The sounds of instruments could be heard playing in the distance, a happy melody for a wedding if I recall correctly. It was a couple of days after our small town finished harvest before winter. We lived near the outskirts of VanHoover, towards the Crystal Mountains, it was named Snow Flank. We rarely had any visitors, but it really didn't matter as our lives were tied to surviving the cold and the wildlife that understood the laws of survival better than us. There were some days that seemed like the wildlife understood us, but as long as we didn't bother each other we had an understanding. Under our care, we survived with planting crops that could stand the harsh environment that we lived in, that in itself required the whole towns diligent care to ensure that we could live through the long winters. We didn't have much, nor did we have time to do things that we wanted. Most of the time there was no time for celebrations, but this year there was a wedding that was to be held tonight. I pulled a long shift last night for the newlyweds. The nights were getting longer and I didn't want the festivities to start any later than necessary. There was still more to be done but I've somehow managed to do enough work in one night that would had taken two days, I was weary but I felt proud that I was able to ensure that there was a wedding that day. The couple expressed their gratitude and I told them that this was my gift to them, and I also asked for their forgiveness that I couldn't attend the wedding and the party afterwards. They understood, and made sure that I was going to get enough rest so I wouldn't get sick from the cold night I've spent working in. I nodded and made my way home, I never really enjoyed parties to be honest, but the town needed it more than anything. A small something to remind them that life isn't too bad.

The sky was turning a nice gold as they lit the bonfire, there was faint laughter, and everyone sounded like they were happy. I made it home without much effort, I let out a long sigh as I stretched in my bed. Turning on my back, I could feel my spine give small pops of relief that made me look towards the closet window. As I stared out the window waiting for the gentle touch of slumber to take my mind away. I felt a small chill creep across my face. I paid it no mind, the window was cracked open and I knew that my family would be coming home to check up on me soon. They went to congratulate the newlyweds. Even now I could hear the distinct laugh my brother makes when he was chatting up that filly that he fancied. I remember that I gave him advice while we were placing our tools away, I told him to ask her out after the wedding.

"Weddings have a strange magic to them, fillies get caught up during the vows, and colts get caught up in their beauty." I said this as my brother Swift Chord was locking up the door with his magic. He was a brown unicorn with a black mane, and even though we were two years apart, we looked like twins. The only real difference was that he had some white spots on his flank and his Cutie Mark was in the shape of a eighth note. He had a knack for any string instrument, with a voice to match.

"Well what if she is expecting some other Colt to ask her out?" He spoke in a soft hush. I couldn't help but smirk at his attempt to avoid any stray ear listening.

"Has she been looking at some pony else?" I spoke in a softer tone as we walked down the path to our home.
"Well, no, sometimes I think I catch her looking at me when I'm working, but you know how I get when I'm focused." He kicked a rock off the trail as he let out a frustrated sigh. I couldn't help but laugh softly at his frustration. I will always find it ironic that every pony thinks he is the older brother because he got his cutie mark first. He gave me a small glare and I rolled my eyes before answering.

"Yes, I do. You hum to yourself while you work, and might I add that she isn't the only filly, or mare who stares when you hum that lullaby." I tried to mimic the face of a swooning mare that I saw earlier today. "They look like their hearts were about to melt when you were helping me fix that fence."Chord scoffed
"There is a reason why you're a colt Harvey. Your face wasn't meant to make cute faces." I nudged him with a look of hurt pride, and we both laughed as we went home to eat before the wedding.

The air was chilly, and the town didn't have much to offer when it came to fun, but I was glad I had my brother with me. Somehow we knew how to make the long days seem shorter. There wasn't much that we had to tell each other, we knew that there would be days we would be mad at each other, yet we knew that after all that was said and done we had each other to fall back on for support. Family is everything.

I turned over sweating from the heat.

"I know you like it nice and cozy but we need that wood to last the winter..." I murmured as tried to go back to sleep. It wasn't until my face smelt soot that my eyes shot open with fear. At first I barely could grasp what I was seeing, but even with that I felt my mind slowly ease me into realizing that what I was seeing was real.

My home was burned down, the town ablaze. I looked around trying to not only catch my bearings but to try and understand why I wasn't hurt. I looked around to try and find my parents or my brother.

"Mom? Dad? Chord?" I walked over the remains of what were the walls of my home, to see if some pony was around.

"Hello!?"

"HAR! Over here!"

I turned my head towards the sound of my brother's voice, and broke in a gallop hoping everything was alright. I turned the corner to find him holding our mother, burnt and barely breathing. He was perfectly still as he held her, humming the same lullaby that he always hummed. I felt a thousand pins pierce my heart as I quickly went to her side. I didn't touch her, I was afraid she was going to break if I tried. I felt my head move towards her, my eyes already shedding tears as I whispered in a shaky breath.

"Mother... c... Can you... Are you..." My throat clenched up and I felt myself quiver in anger and sorrow. I looked at Chord who was badly injured himself. "... What...?"

"Har... she came out of nowhere. She was screaming. She said that there was another way, and before we had time to react she tore our town apart. We tried to send for help, but I don't think there is enou-'

"Frosted... Harvest...?" Chord stopped mid sentence as we both looked down at our mother. Her voice was dry and she took deep breathes after each word. Her voice would never leave my mind always echoing till this very day...

"Mother. I'm here. I'm fine. How are you still-" I tried to speak in a calm tone but I felt my heart hammering.

"How. Are. You. Alive?" She turned her head slightly towards me. "You. Died..." I couldn't help but take a few steps back, Chord looked at her then me in disbelief.

"Ma. Harvey is right here. He's not de-"

"MY SON DIED TO PROTECT ME!" She screamed as she forced herself on her hooves and placed herself between me and Chord. "You won't take both my sons, Misery. As Celesta as my witness I-"She fell to her knees and started to cough blood. I tried to move towards her but she used what magic she had left to throw a rock at me. It cut my cheek, I felt it slowly pour down my face. "You won't take both of my sons..."

"I'll protect you mother. I won't let her near us again." Chord stepped in between our mother and I giving a look of confusion mixed with determination. Against any other pony I would had challenged him, but out of all of our fights he would always win. Unlike him I had no grasp on what magic I had.

I backed up. I didn't want to fight my brother or my weak mother. I ran in the opposite direction. The wind howled almost like laughter. I was lost, and a snow storm slowed down my efforts, I slowed down to breath and that was when she found me.
"I thought I lost you..." It was a whisper as if it was right next to my ear. I jumped and looked around for the voice, "... Oh, how I thought I lost you Frosted Harvest. Now I won't let you go..."

"Who are you!" I screamed at the wind and snow afraid that I was losing my sanity.

"I am many things young colt, but I am known as Misery."

"Your just a myth to scare foals, you're not real!" I spoke this but somewhere inside I knew I was wrong.
"This is almost like a dream, you act and say just the same, and your face wore the same look of terror. Then again, you are him, and he is you..." I felt my mane being played with and my legs shook in response.

"... What is it that you want...?" I spoke in a low voice. I felt defeated for some reason.

"Now we're getting somewhere. A simple deal is what I need. I'm getting weaker. I need a vessel to keep me safe for as long as I need to rest, but there are rules. I needed a pony who was of age and has yet found his destiny..." I felt something trace a sideways eight where my cutie mark would be.

"... in exchange...?" I swallowed hard, but the cold made the effort even harder than I would had thought.
"I'm the one who needs the deal, and I've come to you so it could be struck. It is the terms you wish it to be, and I'll do everything within my power to keep my end of the bargain."

I was lost and I wanted answers, but what I wanted was to get out of the cold, for my family to be safe. At that moment I never realized what it meant to make that deal.

Author's Note

As far as chapters go. they'll prolly vary depending on the circumstances. But I hoped you enjoyed the first chapter. I hope to have some more chapters up soon.