//------------------------------// // A chilly entrance // Story: Warcasters and Witches // by Titan Commander Sebaste //------------------------------// Co-written with Brony Parasite “There it is!” Victoria said as the car crested the hill. Brushing her dark black hair out of her face, she gazed over at her friend in the seat next to her. “You looking forward to relaxing in Laketon?” “Yeah, this whole year’s been brutal.” Victoria’s friend, a blonde woman named Tulip smiled passively. “What were our plans again?” “I was thinking we could check out the local hangouts, maybe catch that new Madoka Magica movie that came out.” Victoria gave her friend a teasing grin, knowing her friend was a big fan of the anime series. “The studio took long enough.” Tulip grumbled, crossing her arms. “You were never into it, though. What’ll you do?” Victoria chuckled. “Probably try and work on my Sorscha cosplay costume to wear when I play in the Warmachine tournaments this fall, but other than that, I want to catch up on what you’ve been up to!” She said. “I haven’t been doing much, honestly. Sometimes I feel as if I’m wasting my life.” Tulip replied, waving Victoria’s comment off. “I still don’t think my dreams will become anywhere close to reality.” “I’m sure you’ll get there eventually. Everyone does at one point or another.” Victoria said. “You just need the drive to do it. But right now, the two of us both need a break, and this town is the perfect place to relax.” Tulip just nodded at that. As the 2016 Honda Accord drove into the town, it caused a few pedestrians to look up before they went about their business. “Not many people out today….” Victoria commented, looking out her window. “Maybe people are busy indoors?” Tulip suggested. “Though it is odd that barely anyone’s around...  Perhaps everything’s happening on the other side of town?” “Probably…” Victoria then noticed a sign mounted on a nearby post. “Or they may be participating at a costume contest that’s going on today.” She said, pointing at the sign, which said, “Costume contest being held at Laketon Comic Book and Hobby store, from 12:00AM - 9:30PM. Free to enter. Gifts will be given to the winners of the most authentic costume from Wargaming, comics and Anime.” “I did my best with my costume. How about yours?” Tulip asked. “I got my armor and weapons finished a few weeks earlier, I’m just missing the hat.” Victoria said, rubbing the back of her head. “Let’s go check this thing out. Besides, what could go wrong?” “You just jinxed it…” Tulip sighed. Victoria shrugged as she parked the car at the motel they were renting. “Let’s get to our room and change there. After that, we’ll check out that contest. Who knows, we might even win…” “You ready?” Victoria asked. She was dressed in red colored armor that had a symbol of three lines surrounded by a cog shaped design on the chestplate and a small generator mounted on the back. In her hands, she carried a hand-held dual barreled pistol like gun and a massive two handed weapon that looked like a cross between a scythe and hammer. This was the weapon Frostfang. “As I’ll ever be…” Tulip replied shyly. She had donned a beige skirt with black tips, and her top is a long sleeved white shirt with puffs. In between her skirt and her top, she has a brown corset-like clothing garment. She also has a small brown hat with white fur coming out of it, as well as gray and white striped leggings, and black and yellow, knee-high boots. After she spoke, Tulip placed yellow contacts over her green eyes. “You look good. Yellow suits you.” Victoria said with a grin. “Thanks.” Tulip said, blinking rapidly in minor irritation. Hefting her replica weapon, Victoria turned to the door of the comic book shop and opened it. Inside was packed with contestants, all dressed as different characters, from Kirito of SAO to Braniac to a Space Marine, there were almost too many to count. “Wow…. that’s a lot of people.” she said, swallowing. “Tell me about it…” Tulip murmered. Steeling themselves, they entered the store. “Welcome to Laketon Comic Store! You two here for the contest?” a young man in his 20s asked as he walked up. He wore a light grey T-shirt that has a picture of a skull on it and tan shorts. The two girls nodded. “Great, we’re just about to start. Wish you guys luck!” he then walked off to help a girl dressed as Wonder Woman. A new voice then called out, “Ladies and gentleman, the contest is about to begin! Please line up and prepare to show your stuff!” At once, the crowd began to line up at the back of the room, Victoria and Tulip following them. After hours of people posing, the contest was soon over. Both Tulip and Victoria had tied for second place, while the first place had been the Space Marine. “Congrats to both of you on getting second place. Here, these are your prizes.” the man who had greeted them said, before handing Tulip an odd looking doll and Victoria two built Khador warjacks, a Destroyer and a Juggernaught. “Thanks. We both had a lot of fun.” Victoria said. But as she took the two miniatures, she began to feel dizzy. “Whoa… I’m not feeling so good….” she groaned. “Neither am I…” Tulip groaned. “Let’s go outside, maybe it’s just from all of the excitement…” But as the two walked out the door, the dizzy feeling only got worse before the last thing Victoria remembered was collapsing by the car, Tulip having collapsed behind her, then unconsciousness claimed her and she knew no more. It was the howl of the wind and what sounded like steam being blown out that woke her up. As she slowly got up, she began to shiver as a cold wind blew through her, bringing with it snow and ice and causing her hair to whip around. “T-T-Tulip? W-W-Where a-a-are y-y-y-you?” she called through chattering teeth. As she looked around, she saw two massive shadowy forms through the snow nearby, a hellish glow lighting up their eyes. Shaking with cold and fright, she backed up and tripped over another body in the snow. “Tulip!” Victoria brushed the snow off and shook her friend awake. Tulip shuddered, her skin slightly blue. “V-V-Victoria-a...? Wh-where are we-e-e?” Giving her friend a hug, Victoria said, “I don’t know, but we need to get somewhere warm… we’ll freeze if we don’t move.” She then lifted Tulip up, her armor clanking. At any other time, this would have made her suspicious, but right now, she just wanted to get out of the cold. Slinging one of Tulip’s arms around her neck, the two began to walk. The sound of pressurized steam came again as the two massive forms walked towards the two. “W-W-Whatever you are, p-p-please, s-s-stay away!” She unslung Frostfang, but as she did so, she realized something was wrong. The weapon was much heavier than expected and it smashed into the ground and remained imbedded. There was a questioning hiss of steam from the left figure. Victoria let go, but as she did so, what appeared to be runes appeared in a glowing blue circle that hovered around her hand. She then saw the eyes of the figures glow blue, the same color as the runes. As another hiss of steam came out, Victoria realized with a start that she could understand it. “Tulip… I think they want to help…” she said. “G-g-good… B-because I ca-can’t f-f-f-feel my le-le-legs…” Tulip heaved. “Come on…” With the unknown figures moving ahead, the two continued their trek through the blizzard. But as they continued on, the cold and wind took its toll on the two. Victoria nearly collapsed as she and Tulip crested a hill. As it was, she was now severely weak. A warning hiss of steam from one of their escort made her look up. A light could be seen through the clouds of snow, and it was heading their way. “Please! H-H-Help us!” she called out. But as she took a step forward, her strength gave out and both she and Tulip fell into the snow. As she once again fell unconscious, she heard a voice say, “ You two, keep an eye on those ‘jacks! You and you, help get these two to safety and throw a cloak over this one, why they’re in these frozen wastes, Celestia only knows…” Then, darkness took her. Sergeant Flight Foot of the Crystal Empire looked on as his squad transported the two creatures to the Crystal Empire before turning his attention to the two warjacks. The unicorn recognized them as Juggernaut and Destroyer class heavy warjacks, having used them himself to fend off attacks from Diamond Dogs on the city . “Now why were you two out here?” he murmured. His horn glowed as he took control of them. “Let’s get you two over to the Empire. Maybe those things can explain… and maybe they can explain how they ended up out here....” As he trotted off, he was unaware that something was watching him with mysterious intent. ‘This is fascinating… Another one… of us…’ The hidden being thought, a glimmering grin taking over their face. The Destroyer seemed to sense the gaze as it turned slightly in the direction of the being before continuing to follow Flight Foot to the Crystal Empire. Night was falling, but it wasn’t the only darkness that was appearing….