The next two days passed as Twilight feared. With every day that went by, the dust cloud grew thicker. Eventually, it became an impregnable blanket of brown dust that kept those under it shrouded in a murky darkness. The air grew colder by the hour.
Soon, by Twilight's court and word of mouth, everypony in Ponyville knew why the sky was dark and what to do until the dust cleared. They stayed inside of their homes to conserve heat. Taking precedence from Celestia, Twilight also expressly forbade any pegasi from flying or doing any postal or weather work for safety reasons. With no more ponies coming in to ask questions, Twilight and Spike were left alone in the castle.
As Celestia had predicted, the dust grew too thick for Spike's dragon magic to work anymore. After Celestia's initial message, Twilight had hastily penned a reply, and gave it to Spike to send. When he blew fire on the letter, the green wisp of magic escaped the castle, turned black, and fell to the ground in ashes several hundred yards away. Twilight was on her own. She had nothing left to do but experiment further on the dust to see if she could succeed where the greatest minds in Canterlot failed.
"Let's try this one," Twilight said, rising from her desk, scroll in hoof. It was a very long scroll, several yards long, detailing the newest spell she had conceived of. As she walked to the window to cast her spell, she passed her enormous wastebasket of failed spells and her even more enormous wastebasket of failed ideas.
Twilight stopped at the window. Studying the scroll one last time, she cast her spell. A tiny blue spark of energy escaped her horn and ascended into the dust cloud.
"Come on . . ." Twilight said, looking up into the blanket of dust in anticipation. Moments later, an explosion rattled the castle as the sky above was lit in a bright blue flash of light. It faded slowly, revealing . . . more brown. Despite the powerful explosion, the dust above the castle had not even visibly thinned.
Twilight groaned and slammed her head into the window. She balled up her scroll with her magic and tossed it into the wastebasket of failed spells.
"Again?" a voice behind her asked. Twilight turned around to see Spike, a frown on his face.
"Yeah," Twilight replied, wearily. "Honestly, I don't know what to do anymore. I've been trying spells for so long, but none of them work. The only thing left to do is . . ." Twilight raised her hooves in a helpless gesture. ". . . Wait it out."
"But how long will that take, Twilight?" Spike asked. "Celestia said the dust was a mile high, and it hasn't gotten any thinner."
"I don't know, Spike!" Twilight exclaimed. "I've tried everything! What else am I supposed to do?" Twilight sighed heavily in frustration and placed her head on the window again.
Twilight was interrupted by a knock on the door. Strange, Twilight thought. Didn't I tell everypony to stay inside? Maybe somepony didn't get the news. Twilight stood up and composed herself as best she could. She descended down the stairs to the vestibule of the castle where the grand entrance was. She opened the door to admit the pony outside.
"Oh! Hi, Rainbow Dash. What brings you . . ." Twilight trailed off. "Are you alright, Dash? You're coughing," Twilight asked, concerned.
Rainbow stepped inside the castle, and Twilight closed the doors behind her. Trying to suppress her coughs, Rainbow sputtered, "Dust is— —is too thick. It's gotten into my cloud home. I can't stay in there any— —any longer, Twilight."
"Oh no!" Twilight rushed to the kitchen of the castle, continuing to talk to Rainbow. "I'm so sorry, Rainbow. I didn't think the dust would be worse higher in the sky." She returned with a glass of water and gave it to Rainbow.
She accepted the glass and took a long sip before responding. "Yeah, it is. It's so dang thick that I could barely see a hoof in front of my face. Just today, it got really dusty and really cold, and I started coughing and shivering, like, nonstop. I had to grab Tank and get outta there as soon as I could, Twilight." Rainbow lowered the saddlebags on her back to the ground and unlatched it. Out waddled Tank, also coughing and sputtering.
Twilight put a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "I'm sorry about your cloud house, Rainbow. I don't think it's safe to live in anymore. You can stay in the castle until . . . well, until the dust settles, okay?"
"Until the dust settles?" Rainbow asked, askance. "How long is that going to take? You know that it's getting colder all the time, right? Ponyville can't deal with this 'until the dust settles.' By the time it does, we'll all be ice cubes!"
"I'm . . ." Twilight hesitated. There was some truth to Rainbow's words, after all; it would take quite a long time. No! Twilight's mind shouted in rebuttal. I can't start thinking like that. The dust will settle, and we'll be alright. We have to stay hopeful!
". . . I'm sure it won't take that long, Dash. If we just stay strong, I'm sure the dust will thin out, and things will resolve themselves," Twilight said, putting on a smile.
"It would be so much easier if you could just zap it all away like you normally do."
Twilight shook her head. "I can't; I've been trying all day. There's too much dust for me to do anything with. Even the other princesses can't do anything about it." Twilight shrugged helplessly. "Sorry, Dash. I've tried. There's nothing I can do."
Rainbow didn't respond. She merely looked out a window and swished her tail back and forth. Her wings were twitching.
"Please don't, Dash," Twilight said, thrusting her hooves out, trying to interrupt Rainbow's thoughts. "It's dust, not a cloud. If you could move it, you would have done that days ago."
Rainbow kept looking out the window. "Every day that Ponyville's under this dust, things are just gonna get harder. It needs to go."
Twilight turned Rainbow's head to face her own. Her face was sympathetic. "I know, Rainbow, I know. But there's nothing I can do about it, and there's nothing you can do, either. We just have to let time take its course."
Rainbow took in a breath, as if to argue further, then released it in a sigh. "Fine."
The two walked up to the throne room of the castle. Twilight opened closets and back rooms to gather the supplies she would need to set up a bed for Rainbow Dash.
"So, what should we do while we're . . . I guess, waiting it out, Twilight?" Rainbow asked.
Twilight paused. "I don't know. I suppose normally, Spike and I would be decorating for Hearth's Warming about this time but . . ." Twilight glanced at the weather outside. That was all that needed to be said.
". . . Yeah." Rainbow Dash said. She shuffled her hooves awkwardly.
Twilight resumed walking, trying to put some cheer into her voice. "The castle's a pretty big place. I'm sure we can find some things to keep up busy while we're waiting for the dust to settle." She put on a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Rainbow just nodded glumly. They both knew that it would be a long wait.
Twilight woke up feeling chills down her spine. That's odd, Twilight thought. She knew it was getting colder by the day, but she didn't expect it to come this quickly. Idly, Twilight looked out of her window. In addition to the brown clouds of dust in the sky, there was now also a shower of snow falling from it. Snow? How can there be snow now?
Twilight's heart thudded in her chest. If it really was snowing, their situation was about to go from bad to worse. It would make things wet, mushy, and even colder.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the slam of a door. Twilight's eyes widened. She herself burst out of her bedroom door, and found the doors to the throne room thrown wide open. She also saw Rainbow Dash flying for the door of the castle.
Twilight galloped to the vestibule of the castle, intent on catching Rainbow Dash before she did something foolish. The moment Rainbow opened the doors to the castle, she shot upwards . . . only to be brought back down to earth by the tail.
"Ow!" Rainbow exclaimed, rubbing her behind, which had just been slammed to the floor. "What the hay, Twilight! I need to stop the snowstorm!"
"No, Dash, you can't!" Twilight shouted back. Twilight hastily closed to the door to the castle. From the pile of snow that had fallen into the castle, it looked like it had been snowing for a while. "The dust is too thick and the snow clouds are too high. You'd suffocate or freeze before you could make a difference!"
Rainbow shook her head angrily. "You don't know that, Twilight! Besides, if I don't bust those clouds, things are only gonna get worse!"
"Please, no, Rainbow," Twilight pleaded. "I won't let you try your hoof at clearing the clouds in this kind of weather." Twilight gestured to the sky outside. The blanket of brown dust was opaque and nigh impenetrable. "If you go up there, you'll never come back!"
"And if I don't go up there, the snow's just gonna keep falling! Ponyville's gonna suffer even more for it, and I can't let that happen!" Rainbow flexed her legs in preparation to launch again, but again, Twilight's magic restrained her.
"I said no, Rainbow!" Twilight snapped.
Rainbow's eyes narrowed. "Twilight, either you let me go to get rid of those clouds, or you bust them yourself."
"Rainbow, you know I can't use magic to clear clouds! And I won't let you risk your well-being to stop a little snow!" Twilight released Rainbow and stepped back. She sighed, exasperated, and started pacing back and forth. "Why did this snow even have to start? That's the last thing we need right now."
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "It's not like the pegasi did it! The storm probably blew in from the Everfree Forest. Normally, I'd be having one of my weather crew surveying the area to stop these rogue storms before they start." Rainbow stepped up and set her face to butt against Twilight's. "This is what happens when you keep us all inside!"
Twilight gasped. She narrowed her eyes, and glared at Rainbow. "I just want everypony to be safe, Rainbow!"
Rainbow refused to back down, and glared back. "Yeah, well, I want that too, Twilight!"
Both ponies pushed against each other, snarls on their faces. Eventually, after a few moments, Twilight relented. She took a deep breath, retreated from Rainbow, and sat down. "I'm sorry, Rainbow, okay?" she said. Twilight turned her head to the side and refused to look at Rainbow. A melancholy frown was on her face. "I just can't bear to see my friends get hurt."
Briefly surprised by Twilight's concession, Rainbow took the moment to calm down. Rainbow sat down next to Twilight. She scratched her hooves on the ground idly. "Yeah. I know, Twilight. I just don't want Ponyville to suffer for it."
The moment was interrupted by a timid tap on the door. Twilight wouldn't have heard it if they weren't sitting so close to the door. "I'll get it," Twilight said, getting up to answer the door.
Twilight opened the door quickly to let the pony on the other side in, and closed it right after. Only then did she look to see who came in.
"Fluttershy!" Twilight exclaimed. The pegasus was naked, save for a single scarf around her neck. "What happened? I told everypony to stay inside. Why didn't you listen and stay in your home?"
Fluttershy was shivering. She looked down and refused to lift her head. "I . . . I can't. Not anymore," Fluttershy whispered.
"Why? You know that it's safest in your own home."
"Because . . . Be-because . . ."
Fluttershy broke down into tears then and there. Twilight quickly coaxed her into the throne room and set up a bed for her with Rainbow Dash. Even though Twilight never received an answer from her friend, she asked no more questions. Fluttershy's wails of despair gave Twilight more information than she ever wanted to know.
"Why? Why! Why did the cold have to take you too? I'm sorry, Angel! Mama's so sorry!"
Rainbow hugged Fluttershy tightly while she sobbed. Meanwhile, she glared at Twilight. Rainbow's eyes said all that needed to be said from her. This is what happens when you keep us all inside.
The next day, Twilight was surprised by an urgent pounding on the castle door. Rousing herself quickly, she galloped to the door and threw it open. Before her stood Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie. They all stepped inside the castle, and Twilight closed the door behind them. "What are you all . . ." she trailed off when she noticed the state that Rarity was in.
She was bundled up from head to tail. Even with a jacket, pants, leg warmers, boots, and a scarf, Rarity was still shivering. Her mane and tail lacked their usual curl, and her breathing was shallow. The beginnings of frostbite were present on her hooves and ears. It was clear that Applejack and Pinkie Pie were there to support her. "Rarity! What happened?" Twilight said.
Meanwhile, Rainbow had emerged from the throne room to see what all the commotion was all about. Seeing three other friends in the vestibule, Rainbow sped off to gather more supplies to set up three more beds.
Fluttershy also slowly walked out of the throne room, head drooped. When she saw the state that Rarity was in, she immediately perked up and flew down to investigate. Depressed or not, Fluttershy could never ignore a friend in need.
She rushed over to Rarity's side, nearly bowling over Applejack in the process. "Oh my goodness! Rarity, are you okay?" Fluttershy cried. She coaxed Rarity to move to the throne room, where there was a fire going.
"Hello, d-d-darling," Rarity forced out. Her voice was barely a whisper.
When they made it to the throne room, Fluttershy immediately pushed Rarity as close to the fire as she could. Rainbow Dash also raced back in, carrying a bundle of blankets. She draped some of them over Rarity.
Twilight asked Applejack again, "What happened?"
"You should'a seen it, Twilight," Applejack said. "We got to Rarity's, and we saw that there was a branch right through one of her windows. Storm must've snapped it right off the tree. The floor was completely covered in snow. Shoot, there might've been icicles hangin' off the ceiling, too. She didn't even have a fire going. Said that the snow put it out and made the wood too wet to relight. She had nothin' to fight off the wind neither, so she was just sittin' in the room freezin'."
Twilight looked to Rarity, who weakly nodded her affirmation. Rainbow glared at Twilight again, but she ignored her.
Fluttershy squeezed Rarity tightly. "Oh, Rarity, you poor thing! You must be so cold right now!" she exclaimed. "Let me make you some soup, Rarity. That will make you feel better." Fluttershy rushed off to the kitchen before anypony could react.
Twilight sighed, and turned her eyes back to Rarity. She had been sitting in front of the fire for a while, but she was still fighting off the shivers that refused to go away. Twilight addressed Pinkie and Applejack: "Thanks, girls. I'm really glad that you brought her here." Twilight put a hoof to her chin in contemplation. "But I thought I told everypony to stay inside."
"I had to go, Twilight," Pinkie explained. "My Pinkie Sense told me a friend needed my help, and I felt it coming from Rarity's house. You don't just ignore something like that, y'know? When I arrived, I saw that Applejack was already there. She must have been doing her rounds." Pinkie looked back at Rarity. "Good thing, too; I don't think I could have gotten her back here all by myself."
Twilight nodded as she took in the information. "I guess that makes sense . . . wait, rounds? What rounds?"
Applejack stepped forward. "My rounds, Twilight. I've been checkin' on ponies around town and sharin' supplies where they were needed."
Twilight blinked. "But I thought I told you to stay inside. It's safer that way."
Applejack lowered her hat. "No can do, Twilight. Y'might not know it, but lots of folks are running out of food or firewood. This cold took a lot of us by surprise, and we never expected we would need to stock up."
Twilight remained silent, but Applejack continued speaking. "Some ponies are havin' to move in with their neighbors when they run out of supplies. Lil' fillies and colts are getting sick too. The unicorns ain't handling it much better." Applejack looked Twilight in the eye. "Ponies are struggling, Twilight."
Twilight stepped back. She hadn't realized that so many other ponies were having trouble braving the storm. What can I do? Twilight thought. I don't want my friends 'making rounds' and risking themselves out in this cold, but I don't want other ponies to be hurt, either. Twilight shuddered. I don't even want to think about what would have happened to Rarity if Applejack or Pinkie hadn't found her when they did.
Ponyville isn't prepared for this storm. They don't have enough supplies to last much longer. Twilight started pacing back and forth worriedly. I guess the castle can shelter a few ponies, but how long will I be able to keep that up? It's not like I have massive quantities of . . . Twilight's eyes widened in realization. She ran down to the castle basement as she remembered the events that happened just a few weeks ago.
"Hi, Mayor Mare! I have to say that I didn't expect you of all ponies to come to me during my court hours! You know that you can always send a letter to me. What can I do for you?"
"Greetings, Twilight. You are aware of the Town Hall renovations that are due to start soon, correct?"
"Yes, I am. Do you need me to help with the planning?"
"No, Twilight, that won't be necessary. I have already arranged the events. However, I would like to ask a favor from you."
"Of course, Mayor! What is it?"
"The Town Hall will have to be cleared completely to make room for the renovations. I have no problem with moving most things there to my home for the time being, but the food stores in the basement are too large for me to do the same with them. Therefore, I would like to ask, Twilight . . ."
In the basement of the castle, Twilight found the food stores just as she left them: piles upon piles of canned food. They could probably sustain Ponyville for quite a while.
Okay, so food won't be a problem then, Twilight thought. But what about the firewood? Ponies will need a way to stay warm if they come, and Town Hall had no stores of firewood. I only have enough for Spike and I, certainly not enough for all of Ponyville!
Twilight's eyes turned to the only other item in the basement. In the corner, there lay a bundle of singed timber, leaves, and books. They were the remnants of Twilight's old library. She had kept them in the basement of the castle for months so she could salvage what she could from her old home . . . and because she couldn't bear to throw it out. The wood was special to her. The flammable wood.
I can't! Twilight shook her head vigorously. There are so many memories kept in that library. I can't just . . . destroy it like this! But if I don't . . . Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as Cadance had taught her a long time ago. She opened her eyes slowly. She pushed out the emotions held in her heart and looked at the remains of her library with the most practical mindset she could. Being a princess means making sacrifices. It's wood; it will burn, and it will keep us warm. It will buy us more time, and that's what we need right now.
Steeling herself—emotionally and physically—Twilight aimed her horn, and fired a magenta beam of energy towards the remnants of her library. The wood was pulverized into many smaller chunks. With each beam from her horn, Twilight broke the wood into smaller and smaller pieces.
Each beam was like a shot through her heart. Twilight gritted her teeth and continued. When she finished, the library was unrecognizable from an ordinary pile of firewood. Even her old bed and Spike's basket now lay as a pile of tinder. Twilight sighed. She walked up to the pile, kissed the wood gently, and retreated up the stairs.
When she made it back to the throne room, Applejack confronted her. "Twilight! I heard all this bangin' and crashin' downstairs. I thought you were apple buckin' or something! What were you doin'?"
"Preparing," Twilight said simply. "Thank you informing me of this, Applejack. I know what needs to be done."
Twilight slowly walked to the center of the throne room, and lit her horn in a magenta glow, concentrating. She threw her head back and sent a beam of energy straight up. It passed through the ceiling and the upper floors of the castle to hit the spire at the apex. The very air in the castle seemed to vibrate as Twilight spoke, the castle amplifying her voice so it could be heard in every house of Ponyville.
"Citizens of Ponyville. It has been several days since the asteroid struck Equestria, and the dust in sky is still as thick as it was the day it hit. Every day the sun fails to pierce the dust, the air gets a little colder. I realize now that it has become too cold for some ponies."
Twilight looked at Applejack and nodded. She continued speaking.
"I am now declaring my castle an open sanctuary. Any of those ponies who have found it too cold to keep living their own homes can seek refuge in the castle. We will personally see to your temporary living arrangements when you arrive, and we will provide you with food and . . . a-and . . ."
Twilight stopped, closed her eyes, and took another deep breath. Being a princess means making sacrifices for those in need. And right now, Ponyville needs my help more than ever. Twilight opened her eyes and steeled herself to finish her sentence.
". . . and firewood for as long as we are able. If you are out of either of those supplies, come quickly so that we may tend to you. And please, if your neighbor is a unicorn or has foals, know that they are very susceptible to the cold. If they would like to come, please help them make it here safely."
Twilight retreated again to gather her thoughts. Another part of being a princess was to maintain hope and morale and optimism, as Celestia had said in her letter. She spoke again.
"We will ride out this storm, Ponyville. This asteroid may have got us down, but we will endure until the dust settles and the sun and moon can shine again. Just hold out a little longer, and the bitter cold will retreat. Equestria may be battered, but we will not break."
Letting out the breath she didn't know she was holding, Twilight ended the spell, and sat down on the floor.