Winter had truly set in over Equestria. The clear blue skies were replaced by the bleaker, dark clouds that poured snow across the land from above. The leaves on the trees had long since fallen and withered away, leaving lifeless, bare branches in their wake. Animals no longer frolicked and played in the fields, but slept through the cold for the day that the warm rays of spring would grace the land once again.
Quite ironic, Dusk thought, that it had been around this lifeless, desolate time that his whole life had been changed, more than he could have ever imagined. He was watching the white flakes fall gently from the sky, blanketing the earth in a beautiful, untouched layer of sparkling snow. Icicles replaced leaves on the trees, almost like jagged teeth and lakes and rivers were suspended by the grip of ice that shone like a blade pulled from its sheath. One life ends, another begins.
The distant growling echoed in his head again, like it did when he lost himself in thought or if it was quiet. He grimaced, keeping the noise quelled down. He kept his thoughts focused on how unique the land looked now, not how dead it appeared. Like how it would be if he ever escaped and returned…
He only vaguely acknowledged the excited chatter from his friends while the steady rhythm of the train carried them to their destination. They either hadn't noticed how lost in thought he was or they had and decided not to disturb him. He at first went with the second one, silently thankful in a way… until he felt a cold chill as some snow was hit the side of his face, followed by heated cheeks as the others laughed.
"Was that really necessary?" he asked, turning to Ray, who kept his hooves hidden behind his back.
"I wouldn't say necessary, but I would say funny," he replied, still sniggering.
"That depends entirely upon perspective," he said, shaking snow off his face.
"And from my perspective, it was hilarious." He flashed his grin again. "Come on, lighten up. It's Hearth's Warming Eve, stop looking so sombre."
"Ya can't argue with his reasonin'," agreed Applejack. "Git on over here an' stop bein' such a shut-in."
Still feeling his cheeks burning from the embarrassment, but knowing it was all in good fun, he re-joined the group in their section of the carriage, who only now started to calm down. At least, Rainbow, Pinkie and Ray had.
"Clearly," Twilight said, frowning a little, "you're the kind of pony who would see a 'do not disturb' sign on a door, take it off, throw out the window and then burst into the room playing DJ PON3's greatest hits, full blare."
"Eh, probably," he shrugged. "Except I'd probably burn it, not throw it out the window. Just in case you decide to go and get it. Besides, she told me to do it."
"I didn't say you should do it!" Rainbow insisted, though she was laughing the hardest. "I just suggested that it would be funny if you did it."
"Really?" Ray gave a look of mock-ignorance. "See, you didn't quite emphasize the 'if'. You should be clearer next time."
Rainbow laughed again and wrapped a foreleg proudly around him. "I know I've said it before, but I like this guy!"
"I found it to be a little unorthodox and childish myself," remarked Rarity, sharing a sympathetic look with Dusk.
"Fine then, Mrs Scrooge, be that way." There was a slight tone of annoyance in Ray's voice Dusk noted with that comment.
Rarity appeared to pick up on it a little. "As I recall, nowhere in Hearth's Warming tradition does it say that throwing balls of frozen snow is a requirement."
"Yeah, but I think there is something in there about being loving and tolerant," retorted Ray, still keeping a visage of appearing pleasant, but he could still detect a hint of sarcasm.
"Are you saying I am not?" She looked a little surprised by his tone, but not enough that she wasn't willing to hold her own.
"Perhaps, but I was more thinking along the lines of-"
"I um… I didn't think it was very nice." Despite the volumes of which she spoke, Fluttershy's voice was enough to draw their attention. "I mean, it was kind of funny but… it was a um… a little mean."
Ray's demeanour faltered a little at her words and he looked a little ashamed. "We were only joking, Fluttershy. We… didn't mean anything by it."
"Yeah, it's all in good fun," added Rainbow.
"I know, but… never mind, I… I'm probably worrying about it too much…" She diverted her eyes away and fell silent.
"No, I… understand where you're coming from." Ray looked contrite now. "Dusk, I'm sorry I threw that at you. It was only a joke."
"Don't worry, I don't hold it against you," he assured him, then to Fluttershy, "It's okay, he didn't mean anything by it."
She looked somewhat relieved and gave Ray a shy smile. "O-okay. I just hope… you don't throw one at me then."
"Believe me, I'd never be able to manage that," he chuckled, a definite tone of sincerity in his voice.
"Ooh, not long 'til Canterlot!" Pinkie said, shivering with excitement. "Ooh, ooh, I can't wait!"
"I'm quite excited too," admitted Twilight. "It's been a while since my last celebration there, but Canterlot is beautiful around this time of year."
Applejack chuckled a little. "Considerin' how it usually is, that's sayin' somethin', ta be sure."
Dusk could see Ray's eyes narrow and his smile falter a little, but the stallion didn't say anything on the subject, even though he looked like he wanted to.
"It'll be nice to be home for the holidays, in a sense anyway," agreed Dusk. "Me and Twilight will be home, at least."
"Our first Hearth's Warming as a couple," she noted, snuggling into his side. "I personally can't wait."
"Me neither. I don't know how I'm going to top this for a present though," he added, nodding to their necklace halves.
"Then don't try," she advised sweetly. "Hearth's Warming isn't just about the gifts and presents. It's one of our most special and most celebrated holidays for much more special and deeper reason than anything wrapped in a box and paper."
"Wow… that's quite deep, Twilight."
"Meaning that I'm shallow the rest of the time?"
"Not at all. I just don't see this side of you very often."
"I suppose you bring out the muse in me."
That was enough for them both to rub their cheeks affectionately against each other, though they were both a little embarrassed from the company.
"Aw. I can't believe I'm saying this again, but you two really are just the cutest couple," cooed Ray.
"She's probably cuter though." He suddenly raised his legs to defend himself, but Ray only smiled.
"I'm going to assume that was you just being sweet to your marefriend and let you off. This time, anyway," he added warningly, with a dangerous look.
"Duly noted." He was met with confused looks from the rest. "I'll… explain later. So, we're not getting gifts this year?"
"I don't need a gift from you." She moved in closer. "This year, I think…"
"Yes?" he prompted, when she fell silent, looking indecisive.
"Well… I think that you're all that I need this year." She laughed awkwardly. "I know, I thought that sounded rather cliché too…"
"Sounding cliché isn't such a bad thing." He returned her smile. "It's like being cheesy."
"So… you don't mind?"
"Of course not."
"Ugh, can somepony open a window?" gagged Rainbow. "I'm feeling a little nauseous in here."
They ignored her comment, but they refrained from being more intimate while in the presence of their friends, blushing and putting a little more distance between them. But only a little. Deciding to spare them both the embarrassment, Dusk moved the subject along.
"So, everypony ready to play their parts in the pageant?"
"I know I am!" Rainbow said, latching onto this. "I just hope that Canterlot is ready for the spectacle that is Rainbow Dash on stage."
"If it's anythin' like Rainbow Dash in the air, we might wanna tell the audience ta wear crash helmets," joked Applejack.
"I um… actually, never mind…" Fluttershy muttered, looking apprehensive.
"Still jittery 'bout the stage, hun?" asked Applejack.
"Well… I didn't want to say… I mean I didn't want to bother anypony about it but… yes…" she said, with a whisper of dread. "I mean… e-e-everypony will be looking at me, staring at me! W-w-w-what if I mess it up? What i-i-if I forget my lines? Oh my! Oh dear!"
Dusk, who could sympathize with how she was feeling, was about to comfort her, but he was beaten to it.
"Fluttershy, stop!" commanded Ray, though not harshly. "You're gonna have a panic attack." Fluttershy immediately stopped panicking. "You don't have anything to worry about. All of your friends are gonna be in the pageant with you. You're not the only one who's feeling nervous."
"B-b-but… all of those ponies…"
"Are gonna love you," he insisted. "They loved your singing back in Ponyville, they're gonna love your acting here. I've seen you, you're good, you all are. The important thing is not to worry about what'll happen until it happens, because what's the point?"
To Dusk's somewhat surprise, Ray's words seemed to have an impact on her. Her tense body relaxed from the assurance, she stopped shaking and quivering with fright and she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. She looked back up at Ray and gave him a small smile.
"Okay… I'll remember that. Thank you, R-R-Ray," she stammered. "I um… I was being silly."
"It's fine, don't worry about it, like I said." He rubbed the back of his head and chuckled. "I um… I didn't want to see you upset about this, that's all…"
"I know, but it was still nice of you. Thank you…"
"Heh… no problem." There was a slight red tint to his cheeks and his gaze shifted between Fluttershy and just about anything else. Though Dusk was grateful for his efforts, he still felt a small surge of something he couldn't quite identify… something that made him want to order Ray to stop looking at Fluttershy like that.
"I gotta say, seeing you guys perform is really the only reason I'm looking forward to this," admitted Ray, clearly not wanting to dwell on this.
"I would imagine," agreed Dusk, recalling how he felt towards Canterlot. "I'm glad you accepted my invitation Ray. I know this isn't exactly agreeable for you."
Ray just shrugged. "It's fine. Like I said, it'll be fun watching you all perform. It's been a while since I've seen a Hearth's Warming Eve pageant."
"I still can't see personally what exactly your negativity towards Canterlot is based upon," commented Rarity. "The city is absolutely magnificent."
"It's not so much the city, more the ponies in it…"
"Again, I fail to see what you mean."
"Oh, I could tell you a few things…" Once again, Dusk detected the mild hostility in his voice towards Rarity and stepped in.
"I um, don't suppose you'll be staying all that long then once the performance is done."
"If it were just me, I'd probably clear out as quickly as I could," he admitted. "But if you guys are going to be hanging around for a bit, I guess I'll stay."
"There'll be some of us who'll be staying for the following day, at least," informed Twilight. "Dusk and I certainly will be. We have something very important to do while we're there."
This came as a surprise to Dusk. "We do? What exactly?"
"I'll tell you after the play." She didn't say any more on the subject, though Dusk's curiosity was only heightened further.
"I know that there's a few of my social contacts that I'll want to rendezvous with on Hearth's Warming Day," put in Rarity. "I hear that the elite throw a spectacular soiree every year."
"Ooh, I hope that it doesn't collapse in the oven."
"That's soiree, not soufflé, Pinkie Pie."
"Oh, right. I was wondering why anypony would just throw a cake away like that. Unless they were going to throw it and then eat it, then I can understand."
"What about you, Fluttershy?" asked Ray. "What do you want to do?"
"Oh um… I don't mind, whatever… everypony else is doing, I guess." Her eyes were intently focused on her hooves. "Why um... why do you ask? If you don't mind my asking, that is…"
"Uh… no special reason," he mumbled, a slight hint of red in his cheeks again and the return of Dusk's urge to push him away from Fluttershy.
"Well, whatever happens, we'll just make sure to have fun." Twilight squinted against the glass of the window before sticking her head out to get a better look through the snow. "We're getting closer!"
While all the others motioned to copy her, Dusk hoping they wouldn't pass by any cave walls or trees along the way, he noticed that Ray tensed up somewhat, refraining from looking out of the window for any reason.
"You'll be fine," Dusk assured. "You'll be with us."
"I know, I know… I just can't shake the feeling something'll happen."
"Why do you say that?"
He shrugged. "Trouble just has a habit of following me, I guess."
"I advise you don't worry about it until it actually happens, wouldn't you agree?" offered Dusk.
Ray chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, fair point. Thanks Dusk, I needed that."
"Don't worry, it's one of the few things I'm good for." He said this purely out of habit and covered his head quickly. Again, there was nothing coming.
"It's the holiday, I think I'll let you off this time."
He let out a sigh of relief and a slight laugh as the train pulled into Canterlot station, glad that he had managed to escape that at least. It was only when he walked out onto the station, however, that Ray levitated his hat off, dropped some snow on his head and rubbed it in with a noogie.
"See, I lied." He grinned and darted off before Dusk could say anything.
Not sure if befriending the stallion was either a wise course or one of his biggest mistakes, Dusk shook his head and caught up with the group, walking through the snow kissed streets of Canterlot.
Night had now fallen, which had come a lot sooner due to the season, painting the sky above with stars and instilling a further chill across Canterlot. But nopony would be bothered by the cold, for they were all gathered in the grand hall and taking their seats for the pageant about to begin. Musicians were checking their instruments, the backstage crew were going over directions and actors were going over lines for final preparations, as well as putting on their costumes.
Dusk had once again removed his hat and its place now wore a dark brown robe, tied in place with a simple piece of rope, quite unlike his more illustrious Nightmare Night costume. These had been the clothes that his ancestor had worn when he was still an apprentice to Fore Sight. Twilight wore a similar costume for Clover, but hers was a lighter colour.
Even though he was satisfied that he now looked the part, Dusk was still rife with nerves. He had seen the crowd gathered out there, a sheer mass of ponies gathered to watch the pageant. It was more than for the variety show, even more than for the Magic Contest. It looked like the whole city had turned out to watch it. Though he had gotten better at controlling his nerves, he still needed some time to steady himself before going out.
That was why he was in a quieter part of the backstage area, working on picturing the crowd and remaining as calm as possible with the image in his mind. He still got severe shakes, but he was getting better. Only a little, but it was better than nothing.
"I think we had best take our places," a refined, female voice said. "The curtain rises in two minutes."
He would have jumped if he had not known she was there, but he still flinched a little from his nerves. The only other company here was an earth pony, with grey fur and a long black mane, a pink bowtie and neck collar fashioned around her throat. She too had come here for a quiet environment in which to make sure her cello was adjusted and ready to play.
"Duly noted," he murmured, taking one last deep breath. "Okay… I can do this… I can do this."
"Of course you can," she replied in an obvious tone, but with a hint of encouragement. "If you could not, I'm fairly certain you would not be here."
"I can't argue with that," he chuckled. "How are you feeling, miss? Not nervous too, I hope."
"I have been performing my profession for quite a while. Apprehension is something I rarely experience these days," she replied, with a tone of confidence.
"I suppose so. Never feeling nervous… that must be nice."
"I said I rarely experience it, I didn't say I never did."
"So… you are nervous?"
She looked up from her instrument with a slight smile. "Perhaps a little." She picked up her instrument and moved to the corridor that led to the base of the stage. "Still, we keep calm and carry on, do we not?"
"Indeed, we do." He started to make his way to the wings. "Right, well, break a leg, miss."
"The same to you, sir," she returned, with a more pleasant smile.
He stood next to Twilight, who was also showing signs of nerves. But their hooves touched and she gave him a sense of comfort and ease. They were both nervous, but they had to keep their heads. They would be fine.
As Spike began his narration out on the stage, relating to the story told every year at this time, Dusk cast his mind back, putting himself in his role. Almost like he was calling his ancestor back from the dead…
The harsh winds blew violently outside of the castle walls, blowing so strong that it crept in through the walls, sending an almost ghostly wail echoing through the halls. The whole land was covered in snow, burying everything and completely obscuring any view whatsoever of the world outside. It had been like this for a long time, but it would continue on as long as the three sects remained in conflict with each other. Forever cold, forever dead.
Fore Sight knew this. He had seen it. A brief glimpse, but he'd seen it.
He stared out of the window of the hall, deep in thought. It had been an hour since Princess Platinum had left for the summit to meet with the leaders of the Earth and Pegasus pony tribes. Their one chance to end their pointless, stupid bickering and actually try and work together to build a better future, one that he had seen the most and so clearly. He had to have faith that they would see reason and cooperate.
So far, however, he had yet to be shown otherwise.
"As cold as it was yesterday and every day before." His closest friend and apprentice, Clover the Clever, had joined him at the window. "I don't think there's much chance of it changing."
"At least it's not as bad as if the Beast were attacking us," he noted. "I always dread those times."
"It's a rather close though, even if I can see where you're coming from," she recalled. "In a sense, even though we're divided in goal, we're united in that aspect…"
"Indeed and as if he wasn't bad enough, now we have this winter. It's not just the weather that chills us," he mused. "The coldness of the leader's hearts is what concerns me most."
"Then don't concern yourself with it," she counselled. "What will happen will happen and it may turn out for the better. We'll see, soon enough."
"I already have," he replied. "The leaders of the other tribes won't broker a peace."
She looked confused. "But they have to. The snows have become too harsh for any of us to survive alone. We need the other tribes to work together, if we're all to survive."
"It may happen, but not today," he replied grimly. "They'll meet, they'll bicker and it will come to naught. Their sight is as blinded as my own against this infernal snow."
"My predictions are based on logic and fact. Yours have been proven wrong before," she reminded him.
"But for the most part, they're right. Master Starswirl himself says that I have the gift of prophecy," he said. "It still needs training and refining, but I have it."
"He's been mistaken before and he's said that you might have it. He also said it's a very imprecise branch of magic."
"Perhaps to those not born with it."
"Predicting what the cooks have made for breakfast and that I would have tripped down those stairs if you hadn't caught me would be something anypony could have guessed," she dismissed.
"I wouldn't have had to catch you, if you'd simply paid attention to where you were going."
"That's exactly my point!" She shook her head exasperatedly. "You're intelligent, Fore Sight, but I've yet to see decisive evidence that you can see the future."
He chuckled a little. "My dear Clover. You are my greatest friend, but I still find you too narrow-minded and grounded in fact."
"The same to you, my dear Fore Sight, though I find you to be too focused on dreams and faith," she returned, though with a smile.
"You always rely on evidence to establish a single certainty, whereas I have belief in any possibility."
She just shook her head again and laughed. "I'm not getting into this discussion with you again. I don't think a single day goes by that we don't debate about it."
"And that shall continue on," he promised. "Still, you are right. We need to be ready for the princess's return. She should be back in…"He checked the sun. "About five seconds."
"How can you be so sure of that?"
The castle doors burst open and the princess staggered in, a hoof touched to her forehead. "Clover the Clever! I need you!"
She looked to the princess, then a slightly smug Fore Sight. "You could have just seen her coming up the hill."
"Through all that snow?" he asked. "That would have been rather difficult."
"She might have told you when she would be back."
"When I was studying with you before she left, having not been to see any of us before she left?"
"Clover!" she commanded again. "Stop wasting time and come and help me!"
Clover just glared a little at him. "I still don't believe this prophetic nonsense."
"Believe what you will, Clover. I know I will." He followed her to where the princess awaited, having now collapsed on the floor.
Overdramatizing again. Even without his Sight, he could have predicted that.
"Yes, your majesty. Did the other pony tribes see reason as I predicted?" asked Clover.
The princess stood and crossed to one of the cushions. "Those other tribes are impossible! I, for one, can no longer bear to be anywhere near those lowly creatures. The unicorns are noble, and majestic. We will no longer consort with the likes of them!"
She thrust her hooves into the water angrily, now turning her eyes to Fore Sight.
"It seems that your so-called vision was incorrect, Fore Sight. We did not make peace with the other tribes."
"I said that we would, your highness, I simply didn't say when," he reminded her.
"Why didn't you say something then?!"
"You neglected to ask, highness," he returned respectfully. "You left before I could elaborate my vision further."
"So it was a complete waste of time that could have been completely avoided." She huffed and glared at him. "Your supposed visions have yet to reveal anything of great use, apart from what I already know."
"I can't control them, highness. They simply happen, come and go like the dewfall," he explained. "I know of what, but I rarely ever see when or where."
"Then try it now!" she demanded. "Have you at least seen an end to this cold? A return to the unicorn's position of glory?"
He shook his head. "Just more conflict and more cold, nothing new."
"Then why are you still here?!" She waved her hoof. "Go away and come back when you actually have something worthwhile to tell me."
"As your highness wishes." He bowed and departed, frowning a little.
Clover gave him a sympathetic gaze, which he returned, knowing they were both thinking the same thing. Though he had loyalty to his matriarch, she was hopelessly blinded by her vanity and pride. The worst kind of unicorn, in his eyes. Even princesses were not set up above everypony, for there were always greater powers at play, the hooves of fate being the most powerful of all.
And it seemed they had graced him once again. He felt a sudden surge of magic and ran to his room, containing it until he reached it. Once there, he let it out, the swirling images of colour appearing before him in the form of yet another vision. There were two types he had. One was small, in his head and usually predicted immediate events, though they were usually random. The other was this kind. They were more informative and always true.
He saw a land, not their land where they resided, but a different land, far from here. A land where it was green and growing, full of life and wonder. He saw himself, Clover and Platinum venturing there and claiming it… the other tribes also arrived and fighting broke out once more, the cold came again, like it had done here.
There was something it focused on… one of the other tribe members, a soldier of the Pegasus tribe. For some reason, he felt something from her… some sort of connection. But what…? What was this, standing in some sort of cave… a fire that vanquished the cold, generated by them somehow… what future was this?
Then, it was gone. The power had faded, but his memory of the vision hadn't. It had been a little vague on detail, perhaps, but he knew now what they needed to do. This was it, their chance for salvation from the cold, a chance to rebuild. Together, just like he had seen before, only now it was much clearer.
So, with all speed, he rushed back to the hall and found that Clover and the princess were still present.
"Highness, I believe I have something new!" he announced, bowing as he entered.
"You do, do you?" she asked sceptically. "Very well, let us hear it."
"I cannot say for certain, but there is a future for us, though it isn't here. To find it, we must venture to a new land and there we shall find what we seek."
He omitted the rest, for if the princess knew that there was a chance of meeting the other tribes too, then she would be as rooted to the castle as a tree and unwilling to move. Even so, she made another dismissive noise and frowned.
"Had you been here, you would know that I had just made that announcement myself," she said impatiently. "You see, nothing useful at all."
"She did just make that proclamation," confirmed Clover. "I had almost come to the same conclusion myself."
"But you didn't, did you?" snapped Platinum. "Neither you, nor this vision addled colt realised our best course of action. It was I who decided it."
Fore Sight said nothing, though his irritation towards the princess had increased somewhat. He hoped he would have another vision that would show a perhaps gentler, fairer ruler in her place. At least one that wasn't so superior all the time.
They began to make preparations to venture on ahead, intending to scout out a new land to inhabit and send for the rest of their people later. He hoped they'd find this new land soon, for even the unicorns were beginning to succumb to the dreadful cold, even with their magic which could raise the moon and sun.
"There, I believe we are ready to make our venture," announced Platinum proudly. "Come along, you two. Your princess needs your protection and service."
"We will leave, but only after you've remembered you're not wearing your favourite broach, highness," said Fore Sight.
"Don't be ridiculous! Why would I…?" She checked her robe and frowned. "Clover, fetch my broach from my room."
"At once, your majesty," she bowed, running back inside.
"It's in the bottom left drawer of her dresser," called Fore Sight.
"No, it isn't!" snapped the princess. "I explicitly remember leaving it on top of the dresser."
Clover returned a few minutes later, fastening the broach to the princess's robe and setting off, though not before Fore Sight caught up with her.
"It was in the drawer, wasn't it?"
"I found it, that's all that matters," she muttered, though she wouldn't look him in the eye.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Their hooves crunched in the snow and Fore Sight tightened up his robe to protect him from the biting cold, which seemed to lessen somewhat the further they walked away from their former home. He had to admit, he was going to miss living there, all the times he'd studied with Starswirl, studied with Clover… that was it as far as memories went, but they were important to him regardless.
That and of course those of when the Beast attacked. But he wasn't inclined to remember those times… perhaps they would escape him here.
As they walked, he wondered again about his vision. They were to find their new land, but why did it seem that the cold had followed them from their old one? Why did it seem to appear the moment that the other tribes discovered each other? There were others there… an earth pony, himself, Clover and that Pegasus… who was she? Why did she appear to be so important?
However, he didn't have the time to consider it fully. He had a brief flash that, in a few seconds, the princess would start complaining again.
"Oh, this is simply taking forever. My hooves are killing me! How long have we been walking for?" she whined.
"About five minutes, your highness," reported Clover, gesturing to the castle back where they came from.
"Oh, I never imagined finding a new land would be so hard. But it'll all be worth it, don't you agree?" she asked.
"I actually think that the three tribes could've tried harder," said Clover.
"I feel much the same, that was another possibility I saw," agreed Fore Sight.
"I asked if you agreed, not the reverse." She suddenly screamed, "Stoooooop!"
Clover rushed forward, Fore Sight already knowing what was coming. " What's wrong?"
"That is what's wrong!"
She thrust her hoof at a very small stream of trickling water, with even a few stones set in it that gave a pony enough room to stand and walk on.
"Your highness, it's just a stream. We can cross it easily." She demonstrated this, but the princess was adamant.
"I refuse to get my gown wet. I have no intention of arriving at my new land looking like a bedraggled Earth pony, or worse yet a rough-and-tumble Pegasus. I, for one, have no intention of stooping down to their level." A self-satisfied smile crossed her lips. "On the other hand, I have no trouble watching you stoop down."
Clover groaned and moved forward, but the princess held up her hoof.
"No, no. I believe it is more befitting for a stallion to carry me across this obstacle." She smiled all the wider at Fore Sight's face. "Shouldn't you have seen that coming?"
"I'll show you what's coming," he grumbled quietly enough for her not to hear, hefting her onto his back with a levitation spell.
"And do watch the gown, darling. It's worth more than all of the books in your library," she warned.
They reached the other side in seconds, Fore Sight depositing the princess and earning another sympathetic look from Clover. She, at least, supported him, but their ruler seemed to treat his prophecies as something of a joke, something that really pushed him to his limits at times. When she did though, he just remembered what his master had taught him.
"Often, there are times that those who think they have power do abuse on those who truly have it or none at all. However, we must remain meek and not lash out, for then how would we be any better than they?"
Wise words, he thought and he tried to live by them. She was their ruler and it wasn't his place to oppose her. No matter how much he might like to. His thoughts were interrupted by Clover, who had been looking at him intently and had now trotted over to join him.
"You saw something." Clover wasn't asking a question here. "Before the princess decided to move us, you had another of your visions."
Keeping something hidden from her was rather rare. "I did, yes."
"What did you see, then?" Clover asked in a whisper.
He was a little surprised by this. "How do you know I did see something for certain?"
"I have seen it, at times when you use those… shapes," she said, deciding on a word. "I don't know exactly what they are, I'm still trying how best to figure them out actually, but the way I see it, they have to mean something."
"I thought you didn't believe in my gift."
"It doesn't mean that I'm not open to a discussion about it." Not too narrow-minded then, he thought. "Just tell me what you think you saw."
He tried to put into words as best he could how he had seen the vision, of the founding of their new land and of the arrival of not only the other tribes, but also the cold. The cave they would be in, the fire that would guard them against the chill.
As he expected, Clover had her doubts. "I don't fully understand how it could possibly become so cold when we all supposedly arrive in the new land. I mean, if."
"Of course you do," he noted. "Which could only mean that the cold isn't necessarily a natural phenomenon and we've already established the Pegasus ponies aren't behind this. So it could mean that something else is causing it."
"That does make some sense, though I dread to think what exactly. You don't think the Beast could be causing this, do you?" she asked, in a tone laden with fear.
"Possibly. If it is, it might be something he's using to act through him, rather than his own actions. It would make sense, since he's always more direct than simply changing the weather when he does decide to appear."
"If you say so. What about this fire that's supposed to beat the cold?" she asked. "You say it happens when we're with the other tribe leaders."
"I don't think it was the leaders… these two were different, but I'm not entirely sure how…" His thoughts drifted again to that Pegasus soldier.
"Do you really think that we'll make peace with them?"
"I have to believe that we can. Otherwise, if we do meet them, then we'll be no better off in the new land than we were in the old one." He looked back at her. "You still don't believe me, do you?"
"Fore Sight, I want there to be peace between us as much as you do, but so far, I've seen little sign of it actually happening," she confessed. "I don't want some apparent dream to be the foundation of this. I need to see it actually happen for myself."
"Some of our greatest achievements were built on dreams before they were built on fact," he reminded her. "Who's to say this is any different?"
"But without that fact, those dreams would have stayed that way," she countered. "We need some kind of actual proof or evidence that the others are just as willing for an alliance as we are."
"So far, what you've seen has presented none of that, but what I've seen has. Are you saying you don't trust me?"
"No, of course not!" she insisted. "There's nopony I'd trust more. I just find it difficult to imagine that might happen."
"What are you two talking about back there?" called Platinum. "I hope that there not seeds of dissent in my court."
"Of course not, princess," answered Clover. "We were just discussing about the possibilities of finding a new land."
"What is there to discuss? There is much of the world we still have yet to explore, of course we shall find a land free from Earth and Pegasus ponies, a true paradise for unicorns."
"With all due respect, highness, I know. I've seen it," he replied.
"Yes, so you've said," she answered doubtfully, starting to descend a slight hill. "Honestly, if you really can see the future, why don't you at least tell me what we are likely to encounter."
"As I've said, I can't control when they happen, they just do."
"Try! Your princess commands it."
"As you wish…" His temper getting the better of him, he decided to try and make her feel sorry for mocking him. "If we continue on our current path… we will…"
"Yes?" she said, leaning forward expectantly.
"We will reach…"
"Reach what? Our new home?"
"We will reach… the bottom of the hill." They all looked up to see they had indeed reached the bottom of the hill they were walking down. He spotted a rock that Platinum was walking towards. "I also see pain…"
"Ow, my hoof!" She had stubbed it against the rock.
"Followed by anger…"
"Why didn't you tell me that was there?!"
"Then denial…"
"You're not even predicting the future, you're just saying things as they're happening-"
"-now?" he finished for her.
She glared at him for a while after that. "You will remain silent for the remainder of this journey until such a time that we reach our new land. Am I clear?"
Fore Sight nodded, knowing that he had gone too far. He normally wouldn't, but he just didn't like being pushed like that. He felt a princess was supposed to treat her subjects with respect, unless she had good cause to. But now, he was paying the price for his stupidity. Clover only shook her head at him, which he felt some shame from, but still felt annoyance to Platinum.
After many miles, the snow began to lessen and eventually faded completely, leaving only lush green fields, the warm glow of the sun and the beauty and life of nature all around them. Fore Sight actually felt more at home here than he had in a very long time. He hadn't realised how much he'd missed being warm, to actually feel the sun against his skin. Though his order to remain silent still stood, he allowed himself a smile and loosened his robe.
He could see as well that Platinum was looking around with some admiration at the cave they had emerged from, where they could see all kinds of jewel and gemstone embedded in the rock, glinting beautifully in the sun and casting colour all around. Clover too was looking around in wonder and amazement at this new land they'd emerged into and exchanged a smile with her friend, who returned it gladly.
Within a few minutes of their arrival, their ruler had amassed a small pile of gems and jewels, wrapping her forelegs around them like they were her foals.
"I've never seen such jewels! This ruby is dazzling. This whole land is dazzling. I'm double dazzled!" She squealed with joy while Fore Sight produced their flag. "In the name of the unicorns, I hereby dub this land Unicornia!
"I must admit, I'm more than a little amazed at this turn of events," said Clover. "This new land really is something special, isn't it Fore Sight?" He remained silent. "Oh, right…"
"It really is perfect! We found our new home!" declared Platinum, at around the same time somepony else did.
But Clover hadn't spoken and he had been ordered to remain silent, which could only mean…Fore Sight glanced over the cliff to see two Pegasus ponies in the sky above and two Earth ponies down below, both parties with their own flags planted in the cloud and the ground as he had seen and, like he had seen, they weren't exactly thrilled by the presence of the other.
"I planted my flag first!" claimed the brash Commander Hurricane.
"Did not!" argued Platinum.
"Did too!"
"I planted mine earlier than first," ventured the strange Chancellor Puddinghead, as her flag fell over.
"All of you riff-raff are trespassing in Unicornia!"
"The name is Pegasopolis!"
"Earth!"
Fore Sight noted a slight chill in the air as the bickering between the leaders escalated.
Hurricane approached Platinum. "I say we fight for the land. May the best pony win!"
"That's barbaric. Clover the Clever? Throw that brute into the dungeon!" she ordered.
"What dungeon?" she asked in bewilderment.
"Fore Sight, tell these ruffians to be gone!" He gestured to his mouth again. "Very well, you may speak, as I decree it." He was still silent. "Well? Tell them!"
"Will any of you consider leaving?"
"Nope," replied the Chancellor.
"Don't even think about it, unicorn," growled Hurricane.
"Well, I tried," he shrugged. "Perhaps we should try to cooperate, as revolutionary as that sounds."
"Exactly, perhaps if we all calmed down..." suggested Clover.
The Chancellor's subordinate spoke up. "Ah agree. Let's all calm down."
"I vote for calm."
Fore Sight's head whipped up at the last voice. How had he not noticed before? It was her. The Pegasus soldier from his vision, just as he'd seen her. But seeing her now was truly captivating, her gentle form, her demure voice, those big, shining eyes. He didn't know if it was because of his vision or his own feelings that he thought this but…
She was beautiful.
"I'll have you court-martialled for insubordination, Private!" warned Hurricane, making her shy away. "We settle this on the battlefield!"
As if on cue, a snowball was thrown at her, eliciting laughter from the princess. This was immediately cut off by another snowball thrown at her now, earning a glare for all those nearby.
"Who dares throw a snowball at royalty?!" Fore Sight glimpsed Puddinghead, who was standing by a small pile of snowballs.
Wait snow… where had that come from? The Chancellor realised this too, looking up in confusion.
"Wait a minute, where'd all this snow come from anyway?"
The clouds had already begun to darken overhead, a fierce wind now stirring up the snow that fell with it and moaning like the cries of the damned. Like the wind itself was alive…
"Oh no! Not again!" exclaimed Hurricane.
Remembering his vision, Fore Sight was quick to act. "Quick, into this cave!"
They all hurried inside, relatively safe from the gathering cold. How had it arrived here so quickly? What could possibly be causing it? The only hope he had was that, now they were all in the same situation, they might see sense and work together in accordance to his vision.
To his disappointment, they didn't. The fighting, the bickering, it carried on well into their entrance to the cave. First, it started with the three sides claiming territory within their confined space by drawing lines along the ground. Then, it grew into a dispute about the division land, culminating in the ultimate folly by their mighty, respected leaders fighting over a rock like fillies fighting over a toy and who should play with it.
The, what he now saw as the sensible ponies, not including himself, all just stood back and took their leader's selfish orders, unable to say anything due to their position. All the while, he couldn't take his eyes off the Pegasus private. He didn't even know her name, yet he was already transfixed by her beauty, feeling great pity for how her commanding officer was treating her like this. He wished he could cross over and talk to her, but the princess would never allow it. He didn't want to push his luck.
The arguing continued on, until they realised how cold it was getting again and Clover pointed out the big problem.
"Look, everypony! The entrance!"
The cave mouth was completely covering with ice, blocking their way out and leaving them trapped in the cave.
"Great. Now there's no way out! We're trapped!" realised Hurricane.
"You two deserve this horrible fate. You've done nothing but argue and fight with each other!" insisted Platinum.
The commander rounded on her. "You've been fighting too, your highness.
"Yeah! Worse! I haven't been fighting nearly as much as you!" put in Puddinghead.
Now, the ice was gathering up near their hooves too and they were so caught up in their fighting, they either didn't notice or didn't care as the ice climbed up their bodies.
"How ridiculous! A unicorn never stoops to fighting!"
"That's just 'cause you wimpy unicorns know you'd never win! Earth ponies are numbskulls!"
"Pegasi are brutes!"
"Unicorns are snobs!"
Now the ice had taken over them completely, encasing them in cold cocoons from which they might never emerge, frozen in their grimaces of hate. Their leaders were gone. It was only the subordinates left: himself, Clover, the earth pony and the Pegasus. Worse still, the ice kept creeping in towards them all the while.
A loud wail shocked them and they ran towards the centre, boundaries forgotten completely, huddling together. Fore Sight realised that he and the Pegasus were touching and blushed, though he felt a jolt from her contact that had nothing to do with fear. Then, they looked up where the snow was coming from and saw what was causing it.
A trio of ghostly horses were floating above their heads, raining snow down on the, their eyes alive with hunger and malice. The very sight of them chilled Fore Sight to his core, even more so than the snow they brought, for he knew what they were, as he knew Clover did as well.
"What is that... thing?" asked the Pegasus.
"They must be... windigos!" they both said.
"Windigos?"
"Our mentor Star Swirl the Bearded taught us about them," explained Clover. "They're winter spirits that feed off fighting and hatred. The more hate the spirit feels, the colder things become!"
"Then... this is our fault," realised the earth pony. "We three tribes... we brought this blizzard to our home by fightin' and not trustin' each other. Now it's destroyin' this land, too."
"And now our bodies will become as cold as our hearts...all because we were foolish enough to hate."
The snow started to enclose around them too. They huddled in closer together again, Fore Sight realising a horrible truth: his vision wasn't true. They weren't going to find solace here. Instead, they were going to die here… at least he wasn't alone.
"Looks like… you were right, Clover," he whispered to his friend. "My vision… it was just a stupid dream…"
"For once, I wish you had been right." Her hoof touched his. "Goodbye, Fore Sight. It was… a pleasure knowing you."
"As it was you, Clover…"
"Well, I don't hate you..." They all looked to the Pegasus. "I actually hate Commander Hurricane a lot more than I hate you guys."
To his surprise, even though they were about to die, Fore Sight laughed for he felt the same concerning Platinum, as did Clover and the earth pony. Yet that wasn't a bad thing. If they were going out, go out on a high note.
"Actually, I don't really hate her, I just really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really dislike her," he corrected.
"I feel the same regarding our leader," he put in. "She can be a bit of a snob really."
"Really?" She giggled and despite the cold, he felt his heart blaze. "Wow, I really don't hate you guys now."
"I never hated you at all," he assured, with all honesty.
"Well, I don't hate you guys either," said the Earth pony.
"Nor do I," agreed Clover.
"No matter what our differences, we're all ponies."
They drew even closer now as the ice took them as well, satisfied that if they froze, they would freeze not as enemies but as friends… that was when something amazing happened.
He could feel the surge of magic from his fellow unicorn long before she cast it. When she did, her eyes glowed with the power of a hundred suns, as did the magic she cast. The beam hit the windigos above, consuming them as they fought in vain to escape its power. With one final burst, they were gone and in their place was a crackling magical fire in the shape of a heart.
The Pegasus stared in wonder. "What was that?"
"Ah didn't know unicorns could do that."
"I didn't either. Nothing like this has ever happened before. But I know it couldn't have been just me. It came from all three of us, joined together, in friendship." The three of them came together in an embrace under the fire, while Fore Sight stared from afar.
Together, under the fire that had vanquished the ice and saved them all. Just as he had seen… it had come true!
"Clover… that was incredible!" he exclaimed, hugging her.
"I know, but that's not all!" She was beaming now. "Your prediction, it was right! We did come together and we did beat the cold!
"I know!" He returned her grin. "So, do you believe me now?"
"I do. Now, come here you!" They hugged again, laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
"Wait a sec," the earth pony said, "are ya sayin' that you knew this was gonna happen?"
"In a manner of speaking , yes."
She whistled impressively. "Well, knock me down with a Pegasus feather."
"Me too!" added the pegasus. "You can see the future! That's amazing!"
"What can I say, it's a gift," he replied. "I'm still learning it though."
"Even so, the way you knew this would happen was really… uncanny."
Fore Sight smiled bashfully at her. "Thank you… but still, we're friends and we don't even know each other's names. I'm Fore Sight the uh… the Uncanny."
"I'm Clover the Clever."
The earth pony chuckled. "Modest bunch, ain't ya? Name's Smart Cookie. Nice ta meet ya."
"Private Pansy," said the beautiful Pegasus with an ironic salute, her eyes fixed on him now. "I'm glad to meet you, Fore Sight."
"The feeling is mutual, Private Pansy." He returned the smile that still made his heart glow like the one above them.
Now the windigos were gone, their influence was slowly fading, the ice and snow beginning to melt under the fire of their friendship. Getting closer to Pansy all the time, Fore Sight sat at the fire with the others, telling stories he'd read and sharing in songs from their tribes, even making up new ones as a symbol of their friendship.
Soon enough, their leaders also began to thaw out. But when they saw all of them laughing and singing together, something changed in their hearts too and they weren't so hostile to each other anymore. It looked like friendship had thawed their cold hearts as well and they joined in with the celebration they held.
Eventually, the cave mouth was free of ice, allowing them to be graced by the sun once more. They made a pact, there and then, that there would be no more fighting and that the land would be shared, their people united under one banner, a banner that Fore Sight had seen in another vision and that emblazoned their new flag.
It depicted a half sun and moon on a blanket of stars, encircled by two leaders that would soon be born unto them, ones who had the hooves of earth ponies, the wings of pegasi and the magic of unicorns, who would be eternal and rule this land forever more. A perfect symbol of their new friendship and their new home, one that they had chosen to call…
Equestria.
The fire of friendship lives in our hearts
As long as it burns we cannot drift apart
Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few
Laughter and singing will see us through
We are a circle of pony friends
A circle of friends we'll be to the very end!
The lyrics to the Hearth's Warming carol still echoed in Dusk's head, as had the sheer pride he felt when the show was over and everypony had cheered. They had done it, without a single slip-up or mistake. Together, as friends, they'd pulled it off and made what they viewed as the best Hearth's Warming pageant ever.
Even though they had started arguing over who should close a window, Dusk, who was checking himself in a mirror, knew how to stop them.
"Beware, if each other you oppose, for your fights and plights and arguments and strife are calls to the windigos," he recited from a nursery rhyme.
As if on cue, he could have sworn he heard one outside. The arguing stopped and Rainbow volunteered to close the window to the amusement of all.
"Whew, glad we stopped that in time," Fluttershy said, with a shifty look around.
"Me too." He smiled at her. "You were brilliant out there, little sister."
"You too, big brother." They hugged each other warmly. "You know, maybe we're not far off."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, didn't you say that Private Pansy was my ancestor?" He nodded. "And didn't she marry yours. So…"
Realisation hit him and he laughed. "You know, I never really thought about that. Wow… I suppose you really are my little sister… even if that was generations ago."
"I don't mind about the details." She saw Twilight approaching and smiled. "Well done again, big brother. Wow, you and Ray were right."
He felt that little surge again from the way she said Ray's name, but quelled it as Twilight joined him.
"Great work, Dusk!" She hugged and kissed him now. "You are a credit to your ancestor. He certainly seems to have been a lot more bold than you."
"Apparently so," he noted. "So, it's after the play. What did you want to tell me?"
She looked a little uneasy now. "Okay… please bear in mind, I waited until now so that if you felt uncomfortable with this, we can postpone it until you feel more ready."
"I'm sure whatever it is, it's fine," he assured. "What did you have in mind?"
"Fine… as you know, some of us will be in Canterlot for Hearth's Warming and while we're here I…" She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. "I'd like for you to… meet my family."