Winter’s Howl
Chapter 20: Bursts of Heat
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Stormshadow chuckled at the mention of his name, exposing his crooked yellow teeth,
“Hey babe, miss me?”
Icicle took a few steps back, her face aghast from the unholy abomination of a stallion that stood before her, “Wh-what are y-you doing here?”
“Oh nothing much, ran into Snowstorm here and thought I’d pay him a friendly little visit is all…” Stormshadow’s face was twisted in a malicious grin, stretching the scar across his face. “And who’s this guy?” Stormshadow extended a hoof at Sea Mist, “New buddy of yours?” Stormshadow raised an eyebrow.
“What’s it to you, anyway?” Sea Mist stepped slightly forward, allowing Scootaloo to come into Stormshadow’s view.
Stormshadow paused for a moment at the sight of his daughter, “Well I’ll be…so the little brat wasn’t dead after all, just a filthy little coward.” Stormshadow gave a scowl and spit toward Scootaloo, who merely curled into a ball on the floor, crying quietly. “Aw, little cry-baby. You got my flank under so many charges I ended up homeless, there's something to bucking cry about.”
“Back off Stormshadow.” Snowstorm spoke up as Sea Mist began to growl.
"Oh come on now...you have to admit that's not very fair. But I do think it's interesting this fellas here...came into a relationship with a single mom? I give it a month before you run off."
Sea Mist took another step forward, slamming his hoof against the hardwood, splitting it as he did so, “Just because your dumb ass ran off on these kids doesn’t mean I’m going to, it’s stallions like you who give a bad name to the rest of us. I'm her husband and I intended to remain as such. ”
“Oh I’m the dumbass? Only reason I stuck around was ‘cause I thought I had to, you married that bitch when she had a kid!”
Sea Mist’s anger exploded, his nostrils flaring as he stomped his hoof against the floor again, “Say one more bucking word about Icicle or Scootaloo and I will end you…”
“Hah! You think your better than me? You think your going to 'stand up for your mare's honor? Psh, please, she’s probably got you so whipped you can’t even through a punch…” Stormshadow’s eyes glinted, a wicked smile spreading across his face, daring Sea Mist to make a move.
Sea Mist lost control, yelling as he charged toward the filthy stallion before him. Snowstorm remained still until the charging pegasus reached him, waiting. Sea Mist’s anger engulfed his mind, only knowing of the one urge in his unsteady mind, to kill the uncelestial creature before him. Sea Mist saw his opponent move briefly, but took no notice…
Until he saw light glimmer off of a silver blade.
He was too late, in his enraged sprint, he’d lost control of his mind, failing to notice Stormshadow’s expectancy of his assult. His mind cleared only in time to feel cold, smooth steel puncture into his body.
Sea Mist heaved; the sensation of a foreign blade piercing his stomach overtook his mind.He coughed, allowing crimson blood to spatter against the hardwood floor beneath. The feeling of Stormshadow’s greasy coat pressed against his own mixed disgust with his agony, knowing the feeling of the stallion he despised most pressed against him would be the last feeling of another pony he would know.
Sea Mist collapsed to his knees, returning to a greater agony as Stormshadow twisted the knife within his gut with a grunt, thrusting more pain through his body. Stormshadow withdrew the newly reddened blade from his opponent, and glared at his shocked face. Sea Mist reached up with his hoof and felt his wound, now feeling his own blood rush over his hoof. Sea Mist let out a long breath before collapsing to the floor, the reflection of the still burning fire shining in his glossy eyes.
Stormshadow turned to the rest of the family, his sickening red blade in hoof.
“ANYPONY ELSE WANNA TRY SOMETHING FUNNY?!” He screamed, his eyes now wide with rage, “THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BUCK WITH ME!”
Snowstorm stared at Sea Mist, his jaw agape and eyes wide as shock rocketed his body. “You…bastard…” Snowstorm whispered
Stormshadow laughed, “You’re one to talk you little shit.”
“YOU…BASTARD!!” Snowstorm screamed, meeting Stormshadow’s gaze before rushing to Sea Mists side. Snowstorm watched in horror as his father laid still. No breaths came from his body; only a growing pool of blood began to form beneath his collapsed form. “YOU WON’T GET AWAY WITH THIS! NOT AGAIN!” Snowstorm stood from his father’s side to face Stormshadow, who merely smirked.
“What are you going to do boy? Punch me again? You think I’m ABOVE stabbing you?! You think I won’t because you’re my KID? HAH! THINK AGAIN, RETARD!” Stormshadow looked at Snowstorm with daring eyes, a sadistic grin spread across his lips.
Snowstorm let out a slow breath, calming himself. He had to think this through, or otherwise he would end up like Sea Mist. Snowstorm closed his eyes, there was no way he could win a fight when he had the knife, and there were no tools in the house except for some kitchen ware and…
The fire stoker…
Snowstorm’s eyes flashed open, burning with hate. He reached behind him and wrapped his hoof around the long iron spade alongside his fireplace. It ended with a dull spear, but was heavy, and solidly built. Snowstorm brought the fire stoker to his front and raised it above his head.
Stormshadow’s face turned to one of panic, his eyes darting back and forth. Scootaloo and Icicle now sat by Sea Mists side, ferociously starring at Stormshadow as well, while Rainbow began to spread her wings, preparing for attack. He spoke nervously and began to walk backwards,
“Come on boy, you can’t be serious. Are you really going to kill your old man?” Storshadow’s face turned to one of furry again, “YOU REALLY THINK YOU CAN KILL YOUR FATHER?!”
Snowstorm glared, raising the stoker higher, “No, but I can kill the stallion who did.”
Snowstorm brought the fire stoker down upon Stormshadow with all his might through gritted teeth and clenched eyes, bringing with it a hearty *thud* as it met his head. Stormsadow staggered backwards, bringing a hoof to where the stoker had collided with his skull, his eyes shut tight from pain. He felt warm blood run threw his hoof and opened an eye at an approaching Snowstorm, raising the stoker again. Stormshadow began to run away, his disorientation causing him to wobble about the room as he did. Finally he stopped between Sea Mist and the still burning fire, looking down at Scootaloo,
“Come on Scoots…you’re not… gonna let your big bro… kill me are you? I…I’m your daddy…” Stormsahdow staggered more, his vision beginning to blur as he spoke through broken slurs and heaving breaths.
Scootaloo stood up, her teary purple eyes now filled with rage. She walked toward the heinous staliion, gritting her teeth.
“You tried to beat me…you almost killed Snowstorm…YOU LEFT ME ALONE! FOR ALL THOSE YEARS YOU LEFT ME ALL ALONE! YOU LEFT US ALL ALONE! YOU ARE NOT MY DADDY! YOU KILLED MY DADDY!!!!” Scootaloo spun on her forelegs and gave a hard buck to Stormshadow’s chest. The new blow knocked Stormshadow back, throwing him off his already unsteady stance. Stormshadow felt his body step back and turn, before falling face-first into the long burning fire before him. He felt the heat of the flames engulf his greasy, alcohol soaked mane, and sensed his entire coat erupting into flames. Stormshadow stood, the entire front half of his body engulfed in flames, wailing in unholy agony as the inferno overtook his body. He fell to the floor, consciousness drifting as his body shut down, unable to compensate with maddening pain of being burned alive.
Scootaloo stood still for a moment, starring at the smouldering figure before breaking down into sobs. A charred, burnt corpse, smoke still drifting from It’s flesh laid before her, while a cold, lifeless body, leaking dark blood lay behind her.
Icicle looked over the body of her husband openly sobbing as Snowstorm approached, tears beginning to form in the corners of his eyes. His own father now lay lifeless before him, and his worst foe lay next to him, smoldering.
This isn’t right…Snowstorm thought, It doesn’t make it any better…
“WAIT! HE’S STILL BREATHING!” Rainbow screamed as she saw movement around Sea Mists chest, her eyes now wide with hope.
All three of the ponies now jerked from their sobs to look closely at the gentle rise and fall of Sea Mists chest.
“We need to get him to the hospital! NOW!” Snowstorm screamed, loading his father onto his back.