The stallion - or Harp Fisher as he murmured faintly to the nurse - was safe and sound in Ponyville General Hospital. He was unconscious but still alive. Nurse Redheart commended Twilight in bringing him so quickly - any later and frostbite might have settled in.
His family, however, was a different story completely. Twilight didn’t even have the first clue on where to start looking - Rainbow Dash, as tired as she was, had already zoomed to the skies with other pegasi in search for the lost ponies.
They didn’t even exactly know what they were looking for.
Twilight zipped up her winter jacket, turning to Applejack - who had volunteered to be a part of the search team. They both held lanterns, to see in the quickly fading light.
“He said he was coming in from Baltimare, so I would expect we’d find them somewhere North East of Ponyville,” Twilight said, her magic unfurling a map from her saddlebags.
“We’ve got pegasi combin’ the sky and a few search teams already. I’m not sure what else is needed out there.” Applejack shook her head sadly - Twilight recognised that look. “It’s practically dark out already. I’m not sure we’re going to find them in time.”
The unicorn nodded in agreement - there wasn’t much for them to do with the search teams already out, but they had to at least try.
On cue, several of the ponies came trudging through the snow to recuperate from the cold. Twilight didn’t even realise the knot of tension building up in her chest until the returning members shook their heads sadly - they had found nopony.
The knot was quickly sliced through by the cold twang of worry. They were running out of time - fast.
****
Bundles upon bundles of linen were piled around the walls of the Carousel Boutique. Scraps and offcuts of dresses, saddles and winter coats littered the floor. Over a dozen mannequins stood around shop floor, each with a work-in-progress stitched around it.
Rarity Belle tutted to herself as she practically danced around her workspace, magic threading needles and thread through panels and hems for the pending orders she had.
The sudden burst of orders for winter-apparel had left her completely swamped in work - but she had adopted a firm pace and was working through everything smoothly.
‘What was Rainbow Dash thinking with all this dreadful weather?’ she thought to herself. A little warning would have been nice - some preparation is better than none.
A pair of nice stallions had offered to keep the snow build-up clear around her Boutique - after all, it wouldn’t do business very good if her clientele couldn’t even get to the shop to pick up their orders.
“Aha! Perfect!” she exclaimed, tying off the last stitch in one of her works - a simple winter’s saddle with extra long (and warm) skirtings.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, she let out a small and controlled gasp at the time. It was already late into the evening. The gloomy weather was already starting to mess with her perception of time.
Her magic neatly folded and boxed the completed order, before placing it the completed bay with other waiting orders.
‘Hmm - I do have quite a few pending pick ups here,’ she thought to herself. Perhaps it would be nice to drop off some of the ready-paid orders. After all - she couldn’t have ponies freezing to death!
Humming a tune to herself, Rarity packed a few completed items into her saddle-bags. Trotting into her walk-in closet, her magic created a dance of various items around her, the three full-sized mirrors showing her every flattering angle as she compared different items.
Electing a coral blue scarf with violet highlights and matching boots, she hoisted the saddlebags onto her back.
A list was levitating in front of the fashionista. “Hmm - first drop off is for Mr and Mrs Stalk. They’re just around the corner!”
Pushing her door open, Rarity found that somepony had quite kindly already cleared the snow leading to her Boutique for her. Making a mental note to thank the pony, she set off to the Stalk’s residence.
The buildings of Ponyville seemed to do a good job at shielding against the winds raging above. The cold nipped at her coat, causing her to emit a small whine.
The trip to the Stalks was short, if not lonely. It seemed Rarity was the only one actually out - normally Ponyville was bustling with activity.
A shiver ran up her spine. It was like a ghost town.
Silently thanking Celestia, Rarity arrived at a small single-story cottage. A dim glow from the windows announced that the Stalks were home. Giving a few, curt knocks she put on her friendliest smile.
The door cracked opened, before a young colt opened it further. Rarity’s smile faltered at the sad, distant look on the colt’s face.
“E - Evening. Your mother or father wouldn’t be around, would they?” Rarity asked, her hooves shifting uneasily.
“Who’s asking?” The flat tone in his voice bordered disinterested.
“It’s Rarity - I’m here to drop off an order for some sweaters.”
Wordlessly, the colt turned and shut the door. After a few moments it opened again. There stood a wiry stallion with a light green coat and a bunch of celery sticks for a cutiemark.
His eyes narrowed as they settled on Rarity. “I wasn’t expecting you here.”
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry dear,” she began, trying to keep her voice steady against Celery Stalk’s fixed gaze, “I was just in the area and I thought I’d drop off your order for you - afterall, I don’t want you all freezing in this dreadful weather.”
Rarity levitated the package out from her bag as Celery eyed it suspiciously. “We don’t have any bits,” he said flatly.
She shook her head. “No need to worry about that right now. You can sort out payment when you can.”
Celery eyed the package suspiciously, before grabbing the string in his mouth. He turned to take it back inside, leaving his door ajar. The family of three had been sitting around a small table. A moderate fire crackled in the corner, but Rarity felt no warmth coming from inside. She shivered, despite her jacket still keeping her warm.
Celery set the package on the table, opening it. His wife, Rhubarb and their son each took their sweaters.
Celery walked back to the door, a hint of a smile touching his face as he held his new sweater. Warmth started to almost seep back into the household as the stallion looked up at Rarity. His once stony gaze held a friendlier glow to it. “Thank you, Miss. We greatly appreciate it.”
There was something vastly different in his demeanor now, Rarity noticed. He was friendlier, even if it was only slightly.
“It is only my pleasure, Celery. I hope you and your family stay warm in this weather. I have a few other clients to visit as well.”
Celery nodded and thanked her again, closing the door. Rarity stood for a while longer as conversation began to pick up inside the house behind her. She shivered, remembering the indifferent, cold gaze Celery had.
But now - it was warmer. The gentle laugh of the young colt was warm and genuine.
She shook her head. The evening was closing quickly, and there were other orders to deliver.
*****
Twilight and Applejack readied their snow-shoes and lanterns, setting out with two other ponies. A part of her was thankful for the howling winds sweeping away any build-up of snow, however the double-edged sword it presented drove a deep worry into Twilight.
The new search party set out, battling against the howling winds battering against them mercilessly, powering forward into the blizzard.
It was safer to search in pairs - Twilight and Applejack choosing to sticking together. It was already two hours after sunset - their lanterns offering nothing more than a token gesture against the storm - serving little more than a pilot light showing where the others were.
Twilight’s magic was at its limit - her brow was furrowed with the active concentration needed to keep her Dragon’s Warmth spell alive around herself and her friends.
“It’s no use!” Applejack called out. Even her apple-bucking strength strained against the howling gale that was determined to stop them every step of the way. “We’ll never find them out in this storm!”
Twilight began forming a reply when a faint voice called out from above. “Look out!”
She barely had time to register the voice before a rainbow streak tackled into her, sending the two tumbling a few feet. “Rainbow!” Twilight said hotly, picking the pegasus off of her as she stood up. “What is your pro -,”
She was interrupted by the thunderous crash of an old oak tree being uprooted by the heavy winds, collapsing where she had been standing moments ago. Her eyes wide, she stared at Rainbow. Her wings and movement was oddly stiff but a determined and resolute look burned behind her eyes.
“How did you see that?” Twilight said, wiping off the excess snow from her coat, giving Rainbow an incredulous look. “I can barely see my own hoof in front of me!”
Rainbow gave a small, tired smile. “I was born to fly, Twilight. When you’re up there you can’t afford to not pay attention. Plus, the view is a lot better up there than you’d think.”
Twilight’s eyes narrowed sceptically, the aerial view could hardly be any better. She didn’t have time to dwell on it as Applejack’s voice pierced through the winds. “We found them!”
A wave of relief flooded into Twilight, the tension in her shoulders suddenly releasing. Galloping over she approached Applejack standing in front of an old tree hollow, her Dragon’s Warmth spell already ready to cast.
Inside was a young mare and even younger colt - much younger than the stallion who had wandered into town earlier. The mare was barely conscious, her body set up as a shield against the cold for the colt. Twilight’s spell wrapped around her body as another rescue pony brought a blanket for her and the colt.
“Easy there, you’re safe now,” Twilight said soothingly, wrapping another spell around the younger colt, her magic stretched to its limit. Unlike the mare, he was still awake. “What’s your name?”
“Bottle Brush,” he said meekly, shivering slightly at the nippy air suddenly exposed to him. “My sister kept me warm - I hope she’s fine…”
Twilight looked at the mare. She offered a meek smile before drifting off again. Applejack was already hoisting her onto a makeshift stretcher. She turned back to Bottle. “Come, let’s get you back to Ponyville - your dad’s waiting for you.” Twilight smiled warmly.
Lifting him onto her back, she turned to make their way back. Bottle spoke, fear wavering his voice slightly. “Have you seen my mommy? We lost her trying to hide from the cold.”
The tension returned to Twilight’s shoulders, that same icy chill returning to her stomach.
End of Act One