The Thing

Twilight glanced unsure on her mentor as they approached the library; Once inside Twilight felt both excitement and confusing well up inside her. Celestia had asked her to come with her to the library away from every pony in town; it was summer set celebration after all. Celestia turned to face her student as they finally arrived in the library, the book shelves was filled to the brim with books, some resting on the table in the middle of the library as well.

Twilight couldn’t help but ask the only question that came to her mind “Why me? Why on somerset celebration?” Celestia extended her wings “I wanted to ask you directly rather than in a letter, for your first question, I remember you wanting to try your hoof at field work. When this came up I thought you would enjoy the challenge” Celestia’s voice had a calming effect on her. Excitement welled up in her eyes “Would it be okay if I asked the girls to come along?” Celestia smiled warmly down at her most trusted student “They can come along on this little adventure” Twilight jumped around Celestia like a filly that was allowed to go on a sleepover for the first time.

Celestia chuckled lightly at her reaction, her chuckle cutting Twilight off in the middle of a jump blushing as she landed and muttered “sorry” Twilight made a circling move with her front hoof, much like Fluttershy used to. Celestia’s smile fade as her voice suddenly took a more serious turn “This is a long assignment Twilight; it won’t be over in a couple of day. Remember to tell your friends that” Twilight nodded.

Her expression went from excited to a somewhat distanced “Rarity and Applejack,” She looked up at her teacher “They both have little time to spare, Applejack with her orchard and Rarity with her boutique” Celestia looked thoughtful for a second.

Rainbow Dash looked below at all the ponies, resting her head on the cloud again as she couldn’t spot any of her friends. A sideways glance she saw Applejack in the rows of ponies below. Rainbow looked in surprise as a bright flash erupted next to Applejack. Out of nowhere did Twilight appear.

Curious she kicked off the cloud and spread her wings, a few flaps toward Applejack and she could already hear the crowd cheer as they thought she was about to do some trick, the crowd moaned in disappointment when she just landed next to Applejack. With a small smile on her muzzle did she trott up to Applejack and Twilight who already was staring at her.

Rainbow Dash stopped skidded to a halt in front of them “What’s up Twilight?” Twilight craned her neck to look at her “You need to come to the library, both of you!” Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at each other in union.

It didn’t take long for Twilight to get the girls together in the library as they all attended the summers set celebration, the pony that was hardest to find was Fluttershy as she didn’t like the crowd so much. They had found her in the outer edge of the crowd near the bridge that led to sweet apple acres.

Once settled in the library Twilight looked at the friends in front of her, from left to right stood Applejack followed by Rarity, beside Rarity stood Rainbow Dash and pinkie pie to her right, at last was Fluttershy. Twilight closed her eyes, hoping they all wanted to come along for the trip. She opened her mouth to begin but was cut short by an inpatient Pegasus “Why are we here Twilight?” Applejack looked over at the sky blue Pegasus “If yeh give her more than a few seconds she might be able to answer RD” Rainbow Dash eyed the farmer. Rarity shushed both ponies “Let dear Twilight talk, I’m sure there is a reason she called us here” “I sure hope so!” said a rather enthusiastic pink pony “I bet she asked us to come so we could have a sleepover!” Twilight lifted her hoof again about to say something but yet again was cut short “Um…..I think..umm, maybe we should be quiet so she can tell us why we came instead of jumping to conclusions? Maybe..” The Pegasus who spoke hid behind her mane, “I-If every pony is okay with that..”

Twilight hurried to take the moment of silence before somepony else grabbed it “I was asked by Princess Celestia to attend an excavation, up in the Crystal empire. They found a temple under the ice far out, almost at the border of Equestria. They think it was hidden by King sumbra. I wanted to ask if you girls wanted to come along as well, it will take a longer amount of time than our usual adventures, about two months I think. It’s more like a vacation than an adventure”

The group looked at each other, Applejack looked from Rarity who stood beside her to the lavender unicorn “Ah’m not sure ah can abandon the farm for that long Twalight ”  Rarity followed right after Applejack, just as predicted “I’d love to come along, but the boutique doesn’t run itself you know. And I’m not sure I could be gone for such a long amount of time without getting bankrupt”  Twilight smiled “Celestia told me she would cover the expenses for you when you were gone” Applejack and Rarity looked at each other a bit shocked.

Rainbow Dash looked at the two ponies to her right, “I’m inn Twilight” She moved her gaze from the two ponies to the lavender unicorn, “I could use some training in a new environments. If we are going up in the arctic I can get used to more cold weather so I can climb even higher in the air!”

Pinkie Pie bounced up and down “Wheeeee!!! A vacation is just what we need!” She jumped around the library hugging every pony in her path when she suddenly froze “When do we leave?” Fluttershy tried to break free from the pink hoof that squeezed her “Ohh I would like to go…But, uhhm who would look after Angle?” Twilight narrowed her eyes a bit in thought, tapping her hoof against her cheek “How about Spike take the pets with him to Canterlot? While I’m gone he’ll be staying in the castle with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna” Fluttershy smiled “ohh that would be wonderful!”

Pinkie bounced in the air somehow staying in mid air “When do we leave!?” she shouted at the top of her lungs, Twilight removed the hooves that had flung to her ears at the loud outburst of the pink party pony, “Tomorrow pinkie!” Pinkie pie landed with a deflated expression, a pink blur and she suddenly stood at the door a worried expression on her face “I got to pack! seeyoutomorrow!” the door slammed shut in such force that even Rainbow Dash would be envy of it’s speed.

The morning sun rose over the library as Twilight walked out the door, a loud sigh escaped her lips as she looked over her shoulder at the library, her thoughts drifted to when she would see it she trotted to the train station to meet with her friends.

Twilight almost fell out of her bunker as the train took a turn for the left, she caught her balance just as she was about to roll out. She looked over the bunkers they had been given by the conductor, she had taken the bottom of the bunker while Pinkie pie had taken the one on top of hers, Rainbow Dash ley opposite her own, she had claimed the top, Applejack lied beneath Rainbow Dash with Winona beside her as the farmer wanted her trusted companion on this trip. Fluttershy and Rarity had the same bunker one row in front of her own; Rarity had taken the top bunk while Fluttershy had taken the bottom.

Twilight gazed out the window at the narrow path that led to Canterlot, the train destination went through Canterlot and then with no more delays it went straight to the crystal empire.

Twilight's eyes drifted toward the window of the train and noticed how the landscape had changed from the last time she had stared out the window. Night had come faster than she had thought it would, the only thing visible from her window was what the light streaming out to reveal the white covered ground, snow flew past her window and she shuddered, glad she was tucked under her duvet in a warm wagon. Her eyes moved lazily from the window and back to the book in front of her, the other had gone to sleep long ago.

Twilight nearly jumped out of her bunker as the train whistle announces their arrival in the crystal empire. Twilight squinted her eyes, let her gaze adjust to the blinding light from the window, Applejack and Fluttershy was already up chatting, Rarity was out of sight, most likely in the mares wc to get her make up right, Pinkie pie was getting her scarf out of her suitcase.

While Rainbow Dash to no surprise had slept through the loud train whistle, she lay with her front left  hoof dangling over the edge of the bunker while her head was under the pillow, her duvet was wrapped around her midsection, as her front hooves and hind hooves was free of the blanket. “How does one pony doe that in their sleep?” Twilight thought to herself shaking her head in disbelief.

Applejack gazed out the window and saw two ponies waiting on the platform “Twalight? some pony is out there” Twilight jumped out of her bunker and pressed up to the window next to the farmer and Winona who rested her paws against the window, much in the same fashion as Applejack “It looks like....Cadance?!” Twilight's face light up and she ran for the door.

Applejack watched from the window as Twilight hugged the other pony there and did her usual meeting tradition with Candace, her attention jerked in the direction of Rainbow Dash as a loud snort came from her, Applejack rolled her eyes and walked to the bunker she had slept in, Winona following her every step, “Easy there shadow, Ah don’ want yeh to follow this close”. A bark from Winona, and she sat down in the middle of the train cart.

Applejack patted Winona on the head, and smiled weakly “good girl” Applejack looked up at the sleeping pegasus as the smile vanished, Rainbow Dash was leaning closer and closer to the edge, an evil minded idea took root in Applejacks head.

Twilight was cut off in mid sentence as a loud thud and a farcical scream came from inside the train wagon. Twilight, Cadance and Shining Armor looked at each other before Twilight hurried to the door and opened it with such force it slammed into the train cart, Candace and Shining Armor was close behind as they rushed in.

In the train cart was Applejack with a big grin across her muzzle petting Winona on the head, her back to the duvet on the floor.  while Rainbow Dash on the other half was lying on the floor battling to get out of her duvet. hooves and wings were seen as a frantic looking Rainbow Dash shot up from the duvet “WHAT THE BUCK APPLEJACK!?” Applejack looked innocently at Rainbow Dash as nothing had happened “ Ah? Ah didn’t do nothin’ must have bumped yer head fly girl.”

Rainbow Stared down the orange mare "This isn't over yet" the rainbow maned pegasus replied only to slip and fall again onto the floor with the balance of a rock. Applejack giggled as Rainbow got to her hooves again, the train whistled again signaling it’s departure soon. The ponies in the wagon looked at each other and hurried to get their things and out in the cold climate awaiting them.

Applejack held onto Winona as they sped over the snow covered landscape in the dog sled, She looked to her right to see Fluttershy,Twilight,and Pinkie pie, she craned her neck and saw Rarity to her left. Rainbow Dash was fighting the sky, she managed to keep up with the dog sled’s. Applejack  was sure she could go way faster if she wanted to, a small movement of Rainbows hoof made her snicer, it was a gesture to get her thick old looking flyer jacket closer for warmth. Applejacks Snicker evolved to a giggle as the thought of Rainbow Dash refusing to wear at first came to her mind. Both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy was given a different set of winter gear the the rest of the girls, except Twilight and Rarity and their horns of course. But Rainbow Dash’s and Fluttershy’s had holes for their wings, it had a zipper over the wings for a thick layer of cloth to come out over their wings when they didn’t fly.

Which Fluttershy had accepted it gladly, Rainbow Dash on the other half had denied to wear the dark brown flight jacket with her name in the neck at first, until they came two kilometers outside of the camp. She had flown down to Twilight’s sled and asked for it, Applejack remember the exact words her friend had used “W-where i-is the jac-ket?” when Twilight had asked for what reason she had answered “For extra weight” Applejack shook her head slowly smiling to herself.

“Stubborn as always RD” she mumbled to herself.

They had traveled all day through the snowy landscape, over glaciers and long snow covered plains, beside tall white mountains. The sun had just went down in the horizon as Lunas star light up the night sky. They could see half of the moon climbing up behind them leaving a silver light in the dark. The silver light hit small particles of the snow on the ground as it reflected the light as they raced through the snow. Some lights in the distance marked the end of their travel.

It was definitely a certain death to walk from the station, due to the cold and harsh climate.When the dog sled stopped and they got their luggage from the sled was they greeted by the three ponies already there. Three unicorns to no surprise, one mare and two colts, the mare had a coat that had the same white as Rarity, her eyes on the other half was a light blue color, her mane was the same color as her eyes her cutimark was a snowflake. The colt to her left was a big one, not out of muscles but out of fat, his coat was butter yellow, his mane was a dark brown but what you noticed first was his golden eyes. The only pony that had something similar would be Lyra, his cutimark was a two spatula in an X formation. the pony to her right was well built, he didn’t have as big muscles as bic mac but not far off. His coat was a light grey, almost giving him camouflage in dark hour. his mane was a darker shade of blue, it was short and set up in the neck, while in front it hung down a little over his eyes. his eyes was a grey ish blue. His cutimark was something that looked like guest with snowflakes in.

The mare steepd forward “My name is Snow Flake, to my right is my brother snow blur.” she gestured to the right at her brother, she turned and pointed at the pony to her left “And this is Chef, he’s the greatest chef around. He had a great reputation in canterlot before he came here!” Twilight stood in the end of line, to her left was Rainbow Dash who had just landed, beside her was Pinkie pie, to pinkies left was Rarity followed by Applejack and Winona then Fluttershy.

Twilight smiled “Nice to meet you! my name is Twilight Sparkle, and left of me is “She gestured toward Rainbow “Rainbow Dash” Rainbow Dash flared her wing in pried  “the pink pony beside her is Pinkie Pie” Pinkie pie bounced beside Rainbow and smiled widely “The White mare next in line is Rarity” Rarity gave her mane a swing “Followed by Applejack” Applejack shot in “ An’ this here is Winona” Winona waved her tale and barked “ah’n next teh me is Fluttershy” Fluttershy hid behind her mane half looking at the ponies in front of her “umm...Helo..”

Snow Flake smiled to all the ponies in front of her “Welcome to main base, let me explain a bit about the building here. The station considered of one long building, the main area for research food and the sleeping baracs. It’s one large wooden tower for weather research at the left side of me as you can see, and one tool shed over there.” She pointed to the right of the tower before she continued “Where you can find everything from ice pickaxes to skis to winter gear, even some provision is left there. some explosives for breaking the ice if needed too.”

Snow Blur walked up next to her “Sorry, my sister have been excited of your arrival all day. she even made us wash all the main areas before you came....” Snow Flake sent her brother a glare Snow Blur ignored it and was about to continue but found himself cut short “I’ve prepared some warm food for you, to get some warmth in your ones again” Chef said as he smiled. Both Snow Flake and Snow Blur looked at him.

They all walked inside the station together with the crew that had gotten them there. All of them sat around the table enjoying the warm meal presented to them. Rainbow hurried to chew down some of the boiled carrot as she burned her tongue, Rarity ate at least with a bit more manners than her rainbow maned friend.

After the meal they were shown to their own rooms, where they would be staying for the vacation. They all went to bed early as  the trip here had taken it’s toll on them.

***

A Few days passed as the group had a snowball war outside, they had split into two teams, one with Applejack and Rainbow Dash, and the rest of their friends on the other. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had been given ten minutes in front to prepare themself as they lacked number in the upcoming war. They had built a snow castle for them to hold their ammunition considering of a large bunch of snowballs.

The war broke loose before the designated time as Rainbow Dash threw a testing snowball beside Rarity, she was rewarded with a snowball square in the face by Rarity. Rainbow Dash blinked a couple of times before she threw a snowball that hit Rarity’s flank with a satisfying thump. The war broke lose and Winona ran around them barking, an occasional snow ball would fly in her direction and she would jump and catch it. The end of the war was when Twilight fired a snowball into the castle so it collapsed over Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Admitting their defeat the group headed inside to warm their exposed hooves. As they sat around the table with hot chocolate in their hooves did Applejack noticed something “Where’s Winona?”