//------------------------------// // Spring Blossom Chapter 3 // Story: Snowfall // by Golden Dragon //------------------------------// Chapter 3 Spring Blossom lay in bed, staring at the ceiling of her bedroom, listening to the drumming of rain on the window. She had wanted to go with Ashe. Oh Celestia, how she had wanted that, but she didn't want to give that mare the satisfaction of having her back. She replayed their conversation over and over again in her head. Ashe claimed that he had served Mistress all along, that he had faked their relationship so that she would stay. But she had seen the look he got in his eyes when they were together. The way he spoke, it didn't sound empty. Perhaps he was doing it because Mistress told him to, but part of it had to be real, right? He must have cared for her, even if he wouldn't or couldn't admit it. Oh Spring Blossom, you are such a foal! She tried to consider the reasons why Ashe wouldn't return with her. She didn't like any of them. He might truly serve Mistress, in which case their relationship was a lie. Perhaps he loved Mistress. The thought of him laying with Mistress as he had with her made her face flush with anger. Maybe Mistress had used her compulsion on him again -- he wanted to leave, but the compulsion held him. Or perhaps it was fear that held him -- fear that Mistress would find him again -- or guilt over what he had done. She couldn't fathom the ponies of Ponyville forgiving him, or her for that matter, for murder. She couldn't even forgive herself. The filly didn't know what to do, anymore. Life was simpler when she thought Ashe and Mistress were dead and gone, but there he had been, alive and well. She knew she should probably tell Twilight about what had happened. Some of it, at least. What could they do, though? A daring rescue like Snowfall had staged couldn't work again. Surely Mistress would have better sealed the secret tunnel by now, not to mention the fact that they wouldn't have the cover of snow again. They wouldn't stand a chance against the ponies at the encampment, head-to-head. And what if Ashe truly did not want rescue? It all seemed so hopeless! She got out of bed. Telling Twilight was the only thing she could do. The unicorn might think of a better plan then she could. * * * Twilight was shocked to hear the news that both Ashe and the mare were alive. She had been the one who saw their bodies at the base of the tower after Snowfall charged Mistress. “If anypony can help us, it’s Celestia,” she told Spring Blossom. “Spike, take a letter.” Dear Princess Celestia, There is a problem in the Everfree Forest that I feel you should be made aware of. I regret not telling you about it sooner, but it was not until today, with news that Spring Blossom has brought, that I realized that the magnitude of the problem was beyond the abilities of the ponies here to solve. There is a garnet colored mare residing in an encampment in the Everfree Forest who only goes by the name Mistress. She has many ponies serving her, training to fight. This past winter, one such pony showed up here in Ponyville, although he had no memories. He took the name Snowfall and lived here peacefully for several weeks before unwittingly facilitating the kidnapping of Rainbow Dash. When he returned to us, he said that she had died in an accident. Later, when I attempted to use a spell to fix his amnesia, I broke another spell that had been cast on him. This 'Mistress' had used magic to bend him to her will! We managed to rescue Rainbow Dash, and Spring Blossom as well, when Snowfall gave his life to kill the mare. That's what we believed, at least, until today with the news Spring Blossom has brought me. They are both alive and well due to a flower called Dragon's Flame. Princess, I am unsure what to do. Any help you can provide would be most welcome. Twilight Sparkle The wait for a response from Celestia was long and tense. “What’s taking her so long?” Spring Blossom asked. “It’s a difficult problem,” Twilight explained. “She’s probably just thinking it through.” Finally, a response arrived. Spring Blossom paced nervously as Twilight read, and then re-read, the letter. "Well," she asked, "what did Celestia say?" Twilight frowned. "She says she took care of everything, that we're safe. There's something about her letter, though. I can't put my hoof on it but it seems . . . off." "Let me see." Spring Blossom trotted over to Twilight and read the letter herself. My faithful student, I was most alarmed upon reading your latest letter! I normally don't concern myself with what goes on in the Everfree Forest, however news like this is cause for an exception. I found the encampment you spoke of. It was as dangerous as you had described. Fortunately, I was able to halt all the magic that was thrown my way. I subdued the evil mare that led there. You can rest assured that your lives are safe, now. Thanks to you, the mare's plans have been foiled. Yours, Celestia It did seem a little off to her; a strange word choice or two, oddly structured sentences, and her writing did not use the whole width of the page. What concerned her the most, however, was the fact that Celestia didn't say a word about the other ponies at the encampment. "What about Ashe? Is he okay?" Would Ashe be punished because he served Mistress? How did Canterlot handle murderers, anyway? It was such a rare occurrence that Spring Blossom had no idea what would happen. Could an exception be made because of Mistress' mind altering magic? She departed Twilight’s home, seeking answers. * * * Her Royal Highness Celestia, Princess of the Sun, Divine Ruler of Equestria, stood before the garnet mare. The letter she had received from Twilight Sparkle had concerned her. Compulsion was an evil magic. She had forbidden it centuries ago for a good reason. If somepony had rediscovered it, she would want to put a stop to it before things got out of control. Celestia’s head throbbed as she warred in her mind against the magic coming from the unicorn. She had not expected the mare and her allies to be so powerful. The combined assault of their magic had shattered the wards she kept around her mind, allowing the mare to enter. The mare thought she had control of Celestia, but she was wrong. Even as the Princess’ wards had shattered new ones had sprung up in their place. She had let the mare in to fool her, to bide her time as she awaited reinforcements. The sight of this mare had surprised the Princess. Very little surprised her, anymore, but she had not expected to see this mare again. It had been centuries since she had last seen the unicorn. Somehow this mare, the very mare who had discovered compulsion, was still alive, despite the fact that only alicorns had such long lifespans. “Ah, Celestia, this is an unexpected pleasure! Will you stay for tea?” The mare paused, but Celestia did not respond, as if she was actually held by the mare’s magic. She laughed, “Oh of course you will! We shall have fun, you and I. I expected perhaps that Twilight Sparkle would show up again at some point, but you,” the mare practically giggled. “I could not have hoped for a better outcome.” Celestia’s eyes widened fractionally at the mention of Twilight Sparkle’s name. Let her think me ignorant. “Do you know her?” the mare asked. “She told me about you,” the Princess responded. The mare’s smile widened. “You came on her behalf! Well, surely she is eager to hear of your success here, yes? Come, write her a letter. Tell her you defeated me.” Celestia wrote her letter carefully. At first glace it would look like a simple letter saying just what the mare had asked her to write, but Twilight was a smart filly, she would see the real message hidden in it. * * * Twilight sent a follow-up letter to Celestia. She wanted to believe that Celestia had succeeded, that the garnet mare had been taken care of, but the strangeness of Celestia’s initial response still gave her pause. With no response immediately forthcoming, she became worried. The Princess was always prompt with her responses to Twilight, and in a case such as this she would expect that even more-so. Something was wrong. She would have to formulate a plan. Go to Canterlot? Would they believe her, there? Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. She opened up the door to see Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. She glanced at the clock. She had been thinking about what to do for hours. "Is there something you need, Fluttershy?" Twilight asked. "Oh, you look busy. I can just come back later." She began to turn around. "No, it's okay, Fluttershy. What is it?" "Well, Spring Blossom was supposed to meet me hours ago to help me plant some herbs, but she never showed up. Dash has been helping me look for her, but I was just wondering if you had seen her." "Not since she left my house this morning. Have you checked her house?" “Not yet. We were going to head there next.” “She’s been feeling down, lately. Maybe she forgot that she said she’d help you. Let’s go visit.” Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash followed as Twilight led the way to Spring Blossom's house. Twilight knocked on the door. "Spring? Are you there?" There was no response. Dash flew up to the second floor window and looked in. "She's not in her bed." She entered the window to look around further. "Spring, we're coming inside. We just want to talk, okay?" Twilight opened the door and looked around. "Hello?" The house was silent. A note rested on a small table near the door. I'm sorry. I couldn't stay any longer. Thank you all for your hospitality. Spring Blossom. * * * Rainbow Dash came down the stairs to find Twilight reading a note. "She left." Twilight said quietly. "She didn't go back there, did she?" Rainbow Dash asked. She couldn't imagine anypony wanting to return to that encampment. Spring Blossom had looked relieved after their rescue as they headed back to Ponyville. Relieved, but sad. The filly had known Snowfall, too, hadn't she? "I don't know, Dash. She cared for Ashe very much. Maybe-" "Who?" Dash interrupted, a confused look on her face. "Oh. Ashe. That's Snowfall's real name. She found out he was alive yesterday, and his memories are back." That was huge news, and yet Twilight said it so matter-of-factly. If it weren't for Snowfall, Dash wasn't sure what would have happened that day on the tower. "He's alive? Where is he?" When Twilight didn't immediately respond, she continued. "He's not still there is he? Twilight, we have to do something." The least she could do for Snowfall, or Ashe, whatever his name was, would be to rescue him like he rescued her. He belonged here, in Ponyville. She missed showing him her tricks. * * * Thoughts roiled through Spring Blossom's mind as she made her way through the Everfree Forest. Life had been less complicated just two days ago, when she believed Ashe and Mistress were dead. Sure, she still had her own problems to deal with, then -- the knowledge of what she had done ate at her -- but at least then she knew she had nowhere else to go. Ponyville could have been her home. Her memories would have faded eventually, right? But then Ashe had to show up, alive, hurtful words on his lips. Why, then, am I going back to him? He had to love her, he just had to! Mistress may have ordered him to do it, but it had become real. She remembered the way he smiled, how he sighed contentedly when she nuzzled him. What he had said was true, too. The ponies of Ponyville wouldn't forgive her if they learned what she had done. In Mistress' thrall or not, murder was still murder. She belonged with Ashe, that's all there was to it. If she was lucky, Twilight's letter from Celestia was true and Mistress was defeated. She would find Ashe and they would start a new life together. If not . . . well, Ashe had said that she would only need to garden, and she would be left alone otherwise. She thought she could live with that. Being near Ashe would certainly help. It wasn't just Mistress that wanted her back, Ashe did too. Ashe found her quickly when she entered the encampment the next day. He seemed pleased to see her again, and yet, under the surface, the filly thought she saw disappointment as well. He embraced her, though, whispering that he was glad to see her. "Come, let's go see Mistress. She will be glad that you returned." Spring Blossom stopped walking. "No. I'll grow those flowers for her, but I will not speak with her." Ashe nodded. "I understand. I'll talk to her. Your quarters should still be as you left them. Make yourself comfortable. I'll come by later." * * * Ashe entered the keep and headed to where he knew Mistress would be. The mare was lounging in the same room he had awakened in just a few days prior. Celestia stood in a corner of the room. The colt could scarcely believe that Mistress had captured Celestia. He was not surprised that Spring Blossom had returned, though. Even Snowfall wasn't surprised. Both he and Snowfall were happy to see her, although at the same time Snowfall was morose. She doesn't belong in Ponyville. You know that, he told Snowfall. She doesn't belong here either, Snowfall replied. Where would you have her go? Away. With us. Mistress would find us. Snowfall had no response to that but a rising feeling of anger that began to bleed over into Ashe's own emotions. Ashe took a deep breath, pushing the anger, and Snowfall, back down. That was new. "Mistress," he reported. "Spring Blossom has returned." The garnet mare smiled. "Ah, I knew she would come around. She just needed to realize she belonged here. Where is she, now?" "She refuses to speak with you." Ashe cringed as he said it. Nopony refused anything of Mistress. "She'll grow your Dragon's Flames, but she doesn't want to see you." Mistress chuckled. "Very well. If she wishes to believe that she is not doing this for me, I suppose I can grant her that." She turned towards the corner. "Celly, dear, pour some wine for me and Ashe, would you?" The Princess calmly walked out of the corner and did as she was told. There was something about her manner, though, about the way she looked at Ashe that made him think she was the one really in control. "Thank you, Celly. Now, I must speak with Ashe alone. How about you . . . go clean the latrines. Yes, that will do." The Princess bowed stiffly before leaving the room. "Ashe, I'm going to be blunt. Celestia's arrival here has complicated things. It takes all I have to keep her under my control. Releasing her would be disastrous for me and my plans. This is not the first time she and I have crossed paths. Previously, I had always been able to escape, to disappear before she found me. I fear that I cannot escape, this time. Since I need to devote my energies to controlling Celestia, I am giving you full command over the encampment." This was not the first time Celestia had disrupted Mistress' plans? Just how long had this mare been plotting against the Princess? Ashe gave a start at her last words. He had not been expecting that. "Me, Mistress?" The mare nodded. "You are the most capable pony I have. I expect that a rescue attempt for the Princess will find us sooner or later. I need everypony ready when that happens. You are the pony that can do this for me." This is our chance, Snowfall said. Let the rescue come. Celestia will capture this mare. We can leave with Spring Blossom! Ashe downed his wine in one gulp. I can't do that, I serve Mistress. I-- Still with that excuse, Snowfall interrupted. His voice had been getting stronger. After all she's done to us, do you believe in her that strongly? Or are you afraid you have nowhere else to go? I don't have anywhere else to go! Mistress cares about me . . . You're deluding yourself! You're expendible, she said so herself. She's just using you in some personal vendetta against Celestia! Mistress' words broke his thoughts. "I realize this is a big responsibility, but I am confident that you can handle it. I need you on this, Ashe." "Yes, Mistress," he mumbled. "Excellent. Now go, I need some time to think." So do I. He remembered thinking as Snowfall that he wanted his memories back. Yet the return of his memories hadn't made his life any better, only more complicated. His time as Snowfall had changed him, was continuing to change him. He wanted out. Snowfall had finally made him realize that this place wasn't for him, and it certainly wasn't where Spring Blossom belonged. So where, then, did they belong? * * * The room was exactly as she had left it. Her bed sat against the far wall, a small end table to its left in the corner. A flower pot rested next to the only window in the room, the flowers in it having long since withered and died without her there to care for them. Her bed was unmade. She had been dragged out of it that night after her meeting with Snowfall, taken to the basement of the keep, where she had remained until Snowfall returned and saved her. She barely knew Snowfall, but Ashe, she had spent many evenings and nights in this room with him. The filly sighed. She had wanted to escape, then. Perhaps he had, too. It seemed that was not to be, though. She looked up as the door opened and Ashe entered. He wasn't smiling. "Ashe! What did she say?" "She won't bother you," he mumbled. Spring Blossom let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Oh thank Celestia!" "You're more right than you know, with that." She furrowed her brow. "What?" "Mistress captured Celestia. She has to devote most of her energy to keep Celestia in check. She just gave me full command over the encampment." The blood drained from the filly's face as her hind legs gave out. She had feared as much. If Celestia's letter had been true then nopony should be here. After the shock wore off the other part of what Ashe said struck her. "Full command? So you don't want to leave, then." Her ears drooped. Maybe her hopes had been too high when she thought Ashe could change. It seemed that his devotion to Mistress was stronger than whatever he felt for her. There was a long pause before the colt spoke again. "I do want to leave, Spring. I finally understand that my place is with you, but not here. Not here." Her heart skipped a beat. "So what do we do?" "Mistress wants everypony to be ready to defend against a rescue attempt for Celestia. We need that rescue to succeed. If I'm careful I can lead them poorly enough for this top happen, but well enough that the ponies here won't suspect anything." The plan seemed a long shot, but Spring Blossom could see no alternative. Simply leaving was out of the question. Even if Ashe managed to convince the guards that they would return, Mistress would find out eventually and have them hunted down. Then there was Celestia. If a rescue attempt came and somepony besides Ashe led the defense, the attempt could fail. A disastrous prospect that the filly did not want to think about. "I trust you, Ashe." He looked her in the eyes and smiled. "I'm sorry I brought you back into this, Spring. I should've . . . I should've said something different to you there, in the clearing. Told you to stay away, to live happily in Ponyville." "It wouldn't have mattered, Ashe," she spoke softly. "Just seeing you alive was enough." He moved towards her. Their foreheads touched. "We'll get out of here this time. For good. I promise." The filly could only smile. * * * Ashe did his best to subtly sabotage the encampment's defenses over the next few days. He gave conflicting information to the different squads so that their actions would be uncoordinated and less effective. Sometimes it was difficult to get them to listen to him, though. They respected his skill and knowledge, but many still hated him for what he did as Snowfall. Perhaps their mistrust of him would help; without a leader they could trust they would be disorganized, inefficient. He had little time to prepare before the attack came. It was a small force, though, half the number of ponies the encampment held. Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash stood there as well. "We know you have Celestia," the colt wearing the most elaborate armor shouted. "Release her and nopony need be hurt. We only wish for her safe return." Mistress and Celestia stood in the courtyard behind the arrayed defenses, their presence taunting the assembled force outside, urging them forward. Ashe stood on the wall. Spring Blossom waited for him in the tower. He hoped she would be safe in there, hidden from the battle. This is it. Ashe breathed in deeply. “Come then. I’ll not stand in your way.” Confused shouts rose behind him among Mistress’ assembled forces. He turned to face them. All eyes turned to face him as he spoke again. Mistress’ eye were a harsh glare. “Brothers and sisters, you do not need to serve Mistress. Her cause is not right, and it is not just. She cannot hold Celestia for long. Submit to Celestia now and clear your conscious.” The assembled ponies exchanged glances, looked at Mistress. He scanned their faces. They're afraid. Mistress has lost and yet they still fear her. His eyes met Mistress'. Her face was a mask of anger, but hiding underneath it he saw fear. She knows that this is her end. * * * Spring Blossom watched from the top of the tower. Ashe had told her to wait inside the tower, where she would be safe, but she couldn’t resist going to the top where she could watch what happened. This was the deciding moment. Would the ponies side with or against Mistress? Fighting began to break out among the gathered ponies as they made their allegiances known, those that remained in Mistress’ thrall shifting to form a protective wall around her as the others tried to reach her and strike her down. The royal guard rushed in upon seeing this, joining the fray. Ashe leapt off the wall and glided down to where Rainbow Dash and Twilight stood outside the wall. He began speaking with them, but he was too far away for Spring Blossom to hear what they said. The fighting below was growing intense. Lightning flashed out of the clear, blue sky, striking pegasi out of the air, their bodies hitting the ground in a shower of dirt. Those pegasi still flying were diving at the ponies on the ground, while the earth ponies delivered brutal kicks to each other. The circle of defenders protecting Mistress was collapsing, its ponies falling one by one to the assault. Spring Blossom cringed, the cries of the ponies below momentarily bringing back memories of the foals crying in the burning house. Ashe had been right to want her inside the tower, sheltered from the sights below. Ponies were dying down there, brutalized by hooves and magic. She turned away, unable to watch it any longer. She instead turned her gaze to Ashe and the fillies he spoke with. They remained away from the fighting, although Rainbow Dash looked like she would have rather been in the thick of things herself. Twilight and Ashe were both speaking with her. Twilight was scowling at the pegasus, probably telling her that joining the fight would be foalish. Ashe’s ears drooped as he spoke. He had brought her to harm here before, and he didn’t want it to happen again. * * * Panic flared in Mistress’ head, so strong she felt she might sick up. Ever since Celestia had arrived she had wracked her brain trying to think up some way -- any way -- to escape from Celestia. The alicorn was simply too powerful. Mistress had stayed hidden for so long by avoiding direct confrontation with the Princess, but now it was inevitable. Her defenders were dropping quickly; that damnable Ashe had turned most of the ponies here against her. You’re a failure, the voice in her head whispered. The voice. It had first spoken to her shortly after she had discovered compulsion. Quiet at first, it grew in strength as her own abilities grew. The more she experimented with compulsion, the more the voice told her to use it. At first, her interest was purely academic. She could find very little information on the subject, even in the massive royal library in Canterlot. The books that did mention it all said it was an evil thing, not to be used. But how could a magic be inherently evil, she wondered. It could be used in evil ways, to be sure, but what magic couldn’t? Surely there was a way this magic could also be used to help. So she continued researching it, but as she did the voice spoke to her. It told her of the power she could attain using it. She listened. Why shouldn’t she have power? Had she not earned it through her years of service? She began to use compulsion on ponies, testing her abilities. Somehow -- she never did figure out how, though it was probably one of her students -- Celestia caught wind of her research. It was sheer luck that she escaped, fleeing into hiding. From then on she worked in the shadows, continuing her research where Celestia would not find her. Until now. As her last defenders fell, Mistress looked up at the Princess, still standing next to her. She flinched back at the scowl Celestia gave her. “It’s over,” Celestia said. Her voice was quiet, yet everypony there seemed to hear her. The encampment became still. * * * With the fighting over, the ponies began to gather up, those that had served Mistress standing in a separate group from the royal guard. Spring Blossom emerged from the tower, and she and Ashe joined the first group, while Twilight and Rainbow Dash stood with the royal guard they had arrived with. Mistress was prostrated before the Princess, quivering, her eyes squeezed shut. "Please, Princess. I beg your forgiveness," she cried. "No," Celestia responded, coldly. The mare opened her eyes, looking at the Princess. She spoke so softly that Ashe could barely hear her. "I'm sorry." She lowered her head. Celestia swept her gaze over the assembled ponies. She seemed to linger on Ashe for a moment before continuing on. "For her crimes against Equestria, for her use of magic best left forgotten, this mare must be punished." Celestia paused, letting her words sink in. The mare whimpered. Celestia’s horn began to glow. The mare’s eyes widened as her horn broke off with a sickening snap. She collapsed to the ground with a wail next to her now-useless horn. A few ponies near Ashe gasped. Some exchanged nervous glances with each other, wondering what fate awaited them. "Let it be known that today, justice has been done," the Princess proclaimed. She approached Ashe's group. "As for you, I thank you for fighting for me today. However," she continued. "I cannot allow you to remain in Equestria. You are all hereby banished from my kingdom on pain of death." Some ponies wept upon hearing Celestia's judgement. Others breathed a sigh of relief, simply glad that they would live. Many, Ashe included, appeared unsure what to think. Twilight stepped forward. "But Princess! Ashe is--" The Princess turned her gaze towards the filly. She spoke, her voice cold. "Twilight Sparkle, this is not open for debate." Her voice softened. "I will speak with you later in private, if you'd like, but you must understand that what I am doing is necessary." "Yes, Princess." The filly turned her watering eyes towards Ashe. As much as Ashe knew he didn't belong in Ponyville, he realized something: he would miss the ponies there. They had been good to him for the short time that he knew them. His life would be less for not having them in it. Perhaps if he had known them before he met Mistress, things would have turned out differently. He approached the Princess and bowed. "Princess, if it is alright with you, I would ask one favor before my banishment." The Princess nodded. "You may ask." He glanced at Twilight and Rainbow Dash, then beckoned the Princess to lower her head, whispering his request in her ear. Celestia smiled. "Very well." "Thank you, Princess." Ashe bowed again, then trotted over to Twilight and Rainbow Dash. "What did you ask her for?" Dash asked. Ashe grinned at the fillies. "One last party." The End