The Thing

by AirDasher

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Slice of Life
Length: 9514

The elements of harmy is granted a vacation they will never forgett

The elements of harmy is granted a vacation they will never forgett, in more ways then one. When their vaction turn out to be a living nightmare, to walk back home is not an option. The only thing you can do,sit down and wait, you can't trust your friends. The only pony you can trust. Is yourself.

I do not own the cover art. the awesome covert are made by dubleWbrothers
give them a view!

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-31 21:39:54 UTC

Prologue

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?”

Discovery chapter 1

A few days had passed since Winona disappeared, Applejack and Rainbow Dash had gone out looking for her whenever they had the chance. It’s not like the others hadn’t bid to help either, but none of them could even hope to match Rainbow Dash’s speed, or Applejack’s stamina. Rarity Twilight and Fluttershy had searched closest to the camp while Pinkie Pie had searched a little further out than the others. The long recon was up to Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They had been searching for three days, with little success as Winonas tracks had disappeared in the hard wind.

The sun was on it’s way up over the horizon, sending beams of red light over the research camp. If anypony was out during this time they would have been awestruck at the sight of Celestia's red sun coming over the horizon, the gleams reflected in the ice as the wind had blown away most of the snow, what was reflected in the snow made it look like a sparkling ocean. The rays of the upcoming sun reflected in the windows of the camp, disturbing the ponies inside the cafeteria as it held the two largest windows in all of the camp.

all its inhabitant was busy with their breakfast. They were all sitting around a round table, even Chef was out enjoying his freshly made breakfast, to everyones surprise Rainbow Dash was up bright and early, she had overslept the two first day of breakfast, only gaining a grumbling belly for the two first days. Rainbow had finally learned after the second day and was the first pony to sit at the table. She was busy discussing with Applejack on how they were going to search for Winona today.

She finished chewing on her sandwich and glanced over at Applejack “What if Twilight goes up to the mountain north of here and look for her?” Applejack was busy swallowing a piece of an apple before she replied “An’ let er wait all alon’ up there? she’s goin’ to freeze to death!” Twilight looked up from her breakfast and at the two ponies “I could just teleport up there Applejack, and i doubt with the winter gear that was represented to us i would hardly freeze” Rainbow looked at Applejack and smirked “Told you” Applejack shot Rainbow Dash a glare before she turned her attention to the lavender unicorn “Ah mighty appreciate it Twa, just make sure yeh don’t freeze up there. okay?”

Twilight nodded to the farm pony before taking another bit of her hayfries. Rarity had constant complained about the interior of the facility as the walls was all white, with dark green shelves in every hallway, filled to the brim with paperwork. It was only three tables in the cafeteria, the round table they were currently sitting at. They would eat their breakfast dinner and supper from, it was arranged two long tables against the wall next to the door that would always have some kind of fruit on it. It also held small desserts or just some appetite for everypony to go and get if they was a bit hungry or in a hurry. Which to Rainbow Dash was a relief the two first days when she had missed breakfast.

Fluttershy had come on good terms with Chef as they shared some common interest, Chef was always busy with the dogs and preparing breakfast dinner and supper for everypony. When Fluttershy had said she could help with the dogs and take some of the weight off his back he had said she could help, but he didn’t want her to take all the work as the dogs was the only break he got from cooking.

But if she was interested in helping him on the kitchen as well as the dogs it would be of great help, Fluttershy had smiled and agreed to help him on the first day. Which was strange compared to how shy she usually was to new ponies.

Pinkie Pie was busy digging in the breakfast to eve say something, which was totally unusual her mane was still bouncy so it was nothing wrong with her. Suddenly she threw her head backwards with her ears perked up, looking emptily over at Rarity. Rarity felt uneasy under the gaze of her friend “Dear? is everything alright? Do i have something in my teeth?” Rarity followed by licking her teeth with her tongue to see if she could feel anything on her teeth. To her relief she couldn’t feel anything.

Pinkie Pie sat there for a couple of seconds “Can you hear that?” she tilted her head in the direction of the window that was at her back. The whole table went quiet and listened, a couple of minutes passed before Snow Blur looked disbelievingly at the pink pony. “Is this like the time you claimed to see a yeti?” Pinkie Pie instantly looked back at Snow blur throwing her hooves in the air “I told you! I saw a yeti! he was big white and hairy!” Snow Flake smiled to her brother as he had lost this argument before.

“Wait? what was that?” Twilight interrupted both ponies before they could continue. A few seconds passed “There it was again!” Twilight shouted raising to her hooves knocking the chair over. Fluttershy jumped to her hooves when she heard the sudden sound of the chair smashing to the floor. All the ponies in the room was silent, they could hear a faint voice shout something. The voice grew in volume as it came closer, after another minute they could also hear swoosh sound. A faint bark made everyone stand up.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack was the first to storm out the door and got their winter gear, followed by Pinkie pie Rarity and Fluttershy. Once Rainbow Dash and Applejack got their jackets Applejack grabbed the handle to the door and threw it open in such a speed it slammed into the side of the building in her hurry, Rainbow was so close she could  literally fly over her, Pinkie pie was right behind Rainbow Dash but was stopped in the door as the force of the door had cause a small avalanche from the roof over the door burying the pink pony’s head in snow.

Pinkies hind legs were uncovered from the inside of the door, her head shot out from the snow with a puzzled look before she shoot out of the snow shooting all the snow in every direction that just she would be able to pull off.

They ran out in the middle of the camp before Applejack skidded to a halt, Applejack stood in front of the group, Rainbow Dash stood behind her on the right side. beside Rainbow Dash stood Rarity. Too Applejacks left was Pinkie pie with some snow in her mane and ontop of her snout, Fluttershy was hiding behind Pinkie pie.

Applejacks squinted her eyes as she saw movements on the small hillside in front of the group. A brown and white dog ran towards them,  the sun reflected in her pelt as she came over to top, she bolted through the snow spraying it in every direction as came closer to the group. “Winona!” Applejack shouted, smiling like she had just bucked all the trees in sweet apple acres all at once. Her smile was quickly replaced by fear as a fireball swished over her head.

A pony ran over the hilltop all covered in a winter jacket and a buff that covered his snout, his eyes was covered by a dark set of winter goggles. He cursed and shot another fireball after Winona that hit right beside her. Spraying water and snow onto her pelt, some of the snow stuck to  her pelt as she ran towards the group. Winona jumped up against Applejack’s chest whining before she hid behind her with her tail between her legs.

The unknown unicorn skidded to a halt in front of the group eyes focused on Winona, “GET AWAY FROM IT!” he shouted while breathing heavily. Applejack felt anger well up inside her “Ah won’t move a apple picking hoof!” without warning his horn light up in a light blue aura, “Get away from that thing!” not sooner than he had said it did a fireball erupt from thin air speeding towards Applejack.

Applejack  turned one hundred and eighty degrees and wrapped her hooves around Winona, time itself seems to slow down for the orange farm mare as the large blazing inferno came closer. She threw her head around and saw the snow beneath the fireball melt, as the heat grew the closer it came to her. “Ah’m i doing teh die?” was the only thought that came to her as the inferno was less than six feet away from her.

The inferno was now four feet away from her and she closed her eyes preparing for the overwhelming pain to follow. A sudden force from her now left side sent her off balance and into a pile of snow close by. Applejack heard a cry of pain before she was able to look up from the snow. Rainbow Dash lied in the snow her front hooves badly burnet. Applejack meet her gaze, a look of horror and pain was all she could see in her eyes, Rainbow didn’t budge from the snow and closed her eyes forcefully.

Applejack looked up and saw all her friends had thrown themself into the snow and out of the way from the mad unicorn. Applejack used the opportunity to make a run for it, Winona ran beside Applejack as she shot a glance over her shoulder, the unicorn had just walked past the group of friends, she also saw that Fluttershy had crawled over to Rainbow Dash.

Applejack moved her attention to what was in front of her, a fireball exploded next to her as she ran, snow and water filled the air as she ran for dear life. The wind howled in her ears as she ran as fast she could towards entrance. She could hear a crunching sounds behind her as she guessed was the unicorn hot in pursuit.  Applejack reached the door breathing heavily from her sprint, she closed the door right after Winona entered the facility.  Applejack slammed the door in the unicorns face as he was right behind them.

The unicorn staggered, shocking his head as he took a few steps back. “You’r all going to die if that thing lives!” his horn light up again as three fireballs hovered around him mid air. The three orange dots in the air grew rapidly as his spell came to a finish. One fireball hit the

door setting it ablaze as the two others hit the right and left side of the facility.

Snow Blur, Snow Flake and Chef came running out of the east wing as they obviously had heard the commotion going on outside. The first thing they noticed was the group that lay in the snow, Snow Flake gasped as her eyes scanned the rest of the area. “ The lab is on fire!” she shouted at the top of her lungs. Chef was already on his way to the group trying to assist however he could.

Snow Blur saw the unicorn charging another spell as three new orange dots swirled around him, the orange dots grew in size as Snow Blur ran towards the mad pony “Stop that! What are you doing?!” The unicorn turned the instance he heard the voice. Shooting two burning infernos towards the oncoming pony “STAY AWAY FROM ME!” he yelled as Snow Blur jumped out of the way of the first fireball, the second inferno came to close for him to even land. A loud whoosh sound erupted as a wall of fog came out of nowhere, out of the fog came Snow Blur in the same speed as before. A large area of snow now missing beneath him, he had grabbed the snow with his magic and thrown against the oncoming fire.

A third fireball shot toward him and he responded by sending an ice spike right through the middle of it, the fireball dispatched instantly to everyone's confusion. Snow Blur’s speed decreased to a trot, his trot to a halt before he dropped to his haunches, eyes wide with terror. He had aimed for the fireball but had accidentally hit the very source of the fireball. The ice spike had found its way to a little over the right eye of the unicorn. The unicorn lay sprawled out on the ground motionless, the snow around his head started to take the crimson color of red as the blood leaked out his head.

Snow Flake and Twilight ran past him and grabbed whatever snow they could find and threw it onto the building hoping it would be enough to stop the fire from spreading. To their luck it was, after some time throwing large puddles of snow on the building burying three windows and the roof. They finally were able to extinguish the fire, they were however not able to see the full extend of the damage as the snow now covered most parts where the fire had been.

Snow Blur walked shakily over to the unicorn that now painted the snow red, his eyes as big as the plate he had used for breakfast. His eyes shifted from the end of his hooves, up to his knees as he followed the line up to his tail. His eyes rested at his tail, afraid of what he would see once he proceeded. A sharp breath later he moved it up to his stomach and up his chest, he focused on the pony’s face. His eyes scanned for any movement, anything at all. He jumped backwards landing with his flank in the snow when the pony suddenly kicked and started to shake like crazy.

Applejack opened the door slowly, revealing what had caused the silence outside. She opened the door fully to get a better view, right in front of her sat Snow Blur with the body of the unicorn in front of him. Twilight and Snow Flake moved the snow to uncover the damage the fire had caused. Applejack gulped and walked out, her hooves carried her next to Snow Blur and the dead body of the unicorn. Who had now stopped his death twitching and lay still once again.

Applejack looked down at Winona petting her head slowly still in shock as to what had happened “  An’ where in tarnation have you been? you can’t jus’ disappear like that” Winona whined and panther heavily looking up at her master with pleading eyes. Applejack shoot a look over her shoulder only to see Rainbow Dash being carried on a stretcher towards the camp, Applejack hurried around in full gallop towards her friend.

Applejack slowed to a trot as she came closer, Rainbow Dash’s front hooves was stretched out on the stretcher revealing second degrees burn, down at the base of her hooves was a trail of small blisters up to her knees. Her knees held blisters the size of an small apple. Her top layer of skin had melted off, her blue fur melted around the areas revealing a sickening yellow to black crust. Applejack could feel her breakfast threatening to come up, she managed to swallow it as she walked beside her, It looked everything but comfortable, Applejack knew from experience they would have to wrap her front hooves in bandage and that, was going to be very painful.

Applejack mustered the softest voice she could “Thank you Rainbow, fer pushing me and Winona out of the way and takin’ the hit”  Rainbow Dash forced her eyes open as cold sweat covered her face, “N-no big-gi” she said through clenched teeth and short breaths. “Y-you wo-would done the sa-me for me if i was in your p-place” Applejack gave a nod to the Pegasus as Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie walked through a door leading to the medical lab. Applejack stood there for a few seconds looking at the same door they had just entered, she would have done the same for Rainbow Dash.

Applejacks attention was drawn to the group of ponies that surrounded the now cold unicorn. Twilight's voice was shaky “W-What do we do now?” Applejack walked up next to Twilight as she looked at the ice spike piercing his head. It had went right through his head, blood kept oozing from wound. By the time it had painted the a circle around his head in a crimson color.

Snow Blur looked up from the body and at the group “It was a accident I swear!” Twilight meet his gaze “We all know that, anyhow. He attacked first so it was in self defence, he would most likely have killed Applejack and Winona.” Applejack gaze shifted from Twilight to the light grey unicorn making a mental note to thank him later.

Rainbow Dash laid on a table in the infirmary, the room was pretty big to just be a infirmary. It were large enough for all the ponies to be inside the room and still be able to have a surgery if needed, there was three tables in the room, two in the middle of the room, and one lined by the wall with a sink in it. the walls was plain white as everything else. The tables in the room was of solid metal with small edges around the corner for whatever fluid not to leak on the floor.  Rainbow Dash were breathing short painful breath as her two front hooves pulsated with pain, it was almost like she could feel her heartbeat in her hooves. Each beat sending a new flare of pain through her front hooves. Twilight looked uneasy at her friends “Fluttershy, can you get me a bucket with cold water?” Fluttershy looked from Rainbow Dash on the table to the lavender unicorn “I guess i can...But where is it? i h-have no idea where it might be” Chef looked at the butter colored pegasus “I have a couple of buckets in the kitchen, i could help you get them and fill them up with water” Twilight nodded as both ponies left the room.

Twilight looked back at Rainbow “Snow Flake, could you go and find us some bandages?” Snow Flake responded instantly by walked over to a drawer on the table lines up by the wall  and pulled out a roll with bandage before she gave it to Twilight.

Fluttershy and Chef entered through the doorway with two buckets filled to the brim with cold water. Twilight frowned as she saw they had filled it with ice as well to keep it cold. “Sorry guys, but you’ll have to empty those buckets and get two new with just cold water” Chef shot her a glance “How is that? I thought you told us to get cold water?” Twilight smiled weakly “Yes, but water with Ice in it is too cold. It could cause tissue damage to her hooves” Chef expression changed to one of defeat “We’ll be right back” Twilight sent him an apologetic smile.

Twilight looked back at Rainbow Dash realising they had forgotten about the jacket that she wore. Twilight shoot a glance over her shoulder at Applejack “Applejack, could you help me remove her jacket?”   Applejack tore her gaze from the Pegasus “Sure Twah” Applejack walked up alongside Twilight “What do yeh need me for?” Twilights purple aura opened the zipper of her jacket carefully. “I need you to lift her body so i can take off her jacket.” Applejack stared at the jacket that had most likely melted to her skin.

Applejack gaze followed up Rainbows leg and up to her face that had a grim expression “Rainbow, Ah’m goin’ to try and lift yah. So we can get off that jacket of yers, you prepared?” Rainbow didn’t respond but nodded weakly. Applejack emerald eyes found Twilight “Ready when you are” Twilight nodded. Applejack was careful not to touch Rainbow Dash's front hooves as she wrapped her hooves under the jacket and around her midsection. Rainbow stiffened a gasp as Applejack lifted her gently a few inches above the table.

Twilight had a minor problem getting Dash’s wings out of the jacket before she stopped at Rainbows neck “This is going to hurt a lot Dash” Dash opened her eyes barely ”Do it qu-ickly” Applejack shoot Twilight a gaze, Twilight let out a sight and with a yank the jacket was loose. A scream of agony escaped Rainbow Dash as the jacket tore free from her burned skin. Sending bolts of pain through her whole body. Rainbow Dash bit down on her lip as her eyes was forced shut. Tears forcing it’s ways to her eyes but she managed somehow to keep them just at the edges of her eyes, a few seconds later and she gasped for breath.

Fluttershy and Chef stormed through the door, Fluttershy sat the bucket down near the table as she looked at the jacket wrapped in Twilight's magic. Her face went pale and she was about to faint as she saw Rainbow Dash’s front hooves, the skin had forcefully been ripped off causing her to bleed even more, many of her blisters had broken painting her front hooves in a sickening yellow, Fluttershy felt her stomach clench as she stormed out the room and headed for the bathroom.

Applejack place Rainbow gently down on the table as she looked worriedly at her best friend. “This ‘ere could’ve been me.”  she thought to herself.

The water in the bucket got a purple glow before it was lifted slowly out of the bucket it had been in, Twilight moved the water through  the air and over to Rainbow Dash's hooves. “Sorry Rainbow, but it’s not over yet, but I promises it will feel better afterwards” Rainbow stiffened a groan as the purple aura surrounded her front hooves. They couldn’t even see her front hooves through the water that had been applied within the purple aura.

The water changed fast from a pure color to one slightly mixed with yellow and red, it swirled around a bit longer to get a orange color as the blood and blisters mixed. Twilight moved the water towards the sink, when it was just above the sink the aura disappeared and sent the water splashing down in the sink. She did the same procedure over and over, after the fourth time did small patches of skin enter the water as well. After the fifth time nothing but blood would swirl around in the water. Rainbow Dash was breathing more easily now as the flare in her hooves had finally died down a bit. Her face did no longer hold a grim expression as she obviously relaxed a bit more.

She even opened her eyes looked at all the ponies in the room, Rarity, Applejack, Twilight ,Chef and Snow Flake was currenlty in the room. Twilight looked around the room for something to dry the wet spots on Rainbow Dash's hooves, her eyes scanned for anything that could be used. Her eyes found a white towel hanging by the door. She levitated it over and pushed it gently against Rainbow’s front hooves. Rainbow didn’t even seems bothered by it. Twilight looked at Snow Flake as she was sitting behind her looking at the process as it went on “Snow Flake, do you have bacitracin or polysporin here?” Snow Flake locked eyes with Twilight “I think we have it somewhere, but i’m not sure.” Snow Flake got to her hooves and looked around the infirmary for it eager to help.

Rainbow shifted from her position and tried to sit up. Rainbow Dash was half way up as her hooves gave after and she fell. She closed her eyes and prepared for the pain to follow, to her surprise it never came. She opened her eyes only to find Applejacks hooves around her midsection again helping her up “T-thanks” was all she could muster as the farm fully pulled her up to a sitting position on the table. “Found it!” Snow Flake held the Polysporin in her hoof over her head. Twilight grabbed it with her magic and opened the tube, applying it to Rainbows front hooves. Rainbow flinched as the ointment made contact to her burnet skin.

Twilight started to wrap bandage around Rainbows front hooves, Rainbow forced her eyes shut and winced in pain. Applejack quickly grabbed the bandage making Twilights purple aura disappear in a instant “Ah’ll do it Twah, you’r magic can’t feel how tight it wrapped roun’ her hooves.” Twilight just simply nodded to the orange mare. Applejack wrapped the bandage loosely around her hooves, not lose enough for it to fall of but not so tight it would hurt her friend. Once she finished her front left hoof she looked up at the magenta eyes staring down at her “Too tight sugercube?” Rainbow blinked a couple of times before she tried moving it a little, she quickly stopped as the pain shoot through it “N-no, it’s just about right” Applejack smiled weakly as she started to wrap her right hoof with the white bandage.

Applejack’s smile vanished as fast as it came, she couldn’t help ask aloud “Why would he shoot after Winona and call ‘er a thing?”  Rainbow thought the question was for her as she was the first to reply “I don’t know AJ, why did he try to kill you?” Twilight spoke up as the question still lingered in the air “ Stir-Crazy, Cabin fever, who knows?”  Just as it was mentioned Snow Blur and Pinkie Pie walked past the door with the unicorn on a stretcher.

Twilight looked as the dead unicorn was about to pass the door “Stop!” Snow Blur stopped instantly making Pinkie Pie almost crash into the stretcher. Twilight walked up to them before they could say anything else. She scanned the unicorn from his hind hooves to his head,  the ice spike had been removed or just simply melted as he got in. Twilight horn light up and covered his whole body in a purple aura, scanning for anything that could answer their questions.

Her eyes drifted to his chest, her magic unlocked the zipper revealing a green coat, she flipped the right side of the jacket and opened a inner pocket and pulled out a parchment. She flipped open the parchment and scanned the text. All ponies in the room staring at her, “It says here that he have been stationed on a facility for eight weeks, given the date written here and the current date. It also mention another station somewhere around here. But eight weeks are not enough time to get any of of the sicknesses i previously mentioned” Rainbow Dash looked at the back of her head “Heh, five minutes is enough to get anything down here” her comments earned a few giggles from the ponies in the room.

Twilight kept scanning the paper for more information, her eyes going down the paper at a quick rate, no doubt getting every detail as she had used hours of hours on reading books. Rainbow moved her hooves again, to her surprise it didn’t hurt so much as it did before. “Hey Twilight, did you do something more than just cleans the burns?” Twilight looked up from the paper and looked over her shoulder “Yeah, i used my magic to seduce most of the pain, so you didn’t have to lie around for the next couple of days, but i recommend you to stay off your front hooves for a while.” Rainbow looked down at her hooves wrapped up in gauze. “Thanks” Twilight smiled at her “No problem RD.”

Twilight's eyes were once again focused on the paper, her eyes widened as she came towards the bottom of the parchment, “It says he was in a group of ten other ponies!” Applejack shifted her weight from her left front hoof to her right “One pony that crazy might hav’ done a lot of damage to his own before he got to us” Rarity spoke up for the first time since she had stayed in the room. “Nothing we can do about that now, right darling?” she looked at Twilight that now turned around facing the group. “It is, I want to go up there and see for myself” to every ponies surprise Rainbow Dash was the first to reply “Count me in” all the occupant in the room looked at her bewildered. Fluttershy stood in the entrance of the room looking shocked at Rainbow “With those hooves?” Rainbow sent a questioning look at her yellow friend “I got wings you know?” Pinkie pie came now up behind Fluttershy “Is that so smart dummy? I mean, you could get really hurt! and that would just be sad” She said making her lip quiver and her eyes big.

Snow Flake looked at the note Twilight had read aloud “The nearest base to us is one day march to it and from it” Twilight gaze shifted from Snow Flake to Rainbow Dash “Are you sure you’re up for it RD?” Rainbow looked at bit annoyed “I told you already, I got my wings so i can just hover over ground.”  Rarity took a step forwards “Even with your wings what will you do with the wind around here?” Rainbow sent her  annoyed glance “C’mon, didn’t you see me flying here?” Rarity huffed before she glared at the sky blue mare “But you wasn’t wounded!” Rainbow rolled her eyes before she spoke just over her breath “you probably was to bussy looking in the mirror anyway”  “Begg you pardon?” Rarity said looking at her with a high eyebrows “I said I’ll be fine!” Rinbow Dash than procede with thorwing her front hoves in the air wincing in pain as she had forgotten all about them.

Applejack looked was scanning the floor as if it was anything interesting or patter she was following to leaver her out of this discussion, to her annoyance a certain pegasus yelled her name “Applejack, be honest with me. Do you think i should leve?” Applejack rose her gaze from the floor to meet the magenta half way, “Ah reckon ah want answers as much as anypony here. An if you set you’re mind how can any of us change it?” Pinkie Pie looked confused from one pony to the other trying to take it all inn at once. To everyones surprise Fluttershy spoke up “I-If Rainbow goes, I’ll go too” “WHAT?!” yelled the pegasus, making Fluttershy shrink down and wince. “Fluttershy! you can’t go!” Rainbow’s voice almost echoed off the wall.

After a lot of heated discussion Rainbow Finally gave in. Letting Fluttershy join their little expedition up to the other station.

The breakfast went quiet, unspoken as every pont thought what the answers would hold. Why did the unicorn try to kill Winona and Applejack. Why did he call her a thing? why did he try to burn down the whole camp? this day was going to give answers, a short hour after breakfast Rainbow Dash Twilight and Fluttershy meet up in the equipment room and found their jackets, Rainbow Dash had to find a new one because her previous one had been ruined and thrown. Fluttershy zipped close the pockets made for her wings as she pulled up the hoodie of her jacket.

Rainbow did the opposite, she opened the zipper and gave her wings a few flaps to make sure it wasn’t uncomfortable to move her wings. Rainbow adjusted her right wings zipper and gave a testing flap with her right wing, satisfied it didn’t hurt she pulled up her hoodie. Twilight was already waiting for them outside, Rainbow sent Fluttershy a wink as she hovered past her and out the open door. Fluttershy trotted behind her.

They meet Twilight outside with a backpack, Twilight was looking at the map she had been given by Snow Flake. The station had a large red circle around it. Twilight looked over her shoulder and saw Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy walk up behind her. she smiled at them both “Ready girls?” Rainbow nodded and Fluttershy sent her a uncertain smile as they walked in the direction of the mountain north of the camp.

Half an hour later they found themself on a edge before the very top of the mountain, Twilight had pulled out the map for the sixth time, not noticing Rainbow Dash helping Fluttershy over the edge. Twilight looked over her shoulder to see Fluttershy trying to climb up and Rainbow Dash pushing her flank with her shoulder. Twilight was slightly amused by the display before her, a purple aura appeared on Fluttershy’s front hooves as she was pulled up.

Rainbow Dash flew beside Twilight looking at the map “You know where we are headed yet?” Twilight side glanced at Rainbow that was hovering beside her “We need to go a little north west of our current position. We are here” She pointed near the top of the mountain at the very edge they were standing on. Fluttershy was breathing heavily and lying on her belly. Rainbow looked at the pegasus and smiled “It’s not far now Fluttershy!” Fluttershy waved her hoof in the air as if saying she was okay. Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash quizzically “Umm. We are not even halfway there yet Rainbow” Rainbow sent Twilight a disbelievingly glance unnoticed by the lavender unicorn “Beside, we still have to climb over there” she pointed at the top of the mountain west of their location. “UP THERE!?” Fluttershy squeaked.

Twilight narrowed her eyebrows and looked at Fluttershy “umm, Yes?” Twilight said uncertain, she turned her her head to look at Rainbow Dash and saw her facehoof.

Applejack Rarity and Pinkie Pie sat in the cafeteria looking up the mountain at the three color dots disappear over the mountain side. Rarity didn’t shift her gaze even though the ponie there was long gone “Twilight is going all the way for her answers, Is she not?” Applejack made a circling move with her hoof making the hot chocolate swirl around in her cup, “She knows what shes doin’” Applejack took a sip of her drink and petted Winonas head as she laid under the table looking up at the window.

Rarity walked down the hallway in her night robe, she past several doors wearing an angry expression as she came to the door she was looking for. The sign over the door read Kitchen, she knocked hard and fast at the door, no response so she knocked even hard this time. She was so busy knocking at the door she almost hit Chef’s face as he opened the door. Rarity lowered her hoof and stared at him “Could you be an angle and turn down the volume? I’m trying to get my beauty sleep.” Chef’s eyes reflected the light from inside the kitchen as he looked at her. “Sure thing Rarity” Rarity gave him a glare of her own before she left for her bedroom.

Chef just shocked his head and closed the door, the volume only sank a little, as he had said he would.

Winona poked her head out from the door leading to the cafeteria, looking for any sign at all. her ear perked up as she passed through the door, her head looked to the left to a closed door as she continued to walk down the dimly lit hallway. Her head lowered and tail straight out. She walked in the direction of the music, closing in on the kitchen. She walked to the open door that lead to the infirmary as she stopped, glancing inside at the dark room. Only thing that lights the hallway where the oil lamps lined on the walls. Winona turned her head and walked slowly further down the hallway and stopped in front of the door that lead to the medical lab. She continued further down passing some shelves and boxes as she stares at an open door.  Winona walks without a sound to the door and looks at the inhabitant of the room.  She walked into the room with her head lowe and tail pushed against the floor.  “Winona?”

Twilight Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had passed over another duvet of snow as they saw dark smoke rise up and dispatching in the air. After some running in the direction of the smoke did they finally pass over the last snow duvet and saw the camp. Twilight's eyes widened, the station seemed to had a furious fire only hours before they got there,  small pieces were scattered around in the camp still burning.

Rainbow Dash had used the time the two others had used in the distance to get closer, leaving them behind. Twilight and Fluttershy looked at each other in disbelief and worry plastered on their face. Twilight teleported in a blink of an eye making Fluttershy jump and looking both left and right before she started to descend down the last snow covered hill.

Rainbow Dash had landed carefully in the middle of the camp as Twilight popped up beside her. Making Rainbow Dash cover her eyes at the bright flash. Fluttershy was the last to join up as she had indeed walked all the way. Their eyes scanning the scene in front of them, the buildings looked burnt but still intact, there was scattered pieces of wood and plank everywhere. Even pieces of metal, indicating that it had been at least one explosion.

Twilight finally found her voice as she had been staring agap at what she saw “W-what happened here?”