//------------------------------// // Chapter 16: Cozy Winter Cabins // Story: Winter's Howl // by 71NYL-5CR4TCH //------------------------------// Winter’s Howl Chapter 16: Cozy Winter Cabins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By the time he had touched down outside the hotel, Snowstorm found himself covered in small bruises. The energetic filly, who was now running in circles for no apparent reason, had flailed wildly for the entire duration of the flight. Snowstorm brought a hoof to one of his many bruises. Gently, he pressed inwards, wincing in pain. “Yup….that’s gonna leave a mark…” Snowstorm sighed as he returned to standing on all fours. Rainbow chuckled, “Well at least we’re here now. What’s the plan for the day?” “Ooh!Ooh! We could go swimming or flying or go to the clubhouse and play games or we could….” Scootaloo rambled on in a hyperactive state as Snowstorm and Rainbow turned to each other. “Well, actually, I was kinda hoping you could help me pick out a house.” Snowstorm offered. “Sure! That actually sounds like fun! Are you going to get a cloud home or keep your hooves on the ground?” Rainbow replied, smiling now. “Probably going to stay earth bound. As comfy as clouds are, Winter’s coming and the hummingbird here,” Snowstorm extended a hoof to the still spinning and rambling young filly, “can’t fly yet.” “Ah, I see. Well, most Ponyville homes are cottages, so they are pretty affordable. Lets talk to the mayor; she should be able to help you out.” Rainbow turned and waved a hoof, signaling Snowstorm to follow. He continued behind her, leaving Scootaloo oblivious. “H-Hey! Where are we going? Is it somewhere fun? I hope they have candy!” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mayor’s office resided in a small, rustic building, not much larger than most of the cottages in the village. As the trio entered, they first noticed the warmth of the office compared to the cold wind outside. The smell of old parchment and ink filled the noses of the three pegasi who looked about the office. In the center sat a kindly old mare, writing furiously with her mouth. She looked up at the sound of the door opening and dropped her quill, smiling gently. “Well hello Rainbow Dash! And Scootaloo! And…I’m sorry I don’t believe we’ve met. You are..?” “Uh, Hi, I’m a Snowstorm. I’m new in town and was looking at buying a home.” “Of course of course! You’re that new young stallion on weather patrol with Rainbow! Oh, it’s good to meet you! Now, your looking for a home, you say? How large?” The mare began pulling out various files, skimming through them. “Um, at least two bedrooms and two full bathrooms.” Snowstorm spoke, somewhat unsure of himself. “Hmm…let’s see…I have a two bedroom, two full bath, one half bath single story cottage available for 1,500 bits a month for 10 years. It’s near the town square and has been recently remodeled. Interested?” “That sounds nice, can we go have a look at it?” Snowstorm grinned now, the home sounded promising, and was reasonably priced. If I hold my current job, I’ll be making 6,000 bits a month…damn that’s a lot. I can pay for this place easy! Snowstorm thought to himself as the four ponies began walking toward the town square. When the four had arrived at the empty home, one certain filly had come down off a sugar rush, and was beginning to nose dive into a crash. No sooner had the four entered the room than an audible ‘thud’ echoed through the house. The three standing ponies turned to see Scootaloo, sleeping soundly on the hardwood floor. Snowstorm laughed, well at least she’s comfortable sleeping in new places… The three continued to tour the small home. It had a very traditional style, with hard wood floors, tan wallpaper and a simplistic trim. Coming into the front door, one immediately met a bedroom door on their left. As they continued to walk, the hallway opened into a small den, which connected to a bachelor’s kitchen. It was not only small, but had only a stove, microwave, and miniature refrigerator. There was no oven, and the stove only had two burners. Good thing I don’t cook a lot more than chef coltardee…Snowstorm thought to himself as he examined the kitchen. The den was spacious, with a large fireplace in the center, and nothing else. Finally, on the right of the den/kitchen combo was a larger bedroom, with a bathroom inside it. It seemed spacious enough for his liking, and the ability to go to the bathroom without having to leave the bedroom seemed very appealing. The bedroom was carpeted, as was the other, and gave the rooms a much more comforting appearance. Snowstorm gave a final look over of the house before turning to the mayor, “Alright, I’ll take it.” The mayor blinked, “That’s it? You don’t want to see any other homes or anything?” “Nah, I’ve never been good with decisions.” Snowstorm waved a dismissive hoof. “Ah…well, ok then! We can just go back to my office and I’ll get the paperwork all set up!” “Sounds good, how long until we can move in?” Snowstorm asked. “If you want? Right after you sign the papers…” “Awesome! So…can we leave her here while we get everything signed? “ Snowstorm pointed downward at the sleeping filly beneath him. The mayor laughed, “Sure, it’ll only be a minute…” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Snowstorm carried his duffel bag to the door of his new home, and opened the door again. Scootaloo lay napping exactly where she had been left, now snoring loudly. Snowstorm gave a few gentle kicks to his sleeping sister. She began to stir, mumbling incoherently. “Scootaloo, get up, it’s time to see your new house.” Snowstorm whispered to the half sleeping filly. “Hm..? New house? You mean this is where we live now?” Scootaloo looked around, seeing it for the first time she could recollect. “Yup, signed the papers like five minutes ago.” He opened the door to the larger bedroom and threw hid duffel bag inside. Scootaloo rubbed her eyes before opening the door to the smaller bedroom, which shared a wall with the other bathroom. “Is this my room?” “Sure is. No come on, wake up, we have to go pick out a bed for you, and some other stuff. Do you have anything you want to keep for when we move in?” “Yeah, my scooter. It’s parked outside the school, if we could pick it up that would be great.” Snowstorm raised an eyebrow, “Your scooter? How did you get a scooter?” “Miss Cherilee gave it to me for my birthday last year, it helps me get around town faster.” “Huh, Ok…well I’m sure we can pick it up today.” Snowstorm now stood beside his younger sister and opened the door to his new home, Ponyville. “So…where are we going to get furniture?” Scootaloo asked, walking alongside her older brother. “Rainbow said to meet her at someplace called Sofa’s and Quills…I guess they sell sofas, so maybe they sell mattresses. After all, we need a place to sleep tonight. Or at least, I do.” Scootaloo rolled her eyes, “Whatever, just don’t get one that creaks too much, ok?” Snowstorm sighed, “You really are a master at being so mature and immature at the same time, you realize this right?” Scootaloo laughed, “It’s called being a smartass.” Snowstorm laughed now as wall as the two approached the small furniture shop, Rainbow waiting just outside. “Hey guys! Turns out they sell beds and some other stuff too!” Rainbow grinned, pleased that she’d led her friends to the right place. “Awesome! It’ll be kinda weird having just a bed, but it’s all I really need right now.” Snowstorm smiled back as he reached Rainbow, pecking her on the lips. “So what are you looking for in a bed? Other than me in it, of course?” Rainbow gave her best set of bedroom eyes. Snowstorm blushed, “Um…you know, something comfy, soft…” “Quiet?” Rainbow interjected with a sly grin. Snowstorm brought a hoof to his face, “Mother of Celestia, I’ve got two of them now…”