"I've got marshmallows!"
Startled, Pan's head whipped around to see who was speaking. He knew that voice, it was one he had heard in his nightmares, over and over again. Not just the voice itself, but that tone, as if everything in the world was a joke, and the speaker was the only one who got it. The one being in the world that the changeling hated more than any other...
Winter.
Pan was shocked to find that, instead of the massive, hulking figure that he'd seen years ago (or from now. Stupid time travel tenses made Pan's head hurt), this time, the embodiment of hatred was now more... compact. While certainly larger and more muscular than any pony in the room, he wasn't quite as monstrous as before. Somehow, that only made him all the more imposing....
Seeming to notice the surprise on the faces of Pan and everypony else, the father of all windigoes chuckled and said, "Do you like the new look? I have to admit, I was worried that you might not recognize me, but I suspect that a sixty-hoof-tall windigo suddenly entering the city would cause a panic, so I thought that something a bit more subtle would be called for. This discussion will go a little easier if we're able to speak face to face without you having to calm down a city full of panicked ponies at the same time." Looking at Sombra's mirror, the immortal added, "Of course, it was tricky, arranging all of this while Mister 'Crystal Slaves' was watching, but it is amazing what I can do with all the power I now have at my disposal. I can even be in two places at once!" For a moment, the windigo split into two ponies, then reformed back into one. "But enough of that. I came here to talk, not fight, so let us keep things civil, hmmm?"
Celestia, who had been preparing a spell, stopped herself. It seemed she realized that, if a fight broke out here, there'd be too many casualties. Luna was weakened, Celestia was weary, and the room was filled with civilians. It would get very ugly if a fight broke out...
Regardless, it took everything that Pan had to keep himself from whipping out the Converter and using it on the abomination before him... and he wasn't alone. It was clear that Luna and Celestia were equally furious about Winter's presence.
Shimmering Radiance, clearly confused, asked, "Who are you?"
"Oh, where are my manners!" The windigo put on an expression of feigned horror, and said, "A thousand pardons. I just assumed that everypony here would immediately recognize me. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Winter, father of all windigoes. Pleased to meet you, you are much more adorable up close."
Pointing at the burning mansion in the distance, Celestia asked, her voice filled with anger, "Was that your doing?"
Clucking his tongue and shaking his head sadly, Winter said, "Tut, tut, do I look like the kind of pony who plays with fire? No, that wasn't me, that was my new ladyfriend. She's a bit more... mercurial than I am at the best of times, and when she found her new host, well, that host had some very definite ideas about what should be done to the nobles of Equestria." His expression brightening, he added, "Ah, but I come bearing good news! I have, coming here at this very moment, somepony who will bring you a veritable bonanza of information that you can use in your little war against the Circle... and since he is under my protection, he'll be certain to get here in spite of all the obstacles being thrown into his path, but only so long as you listen to what I have to say."
Swallowing his anger, and his pride, Pan nodded and said, "I'm listening."
Chuckling, Winter began inspecting the bottom of one hoof, as if only half-interested in the ponies before him, as he said, "As I mentioned, my new lady friend has some very definite ideas towards the nobility, especially this... Circle. That's primarily due to her current hostess, but I have to admit, I'm not a fan of them myself: I do what I do because it's what I am, but they are ponies, and have no right to behave in this manner. Now me, I like this city, and I like you, Your Imperial Bugginess. You've become the most entertaining thing I've seen in ages, and I'd hate to see you go." With a shrug, he added, "My ladyfriend, not so much. She wants to burn out this cancer you were talking about, and she currently has more than enough power to do so. However, I have convinced her to stay her hoof, and give you the opportunity to settle this on your own. But only on the condition of you getting the job done within a certain timeframe."
Her eyes narrowed and her voice shaking with barely contained disgust, Luna asked, "What's the deadline?"
His voice calm, almost serene, Winter said, "Three sunrises. Three sunsets. Three days. If you have not purged the Circle, root, branch, and leaves, by the end of the third sunset, my ladyfriend will burn them all, and every pony that gets in her way. And every pony within fifty hooves of those ponies. And their closest family members and loved ones. And probably their pets, too: We're still negotiating on that one, since I happen to be fond of cats and dogs." Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Winter added, "Oh, and I'll also encase this fine city in ice for a thousand years, as punishment for everypony here failing to find this threat on their own and resolve it before now. And I'll also lock the rest of Equestria in a perpetual blizzard, just for giggles."
Grinding his teeth, Pan asked, "And if we do manage to do it, what do you and your ladyfriend have to offer us?"
Rubbing his chin in thought, Winter said, "Well, you know, I hadn't thought about that. I guess it would be cruel to threaten you with a stick without offering you a carrot as well. Here's what I'll offer you: Provided you manage to succeed in defeating the Circle, my ladyfriend and I will not only leave your fine city alone, but we'll also offer you a promise of non-interference in Equestria for, oh, say, the next thousand years."
That would be a tempting offer, Pan had to admit: With Luna currently depowered, and from what Pan had heard, Celestia being barely a match for the dark force before it had found a host, a direct confrontation with Winter and his new 'lady friend' would be suicidal. Pan almost agreed to the terms, but then a thought occurred to him...
Why not sweeten the pot?
"That does sound tempting," Pan stated, then added, "But certainly not enough: You're threatening wide-scale destruction and imprisonment for the entire city if we lose, and all you're offering is that you'll pack up and leave if we succeed. Who is taking the bigger risk here? If it's a wager we're talking about here, you have to offer something of equal value."
With an amused snort, the windigo said, "Equivalent exchange? Fair enough. What else would you want?"
A half-smile crossing his features, Pan said, "I was told, not that long ago, that if you are killed, whoever slays you ends up inheriting your powers, and that your mind takes over the body of the 'lucky' recipient. If we win, that changes: Whoever next kills you gets your powers, and you? You die for good."
Pan heard the gasps of surprise from Luna and Celestia behind him, as well as the other ponies in the room. It was, admittedly, an audacious demand to make of an immortal who could have crushed the changeling like, well, like a bug. Still, Winter's reaction was remarkable: For the first time that Pan could recall, the windigo looked startled. His eyes widened in shock, and for just a few seconds, his jaw dropped. Then, with a click, he shut his mouth, and then the windigo began to chuckle merrily.
"Oh, I knew you were going to be fun the moment I saw you, Imperator. Yes, I think I could live with that. It should make the next fight I get into much more interesting." Extending a hoof, the windigo said, "I accept your terms. If you succeed, not only shall we leave for a thousand years, but I shall accept true death the next time I am defeated in battle. If you fail, well, it won't go well for your city or anyone in it. Shake on it?"
Taking Winter's hoof, Pan shook it and said, "Deal. Now, you said somepony was on his way here with information?"
His expression serious, the windigo said, "Indeed. He'll have quite a story to tell you when he arrives, although he won't be coming here alone. Your guards will be spotting him shortly. In the meantime, I must be off: As pleasant as your city is, being this close to that relic makes me... itchy." With no more than that, the windigo ran to the balcony, jumped over the railing, and flew off. A moment later, a fiery shape shot out from the burning mansion and joined him...
Almost immediately afterwards, a guardspony entered the room, obviously out of breath. "Your eminence," the guard said, still panting, " A small party of citizens has arrived, indicating that they have urgent information for you and the princesses."
With a last look out over the balcony, he said, "Very well. Bring all of them up."
The guard, looking nervous, said, "Sir, one member of the party has a deathmark brand on his face." At the emperor's obviously confused expression, the guard explained, "He was found guilty of at least one count of murder and sentenced to execution, but a noble paid to have that sentence suspended, so long as the criminal remained on the noble's estate. We would have had him executed on sight, but the rest of the party is vouching for him."
That... what the flock was with that? Who in their right mind would willingly hire a convicted murderer to work on their estate?
Almost immediately, the answer came to Pan: Somepony with a lot to hide, and wanted to make sure that they had at least one pony on the staff who would do whatever they were told, without question. That would be exactly the kind of servant the Circle would find desirable. After all, who would believe a convicted murderer over the word of a noble? More importantly, if it meant death if the marked pony left the estate, then they'd have no way of leaving the noble's service that didn't involve a headspony's block. Worse, if the criminal was already a convicted murderer, then that meant the noble had a hatchet-stallion available if there was somepony who needed to be killed...
"We'll refrain from performing any summary executions for now," Pan stated, formally. "Bring the entire group up: I think they might have a lot to tell us..."
NEW CHAPTER UP!!! NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE LONGER, AND WILL EXPLAIN WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!!! ENJOY!!!
.....well.
Short chapter? BUCKING NONSENSE!
Just kidding, lovin' it.
I feel like a addict jonesing for the next fix...continue on
I suppose Pan is still planning on killing Winter and absorbing all of that love-power. But, will he still be able to do that now that the Crystal Heart is affecting him somehow (turning him into a pony if I understand correctly)?
I don't buy the wager. There was no reason for Winter to accept those terms unless he's just tired of living. I guess that can happen as an immortal but if that was the case he could have quit a long time ago.
He's planning something…
4720760
4720752
They could both be planning something.
"A changeling, sent back in time due to a freak accident, kills King Sombra... and ends up as the new ruler of the city. Hilarity ensues."
At this point, i think this may need to be changed.
I'm 85% sure it's Nopony.
4720781
Ah, I may have misspelled 'Insanity' there.
4720735
Even if he can't absorb the energy, the important thing will be that Winter dies. And besides, I wouldn't be surprised if the crystal heart could somehow absorb that energy if they need it to.
4720792 you mean that there's only a 15% chance that somepony's actually there?!
4720807
Ah, the wonders of having a character with a name that's equivalent to nothing.
4720802 Umm.. if I'm not mistaken, the device Pan designed will not kill Winter, but will merely convert his energy into another kind of energy (love), no?
Great chapter, short or no.
...
I miss Mole Cricket.
4720840 Correct me if i'm wrong but wouldn't taking all of winters energy also kill him? just like normal ponies die of starvation
Awesome chapter, I found it unexpected that you made Winter appear in front of Pan to make a wager, but it was interesting. Still, I hope the next chapter comes soon as I think everybody would like to know how Winter got his "ladyfriend" and what type of host she is using.
4720840
Yes, it will convert his energy, but I seem to recall that it was at least implied that doing so would kill Winter. Wasn't the entire point of Winter's curse to make him and Pan fight to the death? Even if the device would just leave him as a powerless mortal, it would then be trivial to kill him.
That's quite the bet Pan made...
Well now. Very Dangerous game our boy's playing. Good Luck Pan :3
-Angel of Team Angelfang
Pan is cheating. And I love it.
Short. Vary short, but it did get the plot moving.
Oh man, I hope our friendly neighborhood assassin didn't go and get possessed. Then again, isn't she in the room for this meeting? So maybe it's the Lame Horse? I could see her flipping out if Golden just got killed by his cousin.
Sombra is so going to come back in a thousand years just in time to kill Winter, isn't he.
Was that an Oliver & Company reference I saw?
well given the girls didn't warn them when they were here we can assume they likely succeeded, pans just being smart given he knows he has good odds .. not that he has much choice but to play anyway
Wait..I just realized something..
So, is NMM just..an evil entity that was within Luna?
Or is she a part of Luna that has separated..
Because if the latter is the case..i can imagine her being less villain and more anti-hero.
4720772
4721157
Glad someone caught that
4721267
If he saw it coming, maybe. His physical augments had to be activated consciously, and changeling culture is very big on 'Waste Not, Want Not' (See my story, Cooking Roach, final chapter, for details), so he doesn't burn love just because he wants to.
Thing is, his body just underwent a major change, so what he can, and cannot, do is now in question, isn't it?
4721153
I won't say who it is, but I promise you, it will be a surprising development.
4720856
He shall return.
4721100
I could get the plot moving with a chapter one paragraph long, but I've developed a preference for longer chapters on this story. But stuff happened, I got busy the last few days, and I had to make a choice between postponing another day or posting a short chapter. I chose the latter, obviously
I'm guessing Pan wins. You did say a few chapters prior about the "three day war" which, due to it not being called anything about the endless winter and the fact that you posted the first chapter of a sequel to this which was not based during an endless winter but rather a summer day, indicates that he wins the conflict.
Hmmm. This was an interesting chapter. I wonder what Pan's planning. Other than the obvious.
4720911 His plan was to feed the converted winter to the changlings. With the all that hatred composing winter. Every changling in a 100 mile radius would probably be drooling by feeling the energy derived from the conversion.
4721422 That's foreshadowing for ya. We know the destination but not the path that leads to it.
A burning hatred of nobles, knowledge of the Circle, and the capacity for violence. Seems that the Nightmare paid everyone's favorite assassin a visit.
My god! Mind games everywhere!
4721422 Not to mention this story's lack of a "Tragedy" tag...
4720640 I know what's going on: chaos. Delicious, delicious chaos!
4722142
Hopefully everyone's favorite Draconequus isn't released anytime soon!
Hmmm .... would the inheritor of Winter's powers still be bound by the thousand-year exile if/when Winter bites it?
Sooooo No Pony makes a appearance?
Ahhh... very good my pets...now, CRUSH THEM!
4722336 unless winter tells them before he dies... probably not since Winter supposedly wont take over there mind the next time he dies.
4722750 That's what I thought ...
I was surprisingly on edge when Winter was present. He reminds me of my own character, Mr. Universe, who can manipulate any physical entity to any extent. Hes practicaly all powerful, so any conversation is skewed by the fact he COULD get anything he wanted. So you better hope what you want is what he wants.