//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Traveling Blizzard // Story: Winter's Howl // by 71NYL-5CR4TCH //------------------------------// Winter’s Howl Chapter 1: The Traveling Blizzard ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Warm beams of light entered a cloud home of a tall, grey pegasus. He shifted slightly as the sudden brightness caused him to stir from sleep. He lazily opened his eyes and took in his surroundings, watching as the small particles in his room floated across a pillar of light illuminating his bedroom. It felt great to wake naturally and not to the strident screams of an alarm. Wait… Why wasn’t I woken by my alarm? I set it last night. It was for something important. Like, “This is your last chance. If you’re late one more time your flank is fired!” important. Maybe I didn't oversleep? He checked the time. Nope, I'm late. Three hours late. He brought a hoof to his face and sighed, dragging it slowly down his face, stretching his eyelids over his icy blue eyes. He rose lazily; knowing there was no use rushing. He was fired, and that was that. He meandered to his bathroom and looked into the small mirror over his sink, sighing. “Way to go Snowstorm. You had a job. You had an apartment. And...you bucked it up. Bad.” He sighed again, running his hoof through his jet-black mane, scratching. It had streaks of icy blue standing out from the dark background. He HAD really bucked up this time. He lived in a small town, and it only had one weather crew, a weather crew with only one manager. One manager who hated him with a burning passion. Weather was the only business he knew, and even though it wasn’t what he loved, it paid the bills. Snowstorm looked over his flank, starring at the skis adorning his side. What I wouldn’t give to be atop a mountain right now... Granted, it was unusual for a pegasus to be so interested in skiing, as many believed flying was far more exciting. However, winter was his favorite season, and it was far to cold to fly then. It was possible to fly, yes, but it was common for ice to develop on wings, which could be enough to put one out of flying commission for months. He loved and lived for the rush of speed, and the wind in his mane. Winter was his favorite season, and he needed to feel that rush year round, it was his namesake after all. Unfortunately, it was autumn and he was broke. Snowstorm stared at his apartment. Most of his things were still in their boxes, still waiting to be unpacked from his move from Cloudsdale. He had flown the coup, and did it early. After he graduated, he packed his things and moved to the first town that gave him a job. He loved his mother dearly, but his relation with his stepfather was…strained, at best. He thought distance would be a good cure, and shockingly enough to him, he wasn’t prepared for the real world. That much was discovered VERY QUICKLY. Now here he stood, no job, little money, and no real place to call home. He returned to his bedroom and looked over the mattress on the floor. It had no frame, and of the two pillows atop it, one missing its case. The sheets and comforter were disheveled and a strewn across the mattress and floor, looking as though an intense wrestling match had taken place within them. He quickly grabbed the sheets and blanket and began stuffing them in a nearby box. He returned to his bathroom, brushed his teeth, and then threw his toothbrush and paste into another nearby plastic bag. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “There,” he mused, “all packed.” His mind drifted toward his next move as he gathered all of his boxes and bags into one, larger duffel bag. It was rather sad that he was moving again after only four days, but at least he hadn’t gotten attached. He wandered down to the main office of his apartment complex and knocked on the window. Blinds opened from inside the window and he was met face to face with a rather unpleasant, older mare. Snowstorm’s landlo-….well, ex-landlord now, gave him a quizzical look as he dropped a small bag of bits and his apartment key down on the counter. “What’s the nearest town?” Snowstorm asked flatly. “Um…Ponyville. It’s about ten miles west. Why?” asked his landlord, raising an eyebrow “Well I like to have some idea of where I’m going before I get going...anyway, my four days' rent is in the bag. I guess I’ll be seeing you.” he replied. The elder mare furrowed her brow, “You know guests pay for the entire month, right?” SNowstorm paused, before furrowing his own brow, “Ma’am, do you know who I am?” he asked with a suden defensive, even regal tone. “No…” She answered honestly. "Do you KNOW what I've ACCOMPLISHED?" Snowstorm raised his voice. The mare's face softened, turning to one of worry, but again, she replied, "N-No," “Do you even know my NAME?!” Snowstorm drilled, acting shocked, as though his fame was worldwide. “N-No sir I don't…” she answered again. “Good." His face dropped, eyelids closing and a satisfactory grin spreading across his muzzle He was suddenly calm and subtle, as he was when their conversation began. "As I said, there’s four days rent in the bag.” He picked up his bag and trotted out the door. It took the elder mare a moment to figure out what had just happened. “I am not a clever pony…” she said aloud, while sighing, collecting the bits on the counter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As Snowstorm trotted down the small path that led to his hopefully new home, he allowed his mind wander. Is this how I'm going to start out? Broke, living out of a bag? Could I be considered a hobo? I don't think so, I'm not begging or anything... Ten miles wasn’t far, especially for a pony like him. Being rather tall and well built, he could be rather intimidating. While he was no Wonderbolt, he was a gifted flyer. The miles passed quickly as he flew by, and soon he could see the outskirts of a small, quaint village. As he approached, he noticed the first building that came into view was a hotel, or rather a bed and breakfast, due to its small size and warm, cozy feeling. He decided it was a good first place to start, and wandered in. Snowstorm was greeted by an elder mare, but unlike his old landlord, she had a soft, friendly face. A welcoming grin adorned her face as she spoke. “Well hello there stranger! It’s not too often we have a new face around little old Ponyville. My name is Warmhearth, and if there’s anything I can do for you just say so.” She smiled, wrinkling her face. Snowstorm could tell she used to be beautiful; her burgundy coat complimented her pale green eyes and fuchsia mane very well, but she seemed to be getting on in her years, possibly in her late 70’s. “Yes, thank you. I’d like to rent a room for a couple of days, while I’m finding a house.” Snowstorm grinned at the mare, glad that she was friendly. He needed a friendly face. “Oh? Are you moving into Ponyville?” Softhearth asked while preparing a key. “I hope so, I need to land a job before I do though. Do you know where I can find the local weather squads manager?” “You mean Rainbow Dash? I’m sure she’s near by. Wander around town for a little and you’ll find her. Her name makes her easy enough to recognize.” Warmhearth chuckled softly while handing Snowstorm his key, “You’ll be the second door on your left dear. Enjoy your stay!” Snowstorm grinned. It appeared as though things were finally beginning to look up for him. He opened the door to his room and admired it briefly. It was fairly good-sized, complete with furniture and a bathroom, and all for…for…He paused. He hadn’t paid the owner anything. He set his bag down inside the room and closed the door. He returned to the front desk, frowning slightly. “I’m sorry, Ms. Warmhearth? I didn’t pay you anything…” Snowstorm began cautiously. “Well of course you didn’t dear, I didn’t charge you.” She replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Why would I charge somepony who was just trying to get on their hooves? No, you stay as long as you like, but I may still charge you for meals. Pony like you could eat me out of business.” She winked. She was right, even though he was in good shape, he ate. A LOT. It took a substantial amount of calories to keep his body in the air, especially travelling at the speeds he did. He shrugged and looked back to the mare behind the front desk. “Well, thank you. It means a lot to me.” Snowstorm finally choked out. He wasn’t used to the kind hospitality offered by the gentle mare. “Think nothing of it. Oh, also, I think there’s somepony here you may want to meet!” She nodded her head to her side and Snowstorm turned to see who she was signaling at. His eyes widened at the sight. The mare was absolutely breathtaking, regardless of her nonchalant pose. Her windswept mane slightly covered her face with different colors, flowing together seamlessly. Upon closer examination, he saw her entire mane and tail were composed of all the colors of the rainbow, resting perfectly on the sky-blue backdrop of her coat. Finally, he found her eyes. Her eyes, oh celestia those eyes, sparkling like flawless rubies amongst a field of pearl. Reality suddenly dawned on him. This was her, he thought. This was Rainbow Dash! Head of the weather squad here in Ponyville! He had to make a good first impression, but found himself at a loss for words. Thankfully, she spoke first. “Hiya! Heard you we’re looking for me?” Rainbow spoke, her voice was somewhat crackly, but it sounded friendly, which was a good sign. She sounded like a mare in her later years, but anypony with eyes could see she was at her prime. “Um…maybe…? Can I assume you’re Rainbow Dash?” Snowstorm spoke sheepishly nearly dumbfounded. “Theeeee one and only!” She declared, raising her chest out high, closing her eyes with an ear-to-ear grin. Snowstorm chuckled quietly. At least the comedy of the situation helped snap him out of his daydream. “Well then in that case, yes.” He spoke more assertively now, overcoming the initial shock of her beauty, “I needed to see you about maybe getting a job with the weather team, I really need the bits, so I’ll take anything you have.” He said. He new it sounded desperate but it increased his odds. “Are you kidding? I would LOVE the help! I would like to say I’m manager of the weather team, and I guess I technically am, because I’m the only one ON it.” She chuckled. “Seriously? You clear this entire town by yourself?” Snowstorm asked. He knew it was possible, but very, VERY difficult. A small town means less space to clear, but it didn’t affect the kind of weather that rolled in. And a storm the size of this town? That was 5 hours of bucking, at least! “Not anymore partner!” Rainbow Dash patted heartily on Snowstorm’s back, “Only half of it now! Be up over Ponyville at 9 oclock...-ish tomorrow, and we’ll see what you can do. It should just be clearing some overcast, so an easy first day for you!” Rainbow walked out of the hotel, and took off into the air. “Yup,” Snowstorm said out loud, grinning, “things are definitely looking up for me.”