Falling Temperatures

“This morning is not my morning is it?” I asked the fridge as I grabbed another blood pack.

“Eni meanie miney you,” I said as I ran my fingers down my files, my hand coming to a stop on a pair of names.

“Flitter and Cloudchaser eh,” I said as I ran through my memories of the two. The pair are sisters that work as part of Ponyville’s weather teams. They also commuted from Cloudsdale on a weekly basis. Only ever appearing when they are needed.

“Well that leaves my options in ways to find them squarely at one,” I thought.

My only option was to catch them when they left to return to Cloudsdale later today. I began to pack things that I needed; tracking crystals, sketch and note pads, and a few spare packs of blood. Satisfied with my preparations I went into town.

My search began at the market where I saw Applejack tending to her cart with Applebloom.

“I should at least try to talk to her; earn back her trust,” I thought cautiously as I turned towards the cart. Applebloom waved at me excitedly as she watched me approach the cart.

I waved back casually and called out, “How is business for you two today girls?”

“GREAT, we have almost a hundred bits now,” Applebloom was beaming with pride and joy at being able to help her big sister. However her sister seemed a little apprehensive around me.

“Applejack is somthin’ wrong?” Applejack turned back to her sister and shook her head.

“Nah, but I’d like to talk to Ram alone for a bit Bloom, could you watch the stand?”

“Sure!”

“Alright then sugarcube you and me need to have a chat,” she said once we were out of earshot.

“Oh boy this isn’t goanna end well is it?” I thought to myself as I shrank back from the stronger mare.

“What’s this about Applejack? I haven’t done anything to you and the others have I?” the words were barely a whisper. I truly feared her, not just for her physical power but for her unwillingness to let even the smallest thing get past her.

“Yes ya did! Now would ya be so kind as to tell me why you lied to us with those memories a yours,” she said firmly. I was taken aback. Applejack never questioned my authenticity until now and 99% of the time she isn’t wrong, but this was that one percent.

I stood up and locked eyes with her trying to convey I was being sincere,

“I didn’t lie to any of you! What you saw in those memories was what happened to me, honestly. If you want to check I can send a message to Luna about letting you and the others see the original sphere. If that would put your mind to rest,”

“O.K suppose they were true, still doesn’t explain what happened to Roseluck,” My ears perked up at the name and I turned towards the market to scan for Roseluck’s stall.

“What happened to her Applejack?”

“She’s hold up in her house most days now, only com’n out to water her garden, sometimes she goes to the market but that’s it, no talkin to nopony, anything at all, it’s like she’s under a spell or something,”

“Spell or someth…OH BUCK!” I cried out as I took off towards Roseluck’s home.

Applejack watched in awe as the stallion sprinted through the market,

“I am not letting RD rope him into one of our little competitions…EVER!” she said as she returned to her busy stall and loving sister.

I weaved and wormed my way through the crowd at the market glancing at the patrons of the stalls when I noticed two silver manes in the distance.

“OH OH OH TODAY IS MY LUCKY DAY” I thought as I sprinted towards Flitter and Cloudchaser. I pulled the two tracking gems from my pockets and placed one in each palm.

“Hey you two! Nice day huh, got to go bye,’ I said as I sprinted by them. In their momentary confusion I was able to tap them both on the back with the crystals. Each one made a barely audible ding as the spell contained within was cast on the two Pegasi.

I continued sprinting towards the home laden with flowerpots and windowsill gardens. When I arrived I saw Roseluck outside with a watering can in her hands.

“Hey *pant* Roseluck *pant* how *pant* are *pant* you?” I said trying to catch my breath.

“I am fine thank you for your concern but we would like it if you removed yourself from our home immediately,” she sounded almost robotic. Dolling out the words as if they were a pre recorded message.

“Look into my eyes Roseluck, please,” I said firmly. Her gaze met mine and she went rigid as I worked to remove the control Lyra left on her mind.

When I finished removing any trace of Lyra’s influence on her I shut my eyes and she collapsed. Fearing I would be seen like this I brought her into her home. I waited down in her living room for a few hours until she woke up.

“Hello Roseluck,” I said happily. She cocked her head to the side as she walked down the stairs.

“Hey Ram when did you get here?”

“Applejack sent me to find you; she said you were acting kinda funny,”

“The last thing I remember doing was…” she petered off and looked at me. Her eyes were watering as the memories flooded back to her.

“Roseluck its ok what’s the matter?” I asked knowing full well what was happening. She was relapsing in her memories of her torture at Lyra’s hands. At this point she was openly sobbing, she looked at me and smiled.

“Yes I’m fine now…thanks to you,”

“Huh?” I cocked my head to the side “What do you mean “Thanks to me?”

“The last thing I remember hearing was your deal with Lyra, you saved my life,”

“You’re…you’re welcome, but I can’t accept that gratitude…not yet anyway,” I said looking out the window. The sun was starting to set and a soft hum in my pockets let me know that my targets were on the move.

“Are you sure? I mean I need to repay you somehow,” she said.

“You can, “I said walking to the door, “Let Applejack know you are alright, and stay alive. That’s how you can repay me,” before she could reply I was off towards the town square, right into a fight I was probably not prepared for.

“Ready sister?” crooned Cloudchaser as she unfurled her wings.

“Yes Cloudchaser let’s go,” replied Flitter doing the same.

“HEY BITCHES,” I screamed as I walked into town square.

“Who are you to insult us you lowly wretch,” hissed Cloudchaser.

“I’m the stallion who is goanna beat your Bat asses to next Tuesday that’s who,” I shot back coldly.

“FOAL! YOU DARE CHALLENGE US AT THE SAME TIME! WE WILL HEARALD YOUR END WITH A MIGHTY THUNDERCLAP!”

they shouted as the low crunching of bones came from where they were standing.

I let my protective shadow ice form its familiar barrier around me. Its cold embrace was refreshing but I had no time to revel in that as four fists slammed into my chest plate. Right after I recovered I became aware of the smell of ozone in the air. Looking up I was struck in the face with a large bolt of lightning.

“Great this is going so well right now,” I thought to myself as a pair of fists hit my stomach causing me to double over.

“Aww is the poor little knight have a boo boo?” taunted Flitter. Her voice was right in front of me I yet I couldn’t see her. That sparked an idea in my head; I began to concentrate my cryomancy into my hands as I had done with Thunderlane, yet this time I fused a light spell into my magic. I slammed the orb into the ground creating my protective bubble. Only this time it was as bright as day on the inside.

Flitter screamed as she was blinded and frozen by the sudden spell. My blade at the ready I plunged it into the center of the frozen Flitter’s chest and heaved upward, causing the frozen Bat to shatter as if made of glass. As the bubble dissipated I looked up at my remaining target and smirked. I held up the head of her sister as if it were a trophy.

A cry of rage and loss echoed in the town square as Cloudchaser leapt from the cloud she was on and charged headlong at me.

“Rage makes her sloppy; Rage makes her weak; Rage makes her…prey” I noticed the voiced right after I sidestepped Cloudchaser. Bringing my blade down at frightening speed I ripped through tendons and bones leaving a stump and a head rolling nearby.

“What was that voice?” I thought to myself as I retrieved the heads of the two mares and left them at the foot of the door of town hall with a note.

“Two down seven to go,” I thought to myself as I teleported home.