//------------------------------//
// Message 
// Story: Dark Frost 
// by BlueColton 
//------------------------------//



Twilight burst through the palace doors, Spike clinging to her mane as she flew like an unleashed arrow. “Twilight! Slow down!” Spike pleaded for his life. It was nice to have the mare fly him back the long distance to the palace, but Spike wanted to get there in one piece. In less than a fraction of the time it took him to find her all the way at the crash site, Spike was back where he’d started, in the palace study.
He hopped off just as soon as Twilight placed four hooves on the ground. Gasping, for he was more winded from the crazy flight over here than the jog to the site, Spike watched as Twilight’s head turned right, then left. “Where is it, Spike?” She asked, her voice high-pitched.
“Um…where you last left it.” Spike pointed to the stand where a book with a golden sun emblem was now shimmering. The emblem emitted a small whistling sound as it tried to get the reader’s attention. Both Twilight and Spike knew that sound to mean that a message from the human world had just come through. And there was only one pony who knew how to reach them.
Twilight’s face beamed. “This is great! Spike, do you know what this means?”
“That some pony out there is trying to reach us, maybe even help us with our situation.”
“It means…” Twilight paused, processing what Spike had just said. “Oh. Yeah.”
“This is why I came to get you. It just couldn’t wait until you got back.”
“Thank you, Spike.” Twilight opened the book, not even bothering to use her horn to flip to the last page. When she reached it, the princess quickly skimmed through the lettering that she immediately recognized as belonging to her good friend at CHS. Beaming at first, Twilight’s smile slowly evaporated. “Oh no.”
“What is it?” Spike rushed to her side.
“Sunset said that her town is covered in snow,” Twilight read the words off the pages. “She states that the snow hasn’t stopped and that they cannot communicate with anyplace outside their borders.”
“You mean…it’s not just Ponyville?”
“It sounds like it. Wait.” Twilight mumbled to herself as she read a passage. “She says there’s some kind of invisible barrier that keeps them from leaving the town. She’s asking if I have any idea as to what is going on.”
“Boy will she be bummed,” Spike added.
“Hey!” She glowered at him. “I’m working on it.” Picking up her quill, Twilight levitated it over the pages.

	“Dear Sunset Shimmer,

You won’t believe this but Ponyville is in the same predicament. It’s been snowing for hours and we can’t communicate with Canterlot or any other part of Equestria. Frankly, I’m amazed you were able to get a message through. Maybe communicating works differently between dimensions than it does in-world.
We’re doing everything we can to uncover the source of the barrier on our side. Rainbow Dash was stunned trying to fly over it, but she’s okay and recovering nicely. Whatever you do, don’t try go above the cloud cover. There’s something that doesn’t want us to leave. I know your new species doesn’t have wings but if your Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy decide to pony-up and fly, make sure they lay low. I don’t know how good human medicine is but I’d rather my CHS friends don’t wind up in a hospital.
I’ll contact you just as soon as we find out more.

Be safe,

Twilight Sparkle.”

Finished, Twilight turned to Spike. “This is good new, Spike. It means we’re not as cut off as I had feared. I can’t wait to tell the others.”
“But why?” Spike asked, stopping her in her tracks. “I mean, why would anyone want to trap both Ponyville and CHS?”
Twilight thought a moment. “Good question. Possibly someone with a grudge.”
“You mean the Dazzlings?” Spike gasped. “Or…Starlight Glimmer?”
“Doubtful on the first, maybe on the second. Only a being with immense power could do something like this.”
“Not to mention hate our guts.”
Twilight’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Spike. “And with a penchant for making strange things happen out of the blue.”
Spike returned her gesture. “And just loves pushing your buttons.”
They both came to the same conclusion. “Discord.”
Growling, Twilight huffed loudly. “Hold down the fort, Spike. It’s time I paid Fluttershy a visit.”



Fluttershy’s cottage appeared like something out of a postcard. The quiet home was covered in snow and was welcoming and homey. The alicorn princess landed in front of the door, crunching snow loudly underneath her hooves. Taking a moment to dust the snowflakes from her wings, Twilight knocked on the door twice.
A friendly smile greeted her upon opening. “Twilight! It’s good to see you.” She stepped aside to admit her friend.
“Likewise.” Twilight glanced around the room suspiciously. Several of her animal friends were in the cottage. Most of them were warming themselves by the fireplace or drinking tea, sharing various forms of animal conversation. You wouldn’t think that the town was in a dire strait by the looks of this setting.
“Can I get you anything? We have crumb cakes.” Fluttershy quickly closed the door to keep the cold air out. “Or maybe some tea?”
“Some tea would be nice,” Twilight admitted. It had been a cold flight out here. Fluttershy went to get her tea while Twilight scanned the room. Most of the animals waved to her or ignored her altogether, not all that impressed by the presence of an alicorn in their midst. When Fluttershy returned carrying a tray of tea with honey, Twilight was sitting by the only unoccupied table. “How are things here?” She asked Fluttershy.
“Quiet. The Everfree Forest hasn’t moved to attack, I’m delighted to say.” She poured Twilight her tea and offered her a cup. Twilight sipped, relishing the warmth of the beverage as it traveled down her throat. “But you didn’t have to fly all the way out here just to ask me that. I would have reported any strange things to you as soon as I saw them.”
“I know that. Tea’s delicious by the way.” Twilight placed the cup down and said, “What I meant to ask is, have you seen Discord by any chance?”
“Discord? Why heavens no. Not since our last visit.” Lowering her voice, she asked, “Why? Did you hear something?”
“Read something is more like it.” Twilight’s voice became serious. “Fluttershy, earlier I received a message from Sunset Shimmer. She states that her world is also covered in snow and that there’s a barrier around it as well. I’ve tried to narrow down the list of potential culprits who could do something like this…”
“And you automatically blamed Discord?” Fluttershy finished, an edge to her voice. Glowering, she placed both hooves on her hips. “Now Twilight Sparkle, you know I don’t like it how you and the others feel about Discord. He’s a changed draconequus.”
“Look, I’m not saying he is responsible for all this. But he is powerful and more than capable of doing something this bizarre. And you have to admit, it is chaotic.”
“Not chaotic enough.”
“What?” Twilight asked in confusion.
“You don’t know his M.O. like I do. Floating buildings? Sure. Chocolate rainclouds? An oldie, but a goodie. Dancing flowers and five-minute day and night cycles? Of course! But just putting up a barrier around Ponyville and making it snow plain old snowflakes? That’s not Discord. It’s not Discord at all.” Fluttershy put her hooves on the table. “You may not realize this, but I considered Discord when this all started. I knew it was only a matter of time before either you or Rainbow or Applejack began blaming him for it. Honestly, I’m surprised it took you this long to come to that conclusion. But it’s not him, Twilight. I promise you.”
“How can you be so sure?” Twilight asked, genuinely curious.
“I know my friends, Twilight. Can you imagine if I suddenly believed Spike was up to no good without any proof? Wouldn’t you be the first to defend him?”
Shamed, Twilight’s ears flattened against her head. “You’re right. I’m…I’m sorry, Fluttershy.”
But Fluttershy, true to her element and her nature, did not hold a grudge. “It’s okay. And like I said, I thought this might be Discord’s doing too at first. It helps to think on your suspicions before acting on them. I find it helps avoid awkward situations like this.”
“I know. It’s just…I don’t know what to do, Fluttershy. The mayor and every pony in this town are looking to me for solutions and I don’t even know where to begin.”
Placing a hoof on hers, Fluttershy smiled. “I know you’ll figure it out. You always do.”
Twilight felt her face warming up. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome. And don’t worry. If Discord suddenly pops into being with a hay burger in one claw and a stick of dynamite in the other, I’ll make sure to send him your way.”
“Thanks…I think?”
There was a knock at the door. “Goodness, now who could that be?” Fluttershy went to open it. “Applejack?”
The orange mare shivered as Fluttershy let her in. “Brrr. It’s colder than a witch’s muzzle out there.” Shaking the snow off, Applejack was surprised to see Twilight there. “Well howdy, Twilight. Listen, Ah’m glad yer here too. Apple Bloom and Ah were talkin’ and Ah had an idea. There’s only one varmint we know of that would get a kick out of this here predicament. Ah know who’s responsible.” Looking between the two, she jumped up as she said, “It’s Discord!”
Both Fluttershy and Twilight looked at each other, faces stoic.
“What?” Applejack asked. “Did ya’ll figure that out already?”
“I’ll put out two extra cups of tea,” Fluttershy said as she went back to the kitchen.
Applejack turned to Twilight in confusion. “Why two?”
Sipping her tea, Twilight answered. “We’re expecting Rainbow Dash at any moment.”



Back at the palace, Spike was dusting the various aisles in Twilight’s study. He was half hoping somebody, anybody, would burst through those doors with an urgent message for Twilight. Anything to break up the monotony of assistant work. Spike couldn’t help it. He was bored. He had voiced his frustration when the girls had gathered earlier that day and yet here he was, still playing the maid.
A strange noise caught his attention. Spike was halfway down the ladder after dusting the upper shelves when he looked to see the emblem of Princess Celestia’s book flashing. A new message from Sunset Shimmer!
Spike nearly jumped off the ladder, dropping his brush as she came up to the flashing book. He had to use a step ladder to reach the podium, which was higher than his little legs could reach. “I’m surprised she replied so quickly. I can’t wait for Twilight…” Then Spike said, “Or maybe I should read it and then tell her. After all, I am her assistant.” That, Spike thought, and he didn’t feel like running all the way to Fluttershy’s cottage just to deliver a message he could have upon Twilight’s return.
Turning to the last page in the book, Spike read aloud.

“Twilight!”

He paused. “Hm. That was informal.” He went on.

“The barrier is starting to break. I don’t know how but it’s real chaos over here. The ground is shaking and there’s a vortex in the sky. It’s sucking up everything that isn’t nailed down. We have to stay indoors. My friends and I are trapped inside Pinkie’s basement. We can’t get out. I think it had something to do with that experiment I performed. I was so stupid! I knew the risks and yet…Twilight…there’s something at the door. There’s not to supposed to be anybody outside.
Twilight…I’m scared. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to fix what I’ve done. I don’t…

Spike stopped reading because there was nothing more to read. Sunset’s final words were lost in hastily-written ink. Now the dragon had wished he had waited for Twilight’s return.
Outside, the snow continued to fall.