//------------------------------//
// Freezing Rain 
// Story: Whiteout 
// by Hyper Atomic 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 3:  Freezing Rain


My consciousness gradually began its long trek back into the present universe.  Whatever dream I was having faded from cognizant thoughts into memory as my eyes slowly opened.  The world around me was blurred by a haze, the ever present trauma to the brain still showing some effects.  At least the tinnitus in my ears had finally stopped.  My head only rose up off of the floor an inch or so before a dull throb behind my eyes gave me pause.  "Ooohh..."  I moaned, allowing my head to rest again.

-Oh, good morning.  How long have you been up?-

His voice carried none of the strain from last night.  Alek sounded almost ... excited.

"... only just."  I groaned.

-Still have all your limbs?  Anything broken?-

Releasing an agitated sigh I began to sit up, doing my best to ignore the mounting protests from my aching head.  "Hard to say ...  hang on a sec,"  I answered, pulling my back legs closer as I agonizingly rolled onto my stomach.  "ow, ow, ow ..."  Random twinges of pain flooded in from all directions as my senses ran their diagnostics.  "I think... I may still be a bit... concussed,"  I announced as a nauseous wave of vertigo overwhelmed me, my head bobbing slightly as it tried to balance my floating mind.

-That's not as bad as it could have been.  As long as you can walk, we've got a shot.-

As my vision cleared, I became aware that I was sitting in the middle of a rather large semi-circle of opened books spread out across the floor.  Shelves containing still more vessels of the written word surrounded me.  The high, vaulted ceilings combined with the light, musty smell of parchment left no doubt as to where I spent the night.

My eye twitched.  "A shot at what?" I muttered to myself, my gaze drifting between the different tomes that littered the ground around me.  I mused, "Been reading a bit have we?"

-You have NO idea.  After a few hours, the migraine finally subsided enough that I decided to poke around to keep myself occupied.  You should sleep in libraries more often.-

A pair of books floated up from their perch and fluttered open as if being read before finding their own spots on the stone floor.

-Last night, something clicked during that accidental combustion.  In the midst of the searing pain, I had a moment of unusual clarity.  For one, moving things around has become almost second nature.-

As if to emphasize his point, a set of stacked novels rearranged themselves before sliding onto a shelf together.  His words tumbled out in a cascade, spoken in quick bursts like an excited child.  I was almost afraid to inquire further, but curiosity won out.  "Yeah?  and what else?"  I ventured with a cautiously elevated eyebrow.

-Right!  The other thing I realized is that with all the formerly impossible things we've seen, it only makes sense that there might be something equally impossible that could send us back home.-

My ears instantly perked up, solely focused on Alek's every word.  My pains had taken a back seat as I managed to stand up finally, favoring a weak right foreleg.

"What do you mean?  Are you saying you've found a way?!"

-Jump to conclusions harder, why don't you.  I was saying that a way could exist.  But, yes.  I think I have.-

With that, a mighty hardbound text swiftly moved to rest at my hooves.  It was already open, displaying an image of an incredibly strange creature.  A Frankenstein creation of dragon, goat, lion, griffon, horse, and who knows how many others spread across the page.  Only one word accompanied it.

"Discord,"  The way it rolled off the tongue left a notably sour taste.  "What ... is it?"  The beast in the picture may have been crudely drawn, but his eyes carried a life of their own.  My heart began to race as if the beast itself was staring directly into my soul. 

-From what I've been able to gather, it's a Draconequus and potentially the only one.  He's said to have a grasp over magic powerful enough to achieve nearly anything with naught but a snap of his claw.  He’s been documented as capable of controlling the sun and moon as well as transmuting everything into anything.-

My attention wavered from the drawing, "Whoa... So, nothing like the unicorn's tricks we've seen so far then?"  I pondered for a moment, "This sounds really farfetched.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't ONE being possessing THAT MUCH power seem a little ... dangerous?"

I turned to the next page of the book, holding my vision steady as best I could against the slight dizziness I was still fighting.  My brow furrowed and a frown crept across my face as I touched a hoof to the first sentence on the page.  "Discord, god of chaos and disharmony..."  I articulated,  "...How exactly is this supposed to help us?”

-One, I'd like to point out that EVERYTHING we've done has been dangerous, so that's par for the course.  Two, he's the only thing I've found that even comes close to being capable of performing such a feat.  And third, who else is going to listen to a labeled crazy pony other than a mad god.-

Damn his logic!  My head sank at his words, eyes falling once more on the artist’s representation of the anarchic being.  My tail flicked instinctively as I sat down, lifting my favored hoof up for a closer look.  His words repeated through my mind as I stared at where my right hand should have been.  Some force, whether divine or incomprehensibly natural, dumped us both in this mixed-up world.  While not hostile initially, having to run from guards, begging or stealing food, and trying to find shelter every night from the cold just didn't sound like a preferable existence.

"Where do we find this 'Discord', then?"  I asked, returning my hoof to the floor with a soft click.

-That's where his trail got hard to follow.  After his defeat by the 'royal sisters' over a thousand years ago, nothing seems to mention where he went.  However, I did find this.-

Another book approached, pages fluttering to a stop on a photograph.  It was an aerial view of an elegantly maintained estate garden. Near the edge was a statue of a now very familiar patchwork creature.

"What?  So, after he was DEFEATED,"  I deadpanned, staring quizzically toward the picture at my hooves, "... they made a statue of him?"  Releasing a frustrated breath, I slumped onto my stomach bringing my hooves up to massage my temples.  "I'm lost here."

-You're not thinking thaumically.-

A short silence accompanied by my nonplussed stare managed to get the point across.

-Sorry, it's a word I picked up in some of the books about magic.  But you're right, they wouldn't make a statue of him.  So why would it be there, unless ...-

My eyes snapped wide, "No way...!"

-Bingo.  He hasn't been recorded anywhere else because he's still there.-

"This is getting deep...  Where is this, anyway?"  I asked as I pulled the book closer, studying the description under the photo.

-Canterlot castle is the attribution for the garden's location.  A fair distance from here, but not insurmountably so.-

"Castle?!  Hang on,"  I held a hoof up.  "Who exactly lives in this castle?"

-The uh, princess. Celestia.  Elder of the royal sisters and ruler of the land we happen to be in.-

My jaw dropped, eyes wide and unblinking as the words sunk in.  "So, let me get this straight,"  I stated bluntly, "We're trying to find a mad god of chaos, who was defeated and turned to stone by Celestia, the owner of the garden in which he is now a sculpture for?"  My tone was cold and sarcastic.

-If you've got a better plan, I'm ready to hear it.-

"No no, this is great!"  I retorted, "We just need to find a way into the capitol, which should be easy what with being branded a nut job and 'dangerous' after all.  Find a way to turn a god back from stone, hope that this Princess Celestia is alright with it, and finally ask him nicely to send us home!"  My eye twitched and a rather unsettling grin upturned itself onto my muzzle.  "This is a great plan and I’m happy to be a part of it!  When can we get started?!"

-I know it sounds like the slimmest of chances, and it will probably fail spectacularly, but ... would you be able to live with yourself without at least trying?-

There was that logic again.  My sarcasm fell along with my attitude.  Relinquishing a sigh of defeat, I answered his question with another.  "So, what should step one be?"

-Step zero is don't get caught.  The watch is going to be looking for you even more so than before.  First order of business should be to find food, both for today and for the road ahead.  Second, find a cloak or pack to travel with.  Third, get out of the city.-

"There's that word 'find' again..."  I sighed inwardly.

-I'd prefer not to take without asking, but it may be coming down to that.-

The rapid staccato of books closing themselves echoed throughout the empty library, kicking up a slight dust that left motes dancing in the dim light from the window.  My gaze dropped down to where my hooves rested against the cold marble, a depressed exhale filling the silence.

-That doesn't sound like you.  The Devon I know would rather do than dwell on it.-

"Hmm?" I mumbled as my distracted thoughts faded away to reality.  "No, I just... How betrayed do you think Rosethorn feels right now...?"

The books stopped their stacking motions.

-Don't beat yourself up over it.  You were nothing but kind and grateful, perhaps a little odd, but who isn't?  Hopefully that's what she remembers.-

"...Yeah, hopefully."  I replied, scraping the barrel for any remaining enthusiasm.  My attention started to wander along with my hooves as I stood up, looking around the deserted library.  Hung against the wall behind the scaffolding that so selflessly arrested my descent the evening prior, were several orange safety vests.

I quietly hummed to myself as Alek's words repeated themselves, asking me to 'find' a disguise.  "What about something like this?"  There were a couple hard helmets lying at the foot of the scaffolding as well.

-That would stick out like a sore thumb in the sea of white going on out there.-

"Oh..."  My ears drooped as his point rang true but they quickly peaked followed by an uncomfortable grin.  "Hidden in plain sight, maybe?"  I added, hoping to save face.

-Yeah, unless they're hosting ConstructaCON, I'm not seeing it.-

Once more I stood defeated by common sense.  "I don't know then,"  I stated flatly, "What's your plan?  How are we supposed to go anywhere and-"  I rocked back on my haunches and raised both front hooves in mock quotations, "-FIND, anything?"  My head shook dejectedly, "Like you said, the goon squad will be out in force.  Looking for one pony in particular."

-There's got to be something you can use in here, keep looking.-

Frustration continued to mount as I grunted irritably.  My gaze swept up and down the battered scaffolding, wood splintered and metal bent from my crash landing.  Releasing a heavy breath, I let my head rest with a hard 'thunk' against one of the support beams.  Was this even worth trying?  Did I really stand a chance at making it out of this city?  Once I did, then what?  There were so many unknowns surrounding every aspect of not only my survival, but our new ludicrous goal.  I lifted my head from where it rested and banged it against the scaffolding, hoping to jostle some form of self-motivation out of myself.  The weight of the world had come crashing down on me, and I swore I could hear the heavens creaking as they started to crumble.  Wait…

The framework continued to  groan ominously as its ceiling spanning height began to tower over me.  I stood frozen, ears collapsing and eyes gaping at the sight of the approaching construction.  My paralysis wavered long enough for me to drop prone and cover my head.  For the first time, I knew what a fly felt like in its final moments.  My eyes screwed themselves shut as my body prepared for the onslaught of pain that was to follow.  A brief but palpable silence hung in the air for a moment before the impact.  It only lasted a second as the keening sound of shearing metal and snapping wood thundered all around me.  My body was trembling and I was seriously hoping it was a nervous sweat that I was laying in, and not any other fear induced fluid.  

The library slowly returned to its silent state as I waited in anticipation for the agony that was scheduled to come.  I cautiously opened my eyes as my head came out from under my hooves.  I only caught a passing glance at the wreckage before I was thrown into darkness.  A very startled and unfortunately emasculating scream fled my vocal chords as I struggled against the unexpected weight enveloping me.

-Honestly, what did that poor scaffolding ever do to you?-

My wailing abruptly stopped at Alek's familiar voice, brain catching up to the fact that I was, in fact, uninjured.  My body was still shivering as the unused adrenaline pulsed through my veins.  Orientation seeming to return to me without the aid of my vision, I realized that a drop cloth had fallen over me.  The piece of canvas had obviously fled unintentionally as gravity pulled its resting platform away from it.  I raised my head, letting the fabric slide down onto my back as my vision returned.  I couldn’t see much through the cloud of debris that I awakened.

-Hey!  Great idea!  You can definitely make a cloak out of that.-

"Huh?"  I barked, coughing up enough dust to make a coal miner wince.  My head turned around to spy the slate grey drop cloth that currently hung over my form.  I pondered outwardly as I took a few steps forward.  "Oh! … YEAH!  That’s what I was thinking!"  I stuttered, “Yep, totally not an accident … nope.” a nervous smile crossing my features.  Before I could take another step, the cloth slid unceremoniously off my flank without anything to hold it in place.  My smile followed it, curling into a lopsided frown.

-Looks like you need some sort of clasp or band to hold it in place.-

I reached down and grabbed the canvas in my teeth, not savoring the musty flavor in the slightest.  With a determined tug, I pulled the cloth back over my flanks as tomes began opening and closing nearby.

-I know I saw it around here somewhere...-

My ears darted in different directions as books opened and closed, their heavy covers reverberating through the silence.  There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which books were opened and just as suddenly slammed shut

-Aha!-

A lightly faded but still unmistakably pink ribbon fluttered around the corner of a nearby shelf.  The drop cloth turned cloak on my back shifted around to better cover my sides and head as the silken fabric wrapped around my neck.  The ends tied themselves neatly into a bow, just tight enough to keep the outfit from falling off while leaving enough to act as a hood.

My eyes slightly crossed in order to focus on the girly ribbon neatly tied around my neck, "So, smelling like Rose and Lilac wasn't enough?  I need to actually have a pink bow tied around my neck to blatantly announce gender confusion?"  I deadpanned with a raised eyebrow.

-Think of it this way, it matches the Soprano of your scream.-

"I, uh, wha...?  Oh..."  My ears quivered, threatening to drop to the sides again while my cheeks blossomed into an uncomfortable heat.  Quickly I changed gears, trying to keep my masculinity from crumbling any further.  "So... now what?"  I spoke with a slight crack in my voice.

-Now, we...-

A heavy creaking sound carried over the shelves from the direction of the front doors.  A light murmuring of voices and slight howl of the wind soon joined in .

My head snapped towards the new sound, mind suddenly locked in panic.  However, I only caught a faint glimpse of a bright yellow colored pony at the door before a sudden downward force shoved me unceremoniously to the ground, knocking the wind out of me with a muffled “ouph!”  I didn’t even have a chance to protest before Alek interrupted.

-You can't let them find you!  They'd be sure to call the watch just on account of trespassing and you haven't even made it outside yet.-

My lungs, which were so abruptly emptied took a moment to refill themselves with a silent breath.  I reached a hoof up and pushed the hood of my 'cloak' down around my neck, revealing a rather annoyed look on my face.  It only lasted for a moment before the sounds of the two ponies voices were within hearing distance and my ears were swiveling to better understand them.

"Can you believe we have to come in on a day like this?"

"I know! I don't see the road crew out there working."

"Well, that is outside ... in the snow."

"Details, details..."

"Who are they?"  I whispered, reluctant to take a peek myself for fear of being spotted.

-They look like hard hats.  I doubt they're going to like your handiwork on their scaffolding.-

"MY handiwork?!" I hissed, "What about you, leaving books out everywhere for them to find?"

-I didn't break any of them.-

"Yeah, but ..."  I tried to continue, only to be cut short.

"WHOA!"  A burly male voice exclaimed.  It was followed by a few quick hoofbeats as the two workers came into view, surveying the felled scaffolding.  Thankfully, their backs stayed to me as they rounded the corner.

"What in the WORLD happened here?!"

"I told you those crossbeams weren't cut out for long term support." The yellow one chided.

"And I told you to stuff it."  The green stallion shot back before leaning over to inspect the wreckage.

I took this moment as an opportunity to find better cover.  I slinked my way backwards slowly and silently until I was almost around the back of a large bookshelf.

"Hey ... check this out."

"Where'd these blue feathers come from?"

My teeth set and lips curled backward in uneasy anticipation, ears intently focusing on the two workers and what they had found.  The green furred one's attention appeared to wander before it fell on the window I had used as an entrance the night before.

"The windows broken too!"

"Yeah, but it's still closed and latched ..."  Yellow reminded, "Do you think whoever did this is still in here?"

A soft rush of air caught my ear as a book flew over my head and into the far corner of the library.  The musty thump of the hardcover striking a shelf was followed by three or four more in quick succession.

"Hey!  Who's there?!" Green called out, heading towards the noise and away from me, Yellow right on his heels.

I took the hint that it was time to go.  Turning towards the uncommonly ornate double doors, I kept my body low to the ground as I hastily made my way around the bookshelves and ultimately past the front desk.  A few muffled words came from the workers but they were too far out of earshot to understand at this point.

With the same ancient sounding creak as before, the right door swung open, introducing me to a blast of bitter wind and freezing sleet that pelted my face.  I had to squint against the weather as I fought for a sense of direction.  With a heavy thud the door slammed shut behind me as soon as I was through, eliciting a startled jump as I changed tack and headed down the sidewalk at a hurried canter.  Of course, with the way my luck had been going, it was no surprise that the weather wasn't the only thing I ran into.

The cold was bad, but the visibility was worse.  I had to keep my head low, careful not to wander into the street.  Before long an alley materialized out of the frost and I wasted no time ducking into it.  I was hoping for a short respite from the ice while I got my bearings, but as I said, my luck was having none of that.  Standing only a few steps away was one of the city watch, a sandy colored pony clad in silver armor and draped with a cloak. His back was facing me as he conversed with another similarly bundled emerald stallion.  I barely had enough time to see him shake his head and turn away from the guard before my hood was haphazardly yanked back up, obscuring my face from his view.  Just in time too, as the guard quickly wheeled around and gave me the once over.

"Excuse me, might I have a word with you?"  He called out with enough extra volume in order to be heard through the wind.  "I promise it won't take long."

Crap!  What was I supposed to do here?!  I was doomed, there's no way out of this one.

My back left hoof took a reflexive step back, planting itself and giving my body a pivot point to turn and flee on.  Except, my fight or flight response was a bit delayed and as I kept my gaze on the sidewalk in order to keep my face covered, the sound of approaching hoofbeats ended with a pair of silver shod hooves in front of my eyes.

"I'm Plate Mail, with the city watch.  Have you by any chance seen a light blue pegasus stallion about?"  His voice echoed authority.

-Oh!  He doesn't recognize you, this is good. I thought we were made there.-

Following the stiff clearing of my throat, my voice took this time to escape me.  My mouth hung open, but no words would step forward.  Trying not to make my hesitation seem any more awkward, I subtly shook my head side to side.

"I can't say I blame you," he nearly chuckled, "this weather's making it difficult to see anything at all, eh?"  Even with my heart hammering away I could hear the faint traces of a smile in his words.

The corners of my mouth upturned into a nervous grin as I tried to mimic his humor.  My head nodded to him as my left rear hoof started inching it's way backwards.  A sudden icy gust of wind sped through the alley we were conversing in.  My hoof quickly met my forehead, trying to keep the hood of my makeshift cloak from revealing what could end up being a promotion for the guard in front of me.  The chill bit into the tip of my muzzle and took my breath away for a short moment.

"I tell ya, I can't wait for winter to finally be over."  He continued, slowly moving forward enough to keep pace with my glacial retreat.  "No offence, of course, I know everypony likes their holidays, but it'd be nice not having to spend my shift freezing my flank off."

-Peculiar, if he doesn't know it's you then why is he ...-

"Although, I bet I wouldn't mind so much if I knew there was a pretty mare waiting for me afterwards."  

-...oh-

No way...  Was this really happening?!  My mouth had swiftly come unhinged and hung open in equal parts disbelief and embarrassment.  "...uh."  My voice cracked out of sheer panic, a quality that definitely wasn't helping my predicament any.  My jaw finally snapped shut and another short nod was my reply, followed by a nervous "mmhmm..."

"Speechless?" His laugh was deep. " What can I say? I have that effect sometimes."  His forehoof came up, and I could hear it absently scratch the back of his head. "So, uh ... what do you say to 7:30 at Board's Tavern? First round's on me."

Okay, I couldn't do this anymore.  With my nervous grin still effectively glued in place and a fresh and uncomfortable burn to my cheeks, I gave my head another nod.  With a few calculated steps forward, I walked past the lonely stallion.

"Great!" The guard beamed, " ... Oh! I never got your name! Something as lovely as your perfume, I bet."

I froze in my tracks as my face screwed up into a scowl under my hood.  Damnit damnit damnit! I was so close!

"Heh, you know what.  I think I'd like it to be a mystery."  He gave a short salute and turned to make his way out the other side of the alley. That wasn't before he gave the tip of my tail that hung out the bottom of my cloak a playful bat with his own.  "You can tell me tonight.  See you then."

"Likewise..."  My not-at-all-feminine voice replied, lips pursing too late to stop the incriminating line.  The snow crunching sound of his hoofbeats ceased abruptly.  I didn't dare turn to face him again and with yet another nervous throat clearing, my hooves carried me quickly out of the alley and back onto the sidewalk.

I managed to cross the next street and was halfway down the block before I managed to conjure my thoughts into words.  "...Is he following me?"

-No.  In fact, ... I don't think he's moved at all.-

"...I feel so dirty."

-And yet this is because you've gotten clean.  I've underestimated the importance of soap to a good disguise.-

"Perfumed soap... Thank you very much for that by the way!"  I shot back with enough sarcasm to subdue an elephant.

-Yes, I realize I'm currently two for two on the situations I have inadvertently made worse.  Although statistically you’re well above the bell curve for awkward now so anything else should be unlikely ... probably-

A low groan escaped as my eyes rolled, "You shouldn't have said anything,"  I deadpanned.

-In any case, at least the disguise works, if I am allowed understatement.-

"I didn't realize that a pink ribbon and perfumed soap would make me so … whatever that was."

-They say allure is 90% imagination, and that cloak’s leaving a lot to that.-

"Well, I'm already receiving about, oh ... one hundred percent more attention as a friggin’ pony than I ever did before!  Especially considering it's from the wrong gender..."  A shudder rolled over me as soon as those words left my mouth.  "Okay, new subject!"

-Any idea where we are?  I couldn't find any good maps of the city, only the kingdom it's a part of, and we still need to acquire some provisions.-

As I approached the corner of the sidewalk we were traversing, I raised my gaze against the wind and icy precipitation trying to read the street sign above.  "We're on the corner of Hoofston Road and Railroad Ave."  I looked around at the surrounding buildings, "which means ... absolutely nothing to me."

-We passed Hoofston yesterday after "leaving" the asylum, but I think you were a little ... distracted.-

"By distracted, do you mean doped?" I asked, glad that medical gunk was finally out of my system.

-That's one way of putting it, but I seemed to recall some storefronts along the eastern side, so if you head that way we might find something useful.-

"Well, whatever, but in case you've forgotten, we have no money ... or bits, or whatever the hell they are."

-We can figure that out when we get there. Who knows, maybe they have credit.-

"Credit ... really?"  My eyes threw another sarcastic roll but without any other plans coming to mind, I crossed the street and continued down Hoofston Rd.  The taller buildings on the northern side were at least good at blocking the incessant wind, allowing my face to finally retain some of its own heat.

Residential zoning gradually made way for commercial as the ice built up underhoof.  Quant little Mom & Pop stores with their attached apartments dotted both sides of the street, most of them open for business.  I had only seen maybe two or three other ponies on the way.  The scant number most likely due to the weather.  I made sure to keep my head down and the majority of my face covered by my hood as I passed them, not taking any chances being recognized.  My eyes darted between the stores, their marquis' still visible against the snowfall.  

"What exactly are we supposed to be doing here?"  I complained, trying my best to retreat further into my cloak.

-What would you do without me.  We're after food for now and for the road. Enough to get you to Canterlot.  Maybe camping stuff?  I honestly don't know how long it will take you to walk there.-

My hooves suddenly locked up on the frozen concrete as I stopped dead in my tracks.  "WALK?!"

-If you want to buy a train ticket, go right ahead.  I'm sure they wouldn't have guards posted there, right?-

"Damnit!” My grumble was more akin to a growl, “Good point..."

-It is my burden to be saddled with the curse that is logic, I know.-

"You definitely have the curse part right," I mumbled quietly.  "Well... walking it’ll have to be I suppose.  However, that doesn't change the fact that-"

"I just don't understand what they were thinking!"  An annoyed female voice called out from across the street.  My attention turned to see two ponies conversing rather loudly in front of what appeared to be a small grocery store.

"You can't deliver fresh fruits and leave them outside in this kind of weather!  These are all terribly frost bitten now, I can't sell them like this!"  She continued, knocking a hoof against the small crate lying on the ground between them.

"Hmm..."  I mused as a smile worked its way onto my face.  An idea had come to mind as I checked both ways before crossing the roadway.

-Look, I know frozen fruit is still edible but you might want to wait until they're gone before you take it.-

"Shh!"  I hushed just loud enough for him to hear.  The two ponies, both mares by the look of it, turned their heads as I approached.

"Oh!  Hi there!"  The one fussing over the crate greeted me with as much cheer as she could through her frustration.  She was a unicorn covered in a deep shade of blue fur, much darker than my own, with a bright pink mane and tail.  She turned to the other magenta coated mare momentarily, "I'll catch up more with you tonight at the Falling Acorn."  With a nod her friend trotted off down the sidewalk.  "What can I help you with today?"

"Well-"  I started.

"I hope you're not needing any fresh pears," She motioned toward the crate on the ground.  “My delivery stallion seems to think that he can leave all of my parcels here while I'm closed, no matter what they are or what the weather may be."

"Actually, I was just won-"

"Oh!" She exclaimed, momentarily taken aback.  Her eyes swept my form twice before continuing, "You're a stallion!"

"Uhh..."  My gaze once again found the pink ribbon around my neck before focusing back on her amethyst eyes.  "Yeah, the name’s Snowdrift."

“Sorry, I’m Midnight Blush,” she pointed to the monikered sign above. “You were saying?”  Her voice still carried a slightly nervous timbre behind the professional smile.

"I hope you don’t mind, but I overheard you talking about your," I gave the crate on the ground a tap with my hoof.  "Situation, and I was just wondering if I might be able to lend a hoof to help out?"

"Really?" She paused, her eyes dancing among the frosted produce as she mulled it over.  "I do have to get the shop ready to open in a few minutes..."  When she looked back up, I gave her my most well meaning grin.

"That's very nice of you to offer, but I get my produce from Cherry Tart's farm."

My silence managed to speak for itself.

"Her warehouse is about fifteen blocks away and I wouldn't want to send anyone there in this storm."

I was about to take a huge risk, but it was one that I hoped would pay off in the end.  With a shaky hoof, I reached up and slid my hood down around my neck.  The chill of the wind nipped at my ears as my unimpeded gaze met with the mare's.  "It really wouldn't be a problem.  I'm actually getting quite used to this kind of weather.  Plus,"  I hesitated for a moment, unfurling my wings from underneath the side of my cloak, revealing the neat cerulean plumage.  Her eyes drifted down to my feathers before returning to my eyes.  I gave her a wink as I folded my wings back to my sides.

"Hmm," Blush chewed on her bottom lip as an ear flicked absently.  "I do need those pears ... Okay," she sighed.  I tried not to let my broadening smile make light of her decision.  "Just take this crate to Cherry's warehouse on the corner of Grainery and Ashwood.  Let them know what happened and they should give you a new bushel."

"Sure thing!"  With that, the mare turned around and made a hasty retreat back into her store.  I guessed it made sense, what with the weather and all.  I was at least cloaked and she was ... naked?  Can you be naked when covered in fur?  I shook my head absently as the crate swiftly levitated itself onto my back.

-Did the fall knock out the memory of the last time you tried flying?-

"Don't worry, I’m not looking for any more concussions."  I stated matter-of-factly.  "We're walking!  I just needed something extra to seal the deal."  I answered, ducking my head low and pulling the hood back over it.

-Deal? Wait, you're getting paid for this? Sans interview or résumé?-

"Well, yeah... hopefully anyway."  My hooves began carrying me in the direction she had indicated along with the address.

-Huh,  I wouldn't have thought of that.-

"Maybe not ‘money’ necessarily but food works as payment too."  The ice continued to thicken as I made my way down the road.  The snow had all but stopped, the peppering sleet taking up the slack.

-Speaking of payback, aren't you at all worried about giving her your name?-

"It was risky but she needed to trust me, I know people.  These little odd jobs are how I kept myself fed back home.  As for showing my face, It’s better than coming off as the 'creepy hooded figure’.”  

-People.-

“Ponies, whatever.”  Shielding my face against the wind, I checked on the cross-street.  Ashwood.  I thought we passed that while coming up Hoofston.  My ears swiveled, listening for any approaching carts or patrolling watch before crossing and continuing on through the white haze.

The next several blocks down Ashwood were fairly uneventful aside from the biting wind that I was now facing.  My attention was eventually drawn to the side, noticing little lines being etched in the snow and fallen sleet as I walked.  "Bored are we?"

-After having access to all of those books? Yeah, a little.  I wish I had brought one with me.-

"Cause that wouldn't look weird at all," I delivered flatly.

-I know.  Just can't help thinking how nice it would be though.  They really took my mind off how hungry I am.-

My stomach groaned irritably as if it had heard Aleks' words and taken offense.  An angry retort would have been next in line but my eyes focused on several other ponies approaching from the opposite direction on the sidewalk ahead.  Voting not to appear awkward by 'talking to myself,' I remained silent.  Soon, it became obvious through the sleet that it was a mother unicorn with her two foals trailing behind her.

-I mean, it's almost like I can feel them right now, and all it would take is for me to reach out and-

A brilliant flash made me wince as a soft pop deposited a hardbound tome in the snow at my hooves.

-... grab ... it.-

"...huh?"

"COOL!"  Two higher pitched voices called out as their quick hoofbeats suddenly brought them both in front of me.  "You know how to apparate?  Is it hard?  When did you learn it? Can you teach us?  Mom, can he teach us?"  Their questions followed one after the other, not leaving any time for an answer in between.

“Uhh,” I stalled, my pool of monosyllabic responses running low.  However, a sudden creeping sensation flowed its way up the the back of my spine between fur and cloak.  It settled on my head, keeping my ears upright and tenting the hood above my forehead.

-They think … unicorn …-

“I’m sorry,” their mother smiled through an exasperated sigh, “They’ve finally gotten the hang of levitation and it’s only fueled their fire.”  For a moment, her smile drooped, “Literally.”

"Oh, uh, o-of course."  I stated as my lips curled into yet another nervous grin.  "I'm still kind of getting the hang of it myself."  I added, rolling my eyes under the cover of the cloak.

"See?  It even takes grown ponies time to learn new magic,"  she interrupted, corralling her two young ones.  "Now say goodbye to the nice ... stallion."

"Why are you dressed up like a lady?”  The shorter colt of the two asked while being dragged away.

“Bye!” The mare added with a blush, her two charges looking back until they were lost in the fog of sleet.

"Wow...  Great timing on that!"  I snarked.  Alek groaned, releasing his hold on my hood.

-I didn't ... know it would ... do that.-

He sounded drained, much like he did yesterday.  Sighing in defeat, I grabbed the book in my teeth and placed it atop of the crate on my back.  It took a moment before I realized it, my movements in this body were certainly becoming more natural.  The weight of the tome surprised me, it was no wonder he seemed so drained.  "You gonna be alright?"

-Yeah, I just really wish I could sleep right about now.-

"Well, take a breather anyway.  I can manage the rest of the trek."  With that I continued at a steady trot, keeping my hood up and head low against the wind.  The rest of the journey passed in silence aside from the crinkling of snow and ice under hoof.

It wasn't but another ten minutes before I reached the intersection of Ashwood and Grainery.  I was thankful the city was laid out in a grid, it made it hard to get lost if you knew which roads ran north-south.  The sleet had relented a bit, giving me enough visibility to just see the looming warehouse on the far corner.

"Alek?  We're here!"

-Great. You might want to hurry if you plan to keep up the charade of flying that delivery.-

"Well, glad to see you've rested enough for your 'curse' to return, I see."  I crossed the street diagonally and found myself in front of a typical looking stable door with a bell on the right.  My hoof met the bell with a loud 'ding' and from the other side I could hear hoofsteps approaching.

"Hold on, I'm comin',"  The top half of the door swung inside and a rust red stallion poked his head out.  "Somethin' I can do for you, miss-ter?"  His tone changed as I let my hood down.

"Sure is," I turned my head to the side and nudged the book off and onto the concrete.  "This crate was delivered to Miss Blush's store WELL before she was opened this morning and the fruit inside ended up completely frosted and unsellable!"  The stallion on the other side looked the crate over with a discriminating eye as a light buck from my hips sent the crate airborne, landing in front of him on the little counter attached to the door.  He jerked back slightly from the incoming fruitsicles, lips curling into a frown as his eyes narrowed.

"And who might you be?"  The heavyset pony inquired.

"A friend of Miss Blush's that doesn't appreciate your courier's negligence."

“I'm the courier," he snorted.

"Oh ... well."  My resolve faltered for a brief moment.  "How long have you worked here?"  I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Long enough that I haven't got time to wait around for a pony to receive every delivery.  I've got a schedule to keep." He huffed.

"Now is that before or after they teach you not to leave fresh fruit out in the ice?"

His teeth ground against each other with enough force that I could hear them scraping.  "Well? What do you want done about it?"

"She’s not asking for a refund but I think an exchange for some fruit that Midnight Blush could actually SELL would be fair."  

-Devon,  I’m not sure laying into him like that is the best-

“Fine,” he snarled, “wait here,” the rusty stallion pulled the returned crate inside and disappeared into the warehouse.

"You were saying?" I smirked.  Alek didn’t reply, which only made my grin wider.  The forlorn tome floated up from the ground, ice and snow brushed off by an unseen hand.

Quick hoofsteps could be heard approaching, reflecting the mood of the pony they belonged to.  "Drop it!"  I hissed, directing it towards the floating book.

-but, I just ... -

Slowly, perhaps sadly, the bundle of written word returned to the ground.  As it landed on its spine, the book split open and the pages fluttered to a resting spot.  I pulled the book underneath me quickly with a rear hoof as the warehouse worker finally returned.  He still wore that ever present scowl as he approached the door.  Turning, he slid the crate from his back onto the counter.

"There," his nostrils flared, "If that's all, I've got lots of work left that needs doing."  He didn't wait for an answer, letting the closing door end the conversation for him.

"Thank you!" I yelled through the door, rubbing it in.  Alek hoisted the crate from the counter into the air before setting it down with a slight drop on my back.  I sidestepped out from over the book to allow him a chance to add it to my load.  "All right!  Let's get..."  My gaze stumbled onto the book lying open on the sidewalk, blinking as a sudden bolt of fear arced through me.

-Devon?-

The tome snapped closed, scattering snow and sleet before floating up towards the bushel of fresh pears.  My head shook as the book closed, faculties once more under my control as the wave of panic receded.  "Did you ... Did you see that?!"

-See what?  The amount of ice it managed to collect in just a minute of laying open?-

My eyes shifted across the frosted tome lying on my back.  "What book did you end up zapping here exactly?”

-“Equestrian Legends: An Encyclopedia of Myth and Magic.”  It was the one that had the most information on Discord.-

My body shivered at the mention of his name.  "That's what I meant!" I all but yelled, "It was him..."

-What was him?  You saw his picture again and got scared?-

"It wasn't a picture!"  I spat.

-It's not like it could have been something else, see?-

The book fluttered open once again, stopping in front of my face on the illustrated likeness of the draconequus.  My eyes squinted as the same feeling of dread began to creep over me like a fog.  I stared into the haphazardly drawn eyes of the character on the page, almost trying to stare through it.  Maybe it was all in my head, nothing but a bad dream bleeding over into the waking world. I was just about to turn away when it happened.  

He winked at me. 

I gasped, my body shaking as I reared up on my hind legs and slammed the book shut hard with my forehooves.

-Easy!  You almost spilled the cargo.-

The crate groaned as it was pushed against my back, keeping it in place until all four legs were back on the ground.  I let the book fall, not wanting to touch it any longer than needed.  Thankfully, this time the cover remained closed.  I stared at the tome as the leftover adrenaline worked its way out of my system, running my breath ragged in the process.  It didn't move, no matter how much I was expecting it to grow fangs and attack.

-Are you quite done abusing that poor book?-

His ethereal voice finally managed to tear me away from the cursed poltergeist of a publication.  "You SERIOUSLY didn't see that?!"

-All I saw was you developing a sudden phobia of crude artwork.-

"You've got to be kidding me with this, that THING is possessed!  I saw it move!"

-Says the stallion who until recently had enough ketamine in his veins to make him pass out.-

An annoyed snort was my rebuttal, eyebrows furrowing into angry points.  "I know what I saw, damnit!  That freaky drawing WINKED AT ME!"  My voice had escaped my brain's control, volume escalating to help me try and drive my point.

-And announcing that to everyone in earshot is going to do a great job convincing them.-

My attention turned to several ponies across the street from the warehouse that had stopped and were blatantly staring in my direction.  Another agitated snort rent the air as I slid my hood back over my head and began to walk away, retracing my path from earlier.  I had intended to leave the demonic tome laying there on the sidewalk, allowing it to be victim of the relentless winter weather.

-Avoiding the madhouse means NOT saying crazy things, no matter how much you may believe them to be true.-

The unmistakable sound and weight of a load being added to my back sent a jolt up my spine.

-But regardless of what you may have seen, you KNOW a book can't do that.-

He was right about 'avoiding the madhouse’, and it was becoming painfully obvious that he wasn't going to believe me.  I suppose the real question was, 'Do I believe me?'  I shook the nagging thought out of my head.  It was frustrating, but instead of yelling or getting any more worked up, I just kept walking.  The blocks went by in an uncomfortable silence, the soft crunch of my steps and the howl of the wind were the only sounds to be heard.

I came out of my trance with enough time to catch the intersection with Hoofston, finally on the last stretch towards Blush's store.  For as much insulation as they provided, my hooves were about at their limit.  The cold was nothing if not persistent and I was looking forward to a short break inside the grocer’s.  What I wasn't looking forward to were the three armored stallions now waiting out in front.  A small shiver worked its way from my hooves up my legs, reinforcing the point.

-Really? That whole trip with nary a sight of them and now fate decides we were behind on our quota.-

"Go figure..."  I mumbled completely unamused, doing my best to stay out of sight.  Weighing my options, I turned to the crate and book on my back.  Without warning a grin materialized on my muzzle.  "I think I've got an idea!"

-Finally, I'm tired of having to come up with them all the time.-

“… ANYWAY, Do you remember how you made me look like a unicorn in front of the two foals and their mother?”  I asked in a whisper, “Oh!  And by the way, good samaritan-ing those pears was totally my idea!”  Alek seemed to sigh.

-Yes, I assume you'll want me to carry the crate too.-

"Obviously ...  After all, they're looking for a pegasus, right?"

The pressure from the load vanished as the crate floated around in front of me, staying roughly chest high above the ground with the devil’s book tucked neatly inside.  The faintest shimmer of white surrounded it, nearly lost amidst the snow.  The familiar creeping sensation of Alek slinking up my cloak and along my spine forced a very uncomfortable shiver over my body as the hood tented.  "Gah ... That feels so ... weird."

-Well excuse me for trying to stay with your head as you move around, unless you’d rather your “horn” move like jello.-

My eyes rolled one last time at his words before taking a breath to steel myself.  My hooves marched in even steps, following the crate in front of me as I approached the entrance of the small store.  My head lowered instinctively as the closest guard turned his eyes toward me sharply, and a nervous sweat began to build on my forehead.  I held my breath under his piercing gaze, his dark red eyes following me.  Two steps away from the door he shifted to partially block my advance.  I swallowed hard, wondering how far I could get if I started running now.  Slowly, he extended a hoof and opened the way inside with a curt bow.

My shoulders relaxed as I let out a sigh before giving the guard my best smile and returning the nod.  As I entered the store, the door shut behind me along with the faint jingle of a bell.  The chilling wind thankfully remained outside.  The crate of pears set itself on the ground and the sensation between my ears dissipated just as the familiar face of Midnight Blush peeked out from around a shelf.  Her smile looked lost, brows arching while her eyes darted between me and the door.

“You’re … back?” Blush puzzled halfway towards being a question.

"Of course!" I chuckled with an elevated eyebrow.  "I gave you my word, even if it did take a bit longer than it should have." I gave the crate two quick taps with a hoof.  "Your FRESH produce, in no way frostbitten and ready to be sold!" I added proudly.

She looked down, wordlessly taking it all in even though her lips continued to move.  Her eyes met with mine as she brought her head back up.  "I'm sorry..." she apologized.

-...what?-

My smile faltered.  "You’re ... sorry?"  I asked, trying to retain some of my failing enthusiasm.

"I-I didn't think you'd ... I mean," she mumbled, her words being less than cooperative as she fidgeted.  "Earlier, when you dropped your hood, you looked like the pegasus they were after."  Blush motioned towards the guard's silhouettes on the storefront windows.

"So I," she swallowed, "kinda let them know...”

My ears flattened as I looked away.  I should have known.  Traipsing around the city didn’t get me caught, it was doing something nice for somepony.

"But, seeing as they just let you in, you must not be who they were looking for."  

"Eh?" was all I could reply with.

"I'm sorry I was so paranoid," Blush continued slightly flustered, "Let me give you a few extra bits, you really came through for me."

-No way.  Did you actually get ... lucky?-

Midnight popped behind the register and sprang the till.  A hoofful of golden coinage floated out and into a small brown pouch that sealed tight with a drawstring.  She levitated it over, held in the shimmering velvet of her magic.

The bag of bits hung most invitingly in front of my face.  My ears began their gradual hike back into the upright position as I realized that my work really did pay off.  The misfortune of her alerting the watch aside, things were starting to go my way.  "O-oh!  Uh, that really wasn't necessary but ... thank you!"  I grabbed the drawstrings of the coin purse with my teeth as the tingling sensation of her magic vanished.

I stood there like a dumbstruck statue, bit bag still hanging out of my mouth and a goofy looking smile on my face.

-Now we just need to sneak back out the way we came in and-

Another jingle from the door broke my happy reverie.  I turned about, all my color draining away as I came face to un-hooded face with the sandy colored guard from the goddamn alley.

"Plate Mail!  Here for your usual?"  Blush chirped happily.

"You?!" He snarled.

"Me?" I panicked through the moneybag.

-No, I take it back.  Life only picks you up so it doesn't have to bend over to punch you.-