up. He's a lone wolf. Oh, and have any of you ponies actually been thinking about what he said? You know, about what he's capable of..."
"Pffft... what of it?" Violet scoffed.
"He's obviously a very serious pony, never once has he even cracked the least bit of a smile. He's been through a lot, you can see it in his eyes." Grey Shells said.
"Oh, and the scar. Has anypony else noticed it?"
"I did," Type answered. "I was kinda afraid to ask."
"I didn't care," Vee added.
"Anyway, what do you think happened to him?"
"Don't know, I'm not too sure if I wanna know either. There's endless possibilities though."
No sooner had Shells finished his sentence the door opened, harsh winds and snow blew in. Ghost followed shortly and shut the door with his back hoof. He slid the hood back over his ears which revealed his messy crimson and white mane.
Shells eyes went directly to the scar.
On his neck he wore a scar at least seven inches long, almost a half an inch in width. It looked like a slice from a sword, or a missed spear.
"Greaaaaat," Violet sarcastically stated. "You're back."
"How's the weather?" Type asked, serious as could be. "Will it lighten up anytime soon?"
"I walked around the village and asked a few questions, then I walked a few miles out into the tundra. I could hardly see ten hooves in front of me. There's bad storms coming. Blizzards, to be exact. Shells, I'm going to need you to go fetch more wood. Oh, and Violet. Since you seem up to the task go get more supplies. Food, drink, alcohol. That's all we need. Type, you stay here with me."
Shells thought to himself, 'Woah, that's the most he's said to anypony since he arrived.'
"Now why in Equestria do I have to get supplies?" Violet started to protest.
"Just do as he says Vee," Shells remarked. "I gotta leave too ya know. Let's get the things together so we don't get lost. At least not alone anyway."
"And all I have to do is stick around with you in the warmth and safety of this place?" Type questioned out loud. Ghost nodded. "Sweet!"
The two ponies left to do their "chores" Ghost had assigned them.
"So, Type. Tell me about yourself," Ghost said as he sat down in front of him.
Type started to tremble as the red eyes of Ghost was staring dead at him.
He studdered, "I-I-I'm --"
"Come on, spit it out," Ghost insisted.
"Well, I'm a royal custodian for Celestia during Summer seasons and I come out this way to see family during Winters." Type paused a second. "I know it doesn't sound so great, but the pay isn't bad and I get a whole half year with family, so it's pretty good. Not glamorous, but good." Kleer searched in himself for a few moments before finding the courage to ask, "So what about you? Tell me about yourself Ghost."
"If I tell you about myself, you swear on your life to never speak of it again? NOPONY else should hear of this."
Ghost glared deep into Kleer Type's eyes, as if searching for a ship upon the horizon.
"I'll answer that with a question. We are alone, aren't we?"