//------------------------------// // Chapter 237 - The Snow War Part 2 // Story: Dadonequus Discord (Book 2) // by CrazedLaughter //------------------------------// “Alright, we’re through!” Smolder said as she dug through the wall of Applebloom’s fort, cautiously looking around. “Woah… Scootaloo wasn’t kidding, this place looks like it was hit bad.” Smolder commented. The inner part of the fort looked like there was a one-sided battle you all somehow didn’t notice, perhaps due to having to deal with Ocellus’s team. “Are you sure they’re not faking it? I swear, if we lose because we decided to just walk into a trap, then I’m gonna get really really angry.” Diamond said, skeptical of the whole situation. You were silently looking around. If they faked it, it's a damned good fake. You should have probably called to Cozy first and asked her what was up. But the fact she hadn’t declared a winner yet meant she’d probably not be willing to give your team any sort of information that’d lead to an advantage. “Anycreature want to go see if anycreature is okay? Only way to be sure this isn’t a trap is to check up on them.” “...I’ll do it.” Scootaloo said with a gulp. She reluctantly stepped past all of you, but before she could get any further, Smolder gently grabbed her by the shoulder of her leg to stop her. “Wha, huh?” “Let me do it.” She said as she grabbed a handful of snow. “If any of them try anything, I’ll just shove some snow right into their faces. This is still a war, and this dragon isn’t going down that easy.” “A-are you sure?” Scootaloo asked “I can do it, really! We can’t lose you, Smolder, you’re our toughest teammate.” “Yeah yeah…” Smolder said dismissively while hiding a smirk. “Which is why I said I’ll fill their faces full of snow if they try anything. Look, let me just get close to Sandbar over there. If he tries anything, I’ll knock him down real quick.” Damn, Smolder taking one for the team on this one. You didn’t know if you inspired her or if she was just looking out for Scootaloo. Either way, you kept an eye on her as you prepped your hooves to toss snowballs. Whatever happened here, something wasDFDGFHGFH. “Gyah!” Suddenly, out of nowhere, you hear Applebloom greet you from behind as you fall forward on your face. “Wha? Hey! Applebloom?!” Diamond said in surprise as she immediately grabbed a snowball and stood at the ready. “Stand back, or else I’ll clobber you. Anon is mine, remember?” “Relax, Diamond Tiara.” Applebloom said with an eye roll. “We all already surrendered. We got ambushed while y’all were takin’ out Sweetie Belle’s team.” “What? What do you mean you surrendered? None of us did anything to you.” Scootaloo said in surprise. Wait a second… You spit up the snow that got in your mouth and immediately pointed at Applebloom. Something was amiss. “Hold on there! Do you think we’re that dumb? There’s only three teams, Applebloom! You’re not gonna get the jump on us!” Applebloom just gave you a stoic stare. “Ah already got the jump on ya, Anon.” Your eye twitched in frustration at those words. “Okay… Still not falling for it.” “Hey, guys!” Smolder called out as she helped keep Sandbar up, slowly walking up to you all. “They already surre-Oh, never mind, I guess Applebloom already told you what’s up.” “See, told ya.” Applebloom said with a smirk. “Oh, don’t even. How does that even make sense? There’s only three teams.” You said, trying to remind everyone. “No! No! They came from out of nowhere! They got Gallus, then Yona! Then me!” Sandbar said in fright. “He said he’d crash a starship into my house if I refused to surrender. I don’t even know what that is! Gyaaah!” Sandbar yelled out in fright before passing out in Smolder’s arms. “Oooookay.” Smolder said awkwardly as she just let Sandbar hit the ground. “Anycreature wanna explain what that meant? All I know is there’s another team, but I don’t know anything about starships or whatever he just said.” “What’s a starship?” Diamond asked. …Oh god… “Scrappy?!” You shouted out to Applebloom. “Him?! Since when?! We didn’t agree to that!” “Well, um, when he heard you were going to have a snow war with us, he went all the way to the school and asked Cozy if it’d be okay if he could play too. Didn’t even know about it 'til today really. But he really got us good, Anon, got us all by surprise,” Applebloom said with a grin. “Uhhhhh, what? So Scrappy even took you out? That doesn’t sound like him.” Scootaloo noted. “Well, actually, he kinda just stood there holding a snowball, shakin’ and stuff. When he closed his eyes and tossed his snowball, he started cryin’, didn't even know he missed me. I felt so bad for him ah just let myself fall and covered maself in snow.” Applebloom said. “Yup, that sounds like Scrappy alright, he just couldn’t do it against you, huh?” Scootaloo said, having a light chuckle. “Hold it!” Diamond shouted. “It doesn’t matter now! We’re this close to winning and you’re out of the game, Applebloom. And besides, your pet shouldn’t even count! He doesn’t even have a team!” “Oh, er, he kinda does. He got Snips and Snails on his team.” Applebloom explained. Wut? “Are you serious?! How did he get them?!”  “Well, he did need a team. And I think he told them that he’d lead them to victory against ‘the evil hero colt’ in the name of glory… Or somethin’ like that. He already whispered to me that he’s just showin’ the true might of the Apple family. And, er, promised to punish himself for hitting me with a snowball. Kinda feel even more bad now, since he didn't hit me and all.” Applebloom said, feeling bad about the whole situation. “Wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me that little changeling did this? Like, the one that’s always a dog? I find that a little hard to believe, considering there’s no way he could take out Yona.” Smolder said in disbelief. “Well, Scrappy was kinda the captain of the whole changeling army, and he’s amazin’ at chess. When it comes to strategy, he’s second to none. Considerin’ he managed to get Snips and Snails to listen to him, means a lot. And ya definitely gotta watch out for Snails too, all that buckball made him some kind of a snowball pro.” Applebloom explained. …Well then. Four versus three. Somehow, Scrappy and the dumbtastic duo managed to take out freaking Yona. Then again, Sandbar seems to be kinda a pussy and Gallus probably got blindsided really easily. But your team? None of you would be taken out that easily. Smolder was tough, Scootaloo was quick, Diamond was tenacious, and you, of course, were a genius. There’s no way Scrappy can win against you.  Also, getting Snips and Snails to listen to him was tough? What the heck was Applebloom on? “Huh, okay then. So what do we do now? Do we wait? Or do we go looking for him?” Smolder asked. “Trust me, you don’t want to wait for him.” Gallus said. He had apparently gotten up and was already spreading his wings to fly off to where Ocellus was. “That goofy looking unicorn, and that changeling guy throws snowballs faster than any griffon can. That other guy? I’d get him first, he didn’t really do anything but distract us.” “Yes, Yona admits Yona was distracted by him.” Yona said. She had apparently picked up the fallen Sandbar and had him on his back. “Yona thought it was silly trick, so Yona laugh. Then snowballs fly down like rain! Yona impressed, Anon’s team might be doomed. But good luck anyway!” She said with a wave as she walked off, just walking through the snow wall of the fort like it was no big deal. “If ya guys do win, can ya maybe not be so hard on Scrappy? He was really hurtin’ when he thought he took me down.” Applebloom asked, mainly looking at Scootaloo. “C’mon, Applebloom, it’ll be fine. I’m sure Scrappy understands it’s just a game.” Scootaloo assured her. “It was a game. Maaaaybe I can stand losing to him, but Snips and Snails? That’s not happening, think of my reputation!” Diamond said, unwilling to back down from this. “Oh, well, erm, you can stomp them two with snowballs all ya want. Just be gentle with Scrappy, okay?” Applebloom asked, pleading a little with all of you. Smolder let out a big sigh. “Okay, I guess I can do that. But isn’t he, like, crazy about winning and honor and all that? He’s not gonna be too sore when we trounce him, is he?” Applebloom didn’t know how to answer that one. Scootaloo let out a sigh, and answered herself. “He’s gonna be pretty sore about it. Now I feel bad about all this.” You knew he’d be sore if he lost, but you also know he’d be much worse than you ever were if he won. Probably prancing about how victorious he is. “Look, I’m not gonna hold back just because he might feel bad. You win some, you lose some. So if he’s going to bring his best, then I’m bringing mine. He’s going down!” “Geez, Anon, you don’t need to sound like you’re into it.” Scootaloo said. “Oh come on, Scootaloo, it’s a war!” Diamond said, defending you. “It’s him or us! It’s not like we’re gonna hold it over him. We’re just totally gonna kick his butt!” “I mean, Diamond has a point. Plus we all know Scrappy would never let me live it down if he thrashed me. I actually think you’re not being fair right now.” You explain, not wanting to be seen as mean when you were actually fucking right. Scootaloo’s muzzle curled, she shifted her eyes, and finally gave in. “Okay, he would. Alright alright, it is a war. You’re fine with all that. Right, Applebloom?” “Ah understand. Like ah said, just don’t be mean to the little guy, okay?” Applebloom pleaded. “I got it, I got it. Trust me, Applebloom, it’ll be alright. Okay? I promise when we win, we won’t lord it over him. “ You assure her. “If ya win.” Applebloom says with a wink. “Good luck, ya’ll. You’re gonna need it.” She said as she walked off to follow her teammates. “Okay, so I have a plan. I say we just stick together, and smash them with snow the moment they show up.” Smolder suggests. “Scrappy is pretty scrawny, and he’s not going to be able to do much with two colts on his team.” “Snips and Snails are pretty bad.” Diamond remarks. “So it sounds like a plan to me. So where are they? You think they’re afraid of us?” “Um, probably not.” Scootaloo says. “I don’t think Scrappy is afraid of anything.” “Then let’s find them and take them out. Stick together, everycreature. And keep your eyes open.” You knew how tenacious Scrappy was. Deep down, you knew he was a threat. He managed to take down Applebloom’s whole team, probably by himself. There was no way Snips and Snails were that useful. Speaking of. “Hahaha! Well well well, if it isn’t the hero colt that has denied us our heroship!” Came a rather annoying voice from atop the fort’s walls. “Uh, Snips, you’re not still mad about that, are you?” Snails asked, standing next to Snips. “Of course I am! And you should be too! We could have been super duper big! Like, bigger than Trixie!” Snips shouted back at Snails. “I guess, eh. So, do we attack right now?” Snails asked. “No, not yet. Stick to the plan.” Snips whispered back. “Ah geez, seriously?! Okay, you two, why don’t you just surrender now and I won’t have to come up there and kick your butts.” Seriously? He was still butthurt after all this time?! You thought he stopped caring about it.  “Ha!” Snips scoffed. “You’re all outclassed, outmatched, and, uh, outbeaten! And you, Anon, you’ll feel the fullgSFGFDGGYAH!” Suddenly, out of nowhere, Diamond Tiara threw a snowball, hard, into Snips's face, knocking him off the fort wall backwards with a yell. “Snails, avenge me!” “Threaten my Anon, will you? Totally still a doofus. What about you, huh? You want some of this?!” Diamond threatened. Snails just silently stared at her, then he turned to look over the wall, down at Snips. Then he turned to face all of you as he seemed to suddenly enter some sort of calm state. He then all gave you all a dumb smile as he simply stated “Okay.” “Well, this is gonna be easy. Alright, guys, stand back, I got this.” With two snowballs in hand, Smolder spins and throws them both right at Snails. Snails, in a blink of an eye, manages to actually catch the snowballs within his hooves and quickly smashes them down under himself. He then resumes his stance, continuing that dumb look. “What? How did he… Okay, time to get serious!” Smolder quickly started scooping up as many snowballs as she could and began to throw them as hard as she could. But with near otherworldly skill, Snails managed to catch them all and slam them down, making the part of the wall he was under ever so higher. Diamond tilted her head in confusion. “What is going on?” Scootaloo slowly stepped forward, narrowing her eyes. “Scrappy? No, it can’t be him. How did Snails suddenly get so good?” It couldn’t be because of Buckball, was it? He can’t be that good. “Screw it! Everycreature grab some snowballs and bring him down!” You were not going to lose to fucking Snails. You already lost to these idiots once before, and, for what THAT was worth, that didn’t count! “ATTACK!” And with that, everyone started to grab snowballs and tried to bring down Snails. But, as much as you hate to admit it, he was godlike. Dodging the snowballs with ease as he caught the ones that got really close, throwing them down to make the wall he stood on higher and higher, until you all couldn’t throw hard enough to reach him anymore. “Okay…” Smolder said, holding on to her knees as she panted. “Maybe I can see how they took down Yona now. But that isn’t even the changeling guy, right? Who is he?” “It doesn’t matter! Just..” You threw another snowball, which didn’t even reach halfway up the wall he created. “Okay, nevermind.” You then looked up and began to angrily yell at Snails. “Hey! What are you doing, anyway?! What are you up to?” Snails just looked down at you, and shrugged. “Don’t shrug at me! Snails, I swear to whatever gods are actually in Equestria, I’ll slaughter you if you don’t come down from there!” You shouted, furious that he managed to deflect all the snowballs tossed at him. You were not going to lose, not to them! Snails just shrugged again, as if waiting for something. “SNAILS! DON’T MAKE ME USE MY HORN!” You angrily yelled, yielding no results. “A-Anon! I-it’s okay, don’t get mad.” Diamond said as she came to console you, before looking up at Snails with even more fury than even you. “SNAILS! YOU MADE MY ANON MAD! DO YOU HEAR ME?! FORGET CHAOS MAGIC, I’LL MAKE SURE MISS CHEERILEE BURIES YOU IN CLASSWORK! DO YOU HEAR ME?!” Snails just dumbly looked down, and shouted at all of you. “I haven’t been able to hear anything any of you said since I got up here. Sorry.” Smolder just rolled her eyes and walked up to the wall. Scootaloo, noticing this, called out to her. “Smolder, what’s up?” Smolder didn’t answer, she just walked up to the wall, looked at her claws as she flexed them, then swiped at the wall three times. In a near instant, the wall began to quake as Snails began to lose his footing. In the next moment, the wall fell backwards, Snails screaming from up high while Snips yelled from behind the falling wall. The entire area shook as everything came crashing down. “I couldn’t take that anymore.” Smolder said as she looked at all of you, frustrated. “I don’t even know who they were and I feel like burning this entire place down… Erm, y’know, if snow can burn.” Woah… That was easy.  Smolder, noticing the silence of all of you, smirked as she rubbed her claws on her chest and blew on them. “C’mon guys, don’t gawk, this is just me being the best dragon around.” “No kidding.” You were pretty impressed. “Good work, Smolder. So we win, right? I don’t see Scrappy anywhere.” “Well, we should win. If he’s hiding and he’s the only one left, that should mean we won.” Diamond said, as she began to bounce a snowball on her hoof. “He probably knows not to mess with us!” “Uh, guys? Is the ground still supposed to be shaking like this?” Scootaloo asked. Wha? Hey, the ground really was shaking. What the… OH SHIT! Suddenly, crashing through the fallen fort walls, was a giant snowball speedily rolling towards all of you, catching you all by surprise. Smolder didn’t even get a chance to react as it rolled over her first. Scootaloo jumped out of the way while calling to her. You? It almost seemed like the snowball was heading right towards you. “ANON!” Shouted Diamond, she used all her strength to jump towards you and push you out of the way as the snowball engulfed her.  “W-ngh… D-DIAMOND!” You shouted back as you slowly began to stand, but the snowball was already rolling away. You swore you saw a dark figure jump from the top as the snowball crashes into a nearby tree and becomes a pile of snow mush with Smolder and Diamond inside. “Two down, two to go.” Said a mysterious but familiar voice as the dark figure landed in front of you and Scootaloo. “S-Scrappy?” Scootaloo cautiously called out to it. “That’s right!” Scrappy said. For some reason, he wasn’t in his dog form, he wasn’t even in his colorful form. He was… How he used to look. “Prepare yourselves for defeat! Because I WILL BE DEFEATING YOU!”