//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Then the Storm Blows Cold // by Llama the Kujo //------------------------------// Chapter 6 Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief as she and her friends exited the forest. She put on a good show of indomitable courage for her reputation’s sake, but if she had to be honest with herself, the whole forest still gave her the heebie-jeebies. Not as much as the thought that the windigos were returning, let alone what was going to follow. “Hey, guys, I'll be right back. I just remembered something I need to grab from home,” she told the others as she sped away. “Don't be too long!” she heard Twilight call after her. She arrived at her cloudominium and closed the door, breathing a heavy sigh of relief at finally being alone for the first time in days. She knew she probably shouldn't have taken the detour, but she knew she'd be able to catch up to her friends in no time flat, and this was something she had to do. She went to her desk and started writing. It wasn't something the sky-blue pony did very often if she could avoid it, but this letter had to be sent. She finished the letter, addressed it, and stamped it. Stopping, she realized she'd need something to corroborate her cover story, so she grabbed a couple of Daring Do books before dashing to the mail pickup to drop off the letter. Please, she thought as she darted toward the train station. Please get there in time! * * * * * “What took you guys so long?” Applejack heard Dash ask from the train stop as they trotted up. “We were going the same speed we have been all morning,” Twilight rebutted. As they neared the blue pegasus with the rainbow mane, Applejack saw a pair of Daring Do books, one in the pegasus’ hooves apparently being read, and the other by her side, presumably to keep her occupied on the third train ride over the same terrain in as many days. “Y'know, Dash,” Applejack said with a wink, “I don't really blame ya fer wantin’ somethin’ to keep ya occupied on the train, but ya couldn'ta grabbed enough for the rest of us?” “We still have a couple of minutes before the train gets here. Want me to grab anything for ya?” Dash asked helpfully. Twilight and Applejack asked for books, Rarity and Pinkie declined her offer, and Fluttershy just kicked her hoof at the station floor. Dash was off at near her top speed, if Applejack could guess from her years knowing the pegasus, with only a rainbow trail that hung in the air for a moment as proof of where she'd gone. Dash returned with five books - two Daring Do classics for Twilight, a Hank the Cowpoke book for Applejack, and a couple of others, apparently for Fluttershy, who looked pleasantly surprised at the unsolicited service. “Whatcha got there, Fluttershy?” AJ asked. “A couple of books that I'd lost. Rainbow said she found them in Twilight's library when she was there getting her Daring Do novels,” the sunshine-yellow pegasus responded happily. Twilight just blushed. “It's okay, Twilight,” Fluttershy continued. “I know you have a lot of books, and it can be hard to keep track of them sometimes,” she added with a warm smile. The sound of metal wheels on tracks screeching to a halt pulled their attention. The train doors opened and they all climbed inside, yet again. Applejack just hoped their next train ride would be their last for a while. She was just fine stickin’ with walkin’ and only havin’ places to go within walkin’ distance. All this travelin’ was becomin’ a little tiresome. * * * * * Rainbow Dash couldn't concentrate on her book. She was reading one of the best Daring Do books ever - the one she'd gotten as an early release that featured her, Rainbow Dash, on the cover - but she couldn't focus on it. She was too preoccupied, worrying about whether the letter would reach its intended recipient in time. Rarity, the only other passenger in this car, had apparently noticed, and moved over to her. “Is the book not to your liking?” she asked softly. “No, it's not that, I…” Rainbow paused for a moment, trying to figure out how to word what she wanted to say. “I have some things on my mind.” “Oh? Like what?” the white unicorn kindly probed. “Just stuff,” Rainbow replied. When her friend didn't back down, however, the pegasus sighed, resigned to having to tell her at least a little. “Back there, when I said I'd forgotten something at home? I ran home to write a letter.” Rarity looked surprised at this. “Rainbow Dash, writing? Of her own free will?” she said with a smirk. The unicorn then straightened up and took on a more serious tone. “To whom was this letter addressed, if I may ask?” “Not this time. But... I'm worried about if it will arrive on time.” “On time? On time for what?” Rarity's face was a model of confusion, and Rainbow couldn't fault her. The pegasus hadn't given her much to go on. “Nevermind,” Rainbow said evasively. “No, tell me, darling,” Rarity prodded. “I can't help unless I know what's going on.” “I know,” Rainbow responded. “It's just that... I'm honestly worried here. I mean, we've saved Equestria more times than, well, anypony else I know of, but this one really worries me.” Rarity gave her a warm, encouraging smile. “Cloudsdale is scheduled to pass Foal Mountain in the next few days on its way to somewhere else,” Rainbow continued. “My parents still live there, you know - in Cloudsdale. I haven't seen them in ages. They don't even know I'm a Wonderbolt. But… I mean, I want to believe we'll just get up there, solve this, and that will be that, but… I told my parents to take a vacation to Las Pegasus for a week.” Rainbow wasn't expecting the hug that suddenly embraced her. It was a warm, tight hug of white forelegs that spoke of understanding and care on behalf of the recipient. She reciprocated the embrace for a moment, taking solace in having such an understanding friend. “It's okay to be worried about your family,” Rainbow heard whispered into her ear. As she pulled away and out of Rarity's grasp, she realized that she couldn't see her friend very well because her own eyes were wet with tears. She went to thank her friend, but was shushed. “Don't mention it. I know how you value your reputation,” Rarity said kindly. “I won't tell a soul if you don't.” “Deal,” Rainbow wholeheartedly agreed, wiping the tears from her eyes. * * * * * The train arrived at the destination near the foot of Foal Mountain without any trouble. As Twilight exited the train - again - she could hear complaining groans from behind her about having to scale the entire mountain again. As she looked back, though, she noticed something odd about Rainbow and Rarity - their eyes were slightly bloodshot, as though they'd been crying. Twilight dismissed the notion and started up the trail again. At least it was familiar this time, and she knew what to expect. What she hadn't expected, though, was the sheer amount of snow they ran into almost three quarters of the way up. It was so deep, the trail was indistinguishable from the slope of the mountain. It hadn't been easy before, but now it was flat impossible. Hearing worried murmuring from behind, Twilight instantly thought of a spell that could help. She charged her horn, focusing on the spell. The snow in front of her glowed and started moving. Soon it had become a series of solid steps strong enough to hold the weight of three ponies at once. They wouldn't need to hold that much, but Twilight liked safety cushions. She had to stop and repeat the spell every so often, but it was preferable to trying to find the safe trail through two feet of snow, or even using the path under the snow, for that matter. Twilight hadn't forgotten how difficult their first trip up had been, and she didn't want to think about how many rocks had been displaced farther down the mountain in the process. Things got even more interesting and difficult when they hit the blizzard. Oh, no, Twilight thought to herself. The wind was howling as the blowing snow whipped her face. Just before they reached the village, Twilight felt a cold chill - the evil kind that had little to do with the weather - make laps up and down her back before diving headfirst into her heart and taking up residence there. As she reached the outskirts, she saw why. Of the houses built into the hill, only the roofs were visible over the snow; the houses on stilts showed down to the tops of the windows. Right in front of the building with the wicker door - which was dug out, probably magically - was Filigree Frost, forelegs spread out and head lowered in a “bring it” pose, a grin on her face that was perhaps the coldest, most evil Twilight had ever seen. * * * * * Filigree Frost had been waiting so long for this moment. Her mother, her mother before her, and her mother before her had all been waiting for this moment for years upon years. And there was the Princess of Friendship and her entourage, walking carefully over the snow through the storm. It was appropriate that she of all ponies was here to witness this. Now witness the destruction of your precious way of life, Filigree thought as she closed her eyes, focusing on the spell. The image was so beautiful to her, it almost brought tears to her eyes. Dark tendrils spiraled around her horn, wrapping into the ridge until they coalesced into a ball of utter blackness at the end. This process was repeated until she could feel the dark energy had engulfed her entire horn. As she released the spell, a bolt of pure darkness shot out from her horn and into the sky, consuming the utter blackness around her horn and finally opening the door for her rightful rulers to return. Even the roaring wind could not muffle her hideous, hysterical laughter.