Wind and Stone
The sun rose over the eastern mountains, edging above the distant peaks and gently touching the tips of Canterlot's spires and towers. Night fled as the pale stone glowed in the dawn, the streets below becoming a zigzag pattern of light and deep shadow. A few small, wispy clouds as well as a flock of raucous songbirds zipped across the sky as the city awoke.
The sounds of voices echoed up from below as the citizens began their daily routines. Merchants opened their doors and began setting up their wares, ponies chattered as they left their homes and moved towards their workplaces, the night lanterns in the streets were snuffed, and the rumble of cart wheels added a bass background to the symphony of another day in Equestria's capital city.
Maple Leaf glided over it all, just above the level of the rooftops. He blinked his green eyes as he moved into and out of the far-flung shadows thrown by the towers of the palace, the light going from deep gray to warm gold along razor-edged lines. Snatches of conversation could be briefly understood as he passed over alleys and roads: a child's voice raised in complaint, a snippet of song, a deep laugh.
What a city. I still can’t believe how many ponies live here; we’re packed together even closer than I was at the flight school. He smiled, picturing himself as the gangly colt he had once been, before his body finally grew into the long wings that had given him so much trouble. I guess Spitfire was right; all I needed was time.
He noticed the silhouettes of a few other pegasi, outlined against the beautiful dawn horizon, as they coasted towards the same destination as himself: a large building located on the southern edge of the city, facing an open plaza that was lined with the stalls of merchants and beginning to fill with early shoppers. He angled his wings and aimed for the near side of the building, where a cobblestone square was carefully fenced off and kept clear. As Maple Leaf backwinged to a careful landing in a corner, he could see the large brass letters arranged across the front of the building, shining in the sun.
Canterlot Royal Post Office.
He folded his large wings along his chocolate-brown sides and moved into the building as another pegasus landed behind him. The fenced area delineated the safe landing zone for pegasi; Maple Leaf smiled as he recalled the stern lecture given to all the new employees by an elderly pegasus mare.
"All pegasi working for the Post Office must land within the designated landing area. You will NOT show off, barnstorm, perform acrobatics, or otherwise try to be fancy. Any accidents caused by foolish behavior will NOT be tolerated. This is a place of business, not a flying competition." She glared at all the assembled ponies with an intensity that brooked no funny business.
Maple Leaf shook his red mane from his eyes as he moved from the sunlit exterior into the relatively dim building, ducking to one side of the wide double doors to give his eyes time to adjust properly. The front of the building was one large room, stretching the entire length of the structure. White plaster walls and ceiling contrasted with dark, wide oak beams, expansive glass windows showing the plaza outside. Brass lanterns were carefully hung at even intervals, wicks inside burning merrily even as the room slowly became illuminated by the rising sun.
A long polished wooden counter stretched across most of the room, five unicorns arranged along its length, ready with notepads and supplies for any customers who might need the office's services. Even at this early hour, a number of ponies were doing business, sending out packages, picking up mail, and other assorted tasks. The air was filled with chatter, conversation, and the sound of hooves on the marble floors.
Crossing the entryway, Maple Leaf matched paces with his co-worker, Blackcrest, as he entered the building and headed towards the scheduling board. Blackcrest grinned and bumped Maple Leaf gently with a shoulder.
"Good mornin', Maple. How ye doin' today?"
"A little tired, Blackcrest, but I'll live. I'm still getting used to my new house." Maple Leaf paused to yawn, shaking his head vigorously. Blackcrest snickered and poked his younger friend with a sable feathertip.
"Too much light at night? Too many sounds? Eh, ye'll get used to it eventually. Th' big city's great." Blackcrest paused as they came up to the wide board that covered a large swath of the wall.
A massive expanse of white ash polished to a mirror sheen, this was where the daily activities of all the mail workers was laid out each morning. At first glance it was a confusing riot of lines, marks, text and colors, but careful examination showed that it gave specific instructions for every employee as to what they'd be doing that day. If they were making deliveries, it laid out where they would be going, how long they would be expected to take, and any additional preparations they needed to make. A young unicorn stood below the board, horn glowing as a clipboard floated in front of her and a wax stick dashed across the surface above, filling in the details. She ignored the pegasi who passed by, looking for their assignments, completely focused on her work.
Blackcrest craned his neck, and smiled as he located his name. "Looks like I'm headin' for Berry Ridge today. Nice village, they make some good sweet rolls. Be a relaxin' flight. Where ye goin', Maple?" He glanced at the younger pegasus, who looked perplexed as he gazed upwards.
"I don't know. It just says 'See me - Morning Glow'. Why would she...?" Maple Leaf broke off at the wicked grin growing on Blackcrest's face.
"Looks like ye're in for it, Maple. Maybe she's gonna chew ya out 'bout somethin'." Blackcrest paused, then burst out laughing at Maple Leaf's distressed expression. The busy unicorn paused momentarily to shoot the boisterous pegasus a dirty look for being so noisy before returning to her task. Blackcrest patted Maple Leaf on the shoulder as he continued. "Nah, she's probably got somethin' more complex for ya then can fit on th' board. Probably." He turned and began moving away, looking back to toss a final message to the nervous Maple Leaf. "Better get movin', she doesn't like bein' kept waitin'."
Maple Leaf swallowed heavily and paced away from the scheduling board, towards a desk pushed up against the wall, resting below a high window that shot a beam of sunlight down into the building. Dust motes and bits of feather danced in the air as he approached, mind racing. I dropped that package last week, but nothing broke, is that what this is about? I reported it but maybe someone filed a complaint. The desk was piled high with books, ledgers and precarious stacks of loose paper, and a unicorn's pale mane could be seen behind it, the owner hunched over a wide tablet, pen scribbling away. Maple Leaf paused, and self-consciously cleared his throat.
Morning Glow paused in her writing and looked up, smiling warmly at the sight of Maple Leaf awkwardly standing before her. "Maple Leaf, good morning. I haven't been able to speak to you much since you were hired. How are you getting along?" She cocked an eyebrow in inquiry.
Maple Leaf sighed under his breath in relief at not immediately being reprimanded for his fumbling the prior week. "I'm doing fine, Morning Glow. The board said, well the message said, you wanted to see me?"
She nodded, mane bobbing. "That's right. You're just recently out of your training phase and making solo deliveries. You've had one or two bumpy spots..." She stabbed Maple Leaf with a steel gaze and a stern expression, making him lean back and hold his breath nervously. She paused, then continued, "...but we have a situation that we think you can handle. Head into the back and find Chestnut. He'll fill you in."
Maple Leaf exhaled, nodding, and stepped away from the desk, heading into the back section of the post office. The scritch-scritch of pen on paper resumed behind him, and he blushed as he heard Morning Glow mutter, just loud enough to be audible above the background, "Try not to drop anything this time, will you?"
***
Contrasting with the relatively serene, airy front of the post office, the working section of the building was a synchronized swirl of chaos, each part independent yet tied tightly to its neighbor. Maple Leaf danced aside as a wooden bin, piled high with letters, was shoved past by a straining unicorn colt, his horn glowing as he wheeled it to a large platform where a number of both unicorns and pegasi worked, fishing individual parcels from the stream of mail crossing the tables in front of them. They barely glanced at each before flipping them into sorting boxes, splitting them into the sections of Equestria where their final destination lay.
He continued back through a large bay where the bins holding letters bound to Canterlot and its surrounding towns and villages were sorted again, industrious ponies splitting them into stacks and piles designated for particular locations, tucking them carefully into the ubiquitous brown satchels of the mail delivery forces. A pair of serious-looking unicorn stallions with thick stacks of paper on clipboards filled out small paper tags and attached them to the strap of the satchels, laying out their destination and the pegasus tasked with their delivery. They were then carefully loaded onto a shallow wheeled bin and taken towards the rear of the building. Letters destined for other distribution centers were packed into large bags, identified by the hard-working stallions, and taken away as well. The process was ongoing, swift and sure, ticking away like a fine watch.
Maple Leaf slipped into a hallway branching off from the main bay, its wood paneling dark with age. The air was slightly dusty and still, but well-lit by a brass lantern. He quickly spotted the plaque on one half-open door that identified it as belonging to one 'Chestnut'. Carefully pushing the door further open, a small office was revealed, as well as a truly impressive number of stacks of books. The walls were three-quarters covered by all manner of papers, clippings and dingy photographs; that is, what little wall was visible above piles of tomes and paper, a number of empty mugs, and a large desk. An elderly male unicorn stood in the center of the room, facing away from the door, regarding a large map pinned to the oaken wall. His white tail twitched as he muttered to himself, dark brown coat blending into the wood floor and paneling. Maple Leaf cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak.
The unicorn's horn flared yellow and a wooden pointer leaped from the jumble of paper, zipping across the room to float before Maple Leaf's face, tip resting on his nose. He started wildly and choked off his words, interrupted before he could even begin, as the old stallion turned his head and glared with narrow ice-blue eyes.
"What do you know about White Peak?" His voice was strong and deep, belying his obvious age. Maple Leaf gaped in shock, confusion spinning in his mind as he tried to regain his startled wits. Chestnut was one of the oldest ponies working at the Canterlot post office, and was renowned for being strong-willed. Rumor went that his parents named him Chestnut because even as a colt he was spiky and difficult to handle.
"White Peak? It... ah..." Wracking his mind, Maple Leaf tried to form some kind of coherent thought from his shaken memory. "Gold? It's a gold mine, isn't it? Far up north in the mountains." He eyed the elderly unicorn apprehensively as Chestnut stood in stony silence for a long, drawn-out moment.
A quick smile flashed across the white-dappled muzzle for just a moment. The pointer pulled away from Maple Leaf's nose and came to rest on the corner of the desk with a soft click. "Good. You can think on your feet." Chestnut's voice had a tone of grudging respect in it, just a hint. The elder turned to face Maple Leaf squarely and regarded him with a penetrating gaze.
Maple Leaf felt like he was on display, being weighed and measured. He shifted his weight from one side to the other, unsure what to say.
"Now." Chestnut nodded, seemingly satisfied. "You're young, but strong and fast. You're taking over one of the routes that beanhead Swiftjay has been handling, for at least as long as it takes him to recover."
Maple Leaf blinked in surprise. Swiftjay was one of the long-distance couriers out of the Canterlot office, making special deliveries that were too urgent to go through the normal routes. He was well-known for being a flashy flier, lightning-quick and very proud of himself. Maybe he got horribly sick, or attacked by a wild beast, or... "What happened to him? Is he all right?"
Chestnut snorted. "Fool was on a delivery for Princess Celestia herself and passed a group of weather workers trying to break up a small super-cell that rolled in from outside the borders. For some reason he took it into his head to fight it himself, alone." Chestnut's voice took on a mocking tone, and he rolled his eyes in disgust. "Arrogant lout got caught up in the winds, had half his feathers stripped and got dumped into an elm. Worst part is..." He stomped a hoof in anger, making the wide-eyed Maple Leaf jump. "He lost the delivery. Found a piece of the envelope in the next town and that was it. Got the tongue-lashing of his life and he's ground-bound until the feathers grow back in. He couldn’t even explain why he tried such a idiotic thing.”
Shaking his head, he turned towards the map that had been the focus of his attention earlier. His horn lit up, lifting the wooden pointer from the desk. It sailed across the room and the tip came to rest on the line-filled parchment. "Now, come over here."
Maple Leaf edged into the narrow office and slid over carefully next to the unicorn, being careful not to disturb the piles and strata of paperwork against the wall. He gazed at the wide diagram in awe; it was one of the most detailed maps of Equestria he had ever seen. The base layer was a detailed topographic layout of all the major mountains, hills and rivers in the land, crossed by an eye-watering network of roads, paths, common flight patterns and delivery routes, with icons representing notable weather currents, landmarks, and every settlement larger than half a dozen houses. It was a masterpiece of the cartographic art.
Chestnut tapped the tip of the floating pointer against the map to regain Maple Leaf's wandering gaze. "This is White Peak." He slipped the pointer up the wall from the star representing Canterlot, almost to the level of the ceiling, along a lonely dashed line to a symbol marking a small town. "It's a modest place, with about a hundred ponies living there. It occupies a pocket valley that has a small forest and, of course, the gold mine. The population's mixed earth ponies and unicorns, as pegasi like yourself don't tend to enjoy being underground."
Maple Leaf shuddered. Just the thought gives me the heebie-jeebies. No sky, no place to stretch my wings, no thanks. He unconsciously shook his wings slightly.
"Because of that, and their remote location, they're used to only getting about one mail delivery a week. Wagons make the trip about once a month, following that road. It's well-paved and highly visible, but it's long, especially carrying supplies on the way up and gold bullion on the way back. Have you been anywhere near that area before?" Chestnut turned his head and raised a white eyebrow.
The young pegasus shook his head. "No, I've never been anywhere near that far north. Could you give me some better directions? I'd rather not get lost." He smiled a little bit in embarrassment.
Chestnut gave a sardonic smile. "I heard about that little event." He turned back to the map and began laying out the route he suggested be taken. Maple Leaf paid careful attention as the tip of the pointer tapped on and moved between various locations, the deep voice of the experienced unicorn describing the towns, farms and landmarks he could use to orient himself. The flow of information paused as the tip rested on the crossroad that the lonely dotted line split from, forging northward into the high mountains.
"The path from here is, as I said, clear. You can follow it all the way to White Peak with little difficulty. However." Chestnut gazed at Maple Leaf, blue eyes on green. "As I mentioned, they don't get mail more than once a week, and they don't expect a time-perfect schedule. You're going to be taking this route for at least a month and I want you to learn the lay of the land." The pointer moved away and came to rest once again on the desk, the glow fading from Chestnut's horn. Maple Leaf paced back a couple of steps as the elder turned from the map.
"Flying straight there with your speed, you could arrive in late afternoon. I want you to take your time and explore around the mountains. They're a very different place than everywhere down below." Chestnut lifted a mail bag that had been hidden partially from view behind a stack of books with his magic, dropping its carrying strap around surprised Maple Leaf's neck. The magic faded and the young pegasus staggered slightly, wing brushing the wall until he adjusted his stance to compensate for its weight.
"Make your delivery, spend the night in White Peak. Explore the area around the town and make your way back here. I want you in that doorway, bright and early, the day after tomorrow to make a report." Not turning around, Chestnut's horn glowed and a piece of paper from one of the haphazard stacks behind him was surrounded by yellow light. It spun through the air and rolled itself up, tucking itself into the front of the mail bag.
"Take that to one of the clerks in the loading bay. They'll get you outfitted; can't go into the high mountains unprepared. Be careful; the weather’s strong up there." The old unicorn glared at at Maple Leaf as he began edging backwards towards the doorway. "Now, youngster, get out of my office and let me do some work!"
Maple Leaf skittered backwards into the hallway as Chestnut's horn glowed once more. The door slammed shut, only hairsbreadths from his nose, rattling the hinges, echoing down the empty corridor.
Maple Leaf shook his head and turned away. Crazy old pony. Guess they were right when they called him spiky. As he paced towards the main bay, mail bag slung around his neck and braced against his wing, he could hear a deep voice raised in irritation, its owner looking for his coffee mug.
***
The loading bay was quieter than it had been earlier. Four of the flat bins, previously loaded with bags full of undelivered letters, sat empty, the pegasi tasked with their swift flight out on their rounds. A number of unicorns chattered with one another as they shifted and stacked large packages and sacks of letters into the enchanted wagons resting in the center of the wide bay, their wheels floating unsupported a small distance above the planked floor. These were the letters and parcels heading to the other distribution centers in large cities such as Manehattan and Fillydelphia. Able to be pulled by a single pair of pegasi, they would be transported, their loads sorted, and finally delivered to their respective destinations the following day.
Maple Leaf trotted to a collection of boxes, bins and cabinets positioned to one side of the massive door leading to a wide, empty platform on the south side of the post office. A few unicorns moved among the containers, arranging and organizing supplies. One, a young yellow-coated mare with auburn hair pulled back into a bun, smiled and walked forward to meet him as Maple Leaf approached.
"Maple, how are you today? Are you running behind?" Sunflower chuckled teasingly. "Everyone else has gone out for deliveries. Blackcrest mentioned Morning Glow wanted to see you; get in trouble today, hmm?"
Maple Leaf grinned at her gentle ribbing. "Nah, just had to get a new assignment. Speaking of, I was given a form..." He snagged the roll of paper jutting out of the mail bag gently between his teeth and extended it towards the unicorn.
Her horn glowed a pale blue as the magic gently took the scroll and opened it with a whispery rustle. Sunflower's lips moved slightly as she read over the form. "From Chestnut? Oh dear, I'm so sorry you had to deal with him." She gave Maple Leaf a sympathetic look. "He's not at his best before noon. Or after noon. Or any time, really." The paper floated to one side to gently rest on a desktop.
"Looks like you're heading up north; he's given you permission to check out a set of the cold-weather gear. So, follow me and we'll get you outfitted with your own set." Sunflower turned and walked towards a tall open-fronted cabinet that was filled with all sorts of straps and cloth.
Maple Leaf followed and set down the mail bag around his neck, shrugging it loose and gently pushing it to one side with a hoof. Sunflower's horn glowed as she pulled a number of items from the cabinet, glancing at the tags on each. At her instruction, the pegasus stood in an open area. Pieces of clothing floated around him, made of heavy canvas dyed a dark blue, a layer of pale undyed wool underneath. Maple Leaf lifted his legs in turn as a tall sock slid over each, covering from fetlock to knee. He laid his ears back and slipped his head into a vest as it slid down his neck. Carefully maneuvering his wings through the openings for them, it settled on his back, covering him to his taildock, a thick band crossing his chest behind his front legs. A wide collar completed the set, resting against his throat softly.
Sunflower hummed softly as she adjusted the leather buckles holding the clothing in place. Maple Leaf flapped his wings carefully as she made adjustments, making sure everything was in the correct place and not rubbing or pinching. Though he had never worn this gear before, he was surprised at how lightweight it was. This won't hamper my flying at all. There must be some magic in its creation; I'm not even very warm right now with all this on. He nodded to himself in satisfaction.
Levitating the mailbag from where it lay, Sunflower tucked the strap within the bag and carefully attached it to the vest so it was resting directly above his shoulders. "This will keep it more secure than hanging around your neck, since you're going such a long way. Just tug here..." She indicated a buckle on his left shoulder. "And it'll slip free." She turned away and with a flicker of magic, flipped open a nearby box. A small pouch floated out, followed by a metal thermos with a ring on its side. She hooked the two items onto the front of the vest, threading them onto another strap. "Some granola bars, dried fruit, and apple juice."
Sunflower stepped back and surveyed her handiwork, nodding in approval, then gasped in surprise. "I almost forgot." Turning quickly, she rummaged through the cabinet behind her and pulled out a set of smoked glass goggles. She spun back and delicately placed them on Maple Leaf's head, balanced on his brow, strap behind his ears. "Snow blindness is no laughing matter. You're going to need them once you get up north."
Maple Leaf surveyed himself and grinned. The gear felt odd, but comfortable. "Thanks so much, Sunflower. I'll be back tomorrow night to return all this to you." He extended his wings in emphasis, then tucked them back in against his sides.
"Well don't let me delay you any more. You've got an assignment from Morning Glow and Chestnut; neither one of them will tolerate any delay." Sunflower bumped Maple Leaf with her shoulder, pushing him towards the open bay door. "Get moving or you'll never get there." She gave a parting smile and turned back to her work.
Maple Leaf trotted out through the wide doors onto the wooden platform beyond. It extended out beyond the walls of the post office; the building itself sat on the edge of the narrow plateau Canterlot was constructed upon, with the dock hanging weightless above the sheer face of the mountain below. Breaking into a gallop, he charged the lip of the platform and leaped into the empty air. He dove like a swallow for several seconds, then snapped open his large wings and arced into the morning sunlight. Flapping strongly, he began gaining altitude as he slowly curved around Canterlot's mountain, heading north.
***
Equestria slipped past, far below, a patchwork quilt of farmland, old forest, and grasslands, stitched together by rivers and roads. The sunlight felt warm on Maple Leaf's wings as he glided high over hill and dale, through the cloudless azure sky. He hummed to himself, greatly enjoying the feel of wind in his mane.
The detailed map Chesnut had shown him fresh in his mind, Maple Leaf felt as though he was flying over that parchment, so accurate and precise were the directions he had been given. The land below slowly rose in gently rolling waves before him, reaching up to base of the jagged teeth of the mountains biting into the sky. The pale spine of rock reached to dizzying heights, extending east and west as far as his eyes could follow.
I think that... yes, there's the crossroad Chestnut told me to head towards. Banking to the right, Maple Leaf backwinged to a gentle landing in the center of a cross intersection and glanced around. The road heading back to the south, as well as the one perpendicular to it, were wide, cobbled avenues, large enough for two wagons to pass with room to spare. Fieldstone walls bracketed them, separating the travel ways from the sparse, wiry-looking vegetation that covered the local hills.
A narrower path headed north, only half the size of the others. It was well constructed, but evidently had much less traffic upon it. Moss clung to some of the pavers making up its surface, grass poking up between. A tall stonework pillar jutted from the ground at the intersection with the east-west roadway, a sunburst emblem carved deeply into its face. Following the path's route with his gaze, Maple Leaf could see another similar pillar far in the distance up the hillside, before the roadway passed out of sight behind a hill.
He glanced up at the sun, judging the time, and estimated it had passed its apex some time before. Settling down against one of the stacked stone walls, he unfastened the food package and thermos Sunflower had attached there, and ate, gazing about him as he took in the landscape. I haven't seen a real tree in some time. Guess the soil's getting thin this high up. Large boulders, half-buried in the earth by ages of weather, dotted the slopes. Short, twisted trees with thin, dark green needles were sparsely scattered about, spiky tough shrubs and dead twigs between. The occasional tuft of grass and tiny pale flowers dotted about were the few other areas of color. The only noise was the wind, gently whistling and whispering as it twitched the tiny branches and played with his mane, tickling his cheek as he ate.
Maple Leaf reattached the now-empty containers back to the front of his vest and got to his feet, shaking vigorously. He hopped onto the wall beside him and jumped into the air, hammering his wings down, rising from the ground. He forged north once again, following the stone path as it wound its way into the mountains.
***
The air grew colder. The last of the stubborn vegetation had fallen away lower on the slopes, and only bare rock and small patches of snow covered the landscape. Steep piles of talus clustered around the base of the sheer faces rising into the sky. The wind sighed softly as it slipped through the narrow valleys of bedrock.
Maple Leaf alighted on the chilly stone pathway that was the only sign of civilization in the desolate surroundings, panting with exertion. It's getting harder to breathe. The air bit into his throat, making him shiver slightly. Now I know why Chestnut had me get this gear. Flying I'm fine, but as soon as I stop I can feel the real temperature.
He stretched his wings and licked his lips; that apple juice earlier was but a memory and he was getting parched. Maybe I'll get some of that snow. He peered around for a close pile, but his gaze was caught by a silvery glimmer in the near distance. He perked his ears up and lifted the smoked goggles from his eyes, squinting. Is that... water? Launching into the air, he coasted his way towards the vision.
Maple Leaf found his wishes fulfilled as below, a small stream trickled down the steep slope, bouncing between the stones and pebbles wedged against the base of massive boulders. Landing softly, he bent down to take a deep drink and gasped at the arctic temperature. Delicious with dissolved minerals and teeth-chatteringly cold, he drank to his heart's content, filling his empty thermos as well. Sighing in happiness, he slipped the goggles back over his eyes, and paused as a thought struck him.
I wonder where this water is coming from? He looked upstream, the tangled thread of water vanishing quickly behind ancient monoliths three times his height. Using a nearby rock as a launching point, he scrambled into the air once again, thin sunlight and the exertion of the climb warming his wings.
From this vantage point, Maple Leaf could see the thin stream winding its way higher, snaking across the mountainside before seemingly vanishing beneath a sheer, white rock face. Frowning in confusion, he strove higher, spotting a small plateau jutting from a thin rock spire. Delicately coming to a rest on the narrow platform, he tucked his wings to his sides and looked below. And gasped.
From one side of the wide valley to its distant opposite side, his vision was filled with ice. A massive glacier hunkered down between the mountain slopes, cracked and crazed with a million knife-edged precipices, dark narrow chasms plunging to unknown depths between. Thick grey rivers of eroded sediment streaked the gigantic mass of ice, testament that even solid stone had no defense against the unstoppable power of its weight. From this elevation, the stream he had followed was nothing more than a silver thread ducking below the lowest wall of the ice. The air was filled now and again with an almost imperceptibly deep groan, punctuated with the occasional crack as the ice shifted ever so slightly.
Maple Leaf sat, entranced. These mountains are incredible. There's nothing like this around Canterlot... anywhere in Equestria. Nature at its strongest, shaping as it wants. The wind whispered in his ears, teasing and chuckling, tugging gently on his mane. The scent of moisture wafted on the cold breeze as the young pegasus gazed below with wide eyes.
***
A snowflake tapped Maple Leaf on the nose, breaking him out of his contemplative reverie. He blinked fuzzily, getting to his feet and stretching. Stiff, chilled muscles protested as he worked the kinks out of his joints. Soft white flakes swirled as he noticed that the day was becoming darker. How long have I been sitting here? Surely it's not close to sundown yet. Shadows were growing longer, but more indistinct, as the hue of the sunlight became darker. He looked up at the horizon, and felt his heart drop.
Crawling over the mountains from the north, a writhing wall of black clouds crept closer. The anvil-shaped mass jutted to dizzying heights into the sky, its massive banks curling around one another. Snow began to fall in earnest, speckling the rock face, as Maple Leaf's mind raced.
It's moving fast. I don't think I can reach White Peak before it gets here, especially following the road. The last town was at least an hour's flight south of the treeline, at least two from where I am. Going to have to find someplace for shelter; have I seen anywhere? His mind's eye raced back over the route he'd taken, miles of pale rock and sheer cliffs. No caves, I won't be able to just hide below an outcrop. Panic began to rise as the wind whistled, sounding like soft laughter. Wait, what did the map say? The waypoints!
Maple Leaf whirled, diving off the plateau and snapping open his wings as he fled back towards the road. Wind buffeted him, making his flight unsteady, as the light continued to dim and the snow swirled around, the flakes fat and thick. Softly hissing, the wind seemed to chatter to the distraught pegasus. Fight the storm, it almost seemed to say. Face it, defeat it, take it to pieces.
A vision filled his mind’s eye. He danced and dodged among the coal-black storm clouds, scoffing at their power. His feathers sliced through their towering heights, his wingclaps burst apart their dense weight, and he laughed as the sun began to peek out once again as... A bit of ice stung Maple Leaf on his soft nose, snapping him out of his reverie.
He blinked the snow from his eyelashes, straining to see below. I don't know how to handle really bad weather, I'm not a weather worker. And this is wild weather, from outside Equestria's borders; entire teams of pegasi have to handle it. It’s the strongest storm I’ve ever seen.
The dark road appeared out of the blowing white mist below. Maple Leaf landed awkwardly, the harsh blasts of wind throwing him off balance. He began to gallop down the path in a skipping motion, flapping to give his leaps more distance. Every gust threatened to knock him off the path and into one of the close piles of rubble lining the narrow valley. He didn't dare get off the ground and settled into a flat-out gallop as visibility continued to shrink.
Icy fragments were blowing like chaff, speckling his brown coat and blue harness. The susurrus of wind in his ears continued to mock, disorienting him and interfering with his concentration. You would be so brave, so strong. Show them how good you are; face down the storm.
As he told the tale to the enraptured crowd, he puffed up his wings with pride. They hung on his every word, eyes shining with admiration. All the other pegasi smiled as they accepted his superiority, his raw ability as he described how he hand defeated the massive storm all alone. All alone... A shudder rippled down his spine at the sudden realization that he was indeed alone, and in trouble.
Maple Leaf gritted his teeth, squinting against the pounding sleet that caked his mane with rime. "I wouldn't be brave, I would be DEAD!" he shouted, heartbeat pounding in his ears. His words were swallowed up into the gloom as the wind roared, as if with laughter. A dark shape suddenly loomed out of the murk before him, and Maple Leaf felt light-headed with relief.
A small stone building sat next to the path, roofed with slate. An iron-banded door faced outwards, the sunburst crest in its center half-covered with blown snow. Maple Leaf galloped up to the portal, and threw his shoulder against its edge. The hinges groaned as the heavy wooden slab began moving inwards.
A burst of light made him gasp and start, throwing his head back in shock, ears laid back flat against his skull. For just an instant, the near-blackness was shoved away as the sky lit up. The snow poured from the sky, obscuring anything more than a few lengths away, as if the world was filled with white velvet. A screaming peal of thunder roared, like the skies themselves were being torn in half, making every hair on Maple Leaf's body stand up in terror as the darkness slammed back down to earth.
Panting in fear, he redoubled the force of his shove on the door as the oak and iron yielded. As soon as there was a wide enough gap he squeezed inside, both flanks scraping against the wooden frame and door. The wind howled in rage as he began shoving the weighty thing closed, swirls of white spinning around his hooves as he slipped and strained. Finally it slipped back into place with a dull thud, and he quickly dropped the cross bar attached to the wall into place, stretching across the expanse of oak, holding it firmly closed.
The quiet seemed to ring in his ears, filled only with his panting as Maple Leaf's pulse hammered in his chest, slowly beginning to calm. He wearily scraped his ice-laden forelock out of his eyes as he looked around the small room he stood in. Muffled by the thick walls, the wind seemed far away as it quietly moaned.
The room was almost empty, just a simple square box. Its stone-and-mortar walls were bare, save for two small windows just under the thick wooden eaves supporting the slate roof. Filled with thick, bubbled glass bricks, they would let in little light at the best of times. The occasional flash of lighting lit the interior briefly, followed by a low roll of thunder. Just at the edge of hearing, the soft hiss of snow played across the roof.
Slightly shaky in his hoofsteps, Maple Leaf crossed the bare floor and sat next to the low table that occupied the center of the room. Besides the single piece of furniture, a shelf stretched above an empty fireplace centered in the back wall. The occasional snowflake drifted down to land on the cold irons and a dusting of ashes. The flue must have been slightly open. He had no intention of opening them further, even if there were anything to start a fire with. The wind whistled softly, high in the chimney.
He opened the thermos of water that he had filled at the stream hours ago and sipped it, trying to calm his nerves and his tense muscles. Thank Celestia that these stopping-over points were constructed along this route. It must take at least a couple of days for a ground caravan to make it to White Peak, after all. They need someplace to sleep and get out of the weather, and there doesn't seem to be any natural places suitable to make camp. I'm just glad I was close enough to the first one.
Setting the bottle down, he walked over under one of the windows and stretched up to look out, placing his hooves on the wall. All he could see through the thick glass was darkness and snow. He dropped back to all fours and sighed, pulling the goggles from his head and scratching his mane. Dropping them onto the table, he laid down on the cool flagstones. I'm stuck here ‘til the storm passes. I hope it's soon.
Thankful for the wool-lined gear he was wearing, Maple Leaf dropped his head down onto his foreleg, exhaustion pressing down like a blanket. Closing his eyes, he dropped off into an uneasy sleep, punctuated by strange dreams of ghostly creatures circling the building, and the sound of the wind, crying and laughing, both near and far away.
***
Maple Leaf awoke. Thin sunlight filtered through the high windows, dimly lighting the bare room. He stretched, yawning, wings in the air, then got to his feet, folding them to his sides. Shaking his legs to work the kinks out , he stretched up the wall to peek out the window. White, nothing but white. Dropping down, he scooped his goggles from the table and hooked them behind his ears once more. He snagged the now-empty thermos and laced it back onto its strap, trying to ignore the rumblings of his empty stomach.
Moving to the door, he flipped the bar up and back into place, leaning away from the door along the wall. Taking a firm grip on the thick rope handle with his teeth, he hauled it open, hooves slipping slightly on the smooth floor. Light poured through the opening, as well as a chill breeze swirling around his fetlocks.
A flat wall of snow stood in the doorframe, as high as Maple Leaf's throat. Peering over it, he could see the snow was drifted against the front wall, and was less deep closer to the road. He shouldered into the bank, shoving the powder away with his wings and stomping it down. Snorting as some of it got down his collar, he turned back and bit the rope handle again, hauling the heavy door shut with a thud.
Forging out to where the road was buried beneath the blanket of white, he shook the snow from his wings and back as he felt the regular shapes of the cobbles beneath his hooves. He thought he could hear the sighing breeze, high above, though the air at ground level was still. He breathed deeply of the cold, thin air as he gazed at the changes that had been wrought overnight.
The rock faces glittered with ice in the morning light, shimmering in a thousand colors that swirled as he looked them over. The ground was shrouded in a thick layer, smoothing out the cracks and boulders to a smoothly curving layer of opalescent purity. One of the tall stone columns stood near the snow-covered waypoint, each block delineated by ice and a topped by a jaunty cap of white. As Maple Leaf regarded it, its purpose became clear.
They're for showing the path when it snows like this. A glance further down the valley, where in the distance another sparkling column stood, confirmed the theory. The road runs a straight line between the pillars. Even if it's covered, as long as you walk between them, you'll be on the road. Clever. Flexing his wings, he looked up into the pale blue sky. The sun winked between two distant peaks, causing the snow to glow wherever the rays touched. As long as I follow the columns, they'll lead me to White Peak. With a tap of his hoof, he dropped the smoked glass goggles down over his green eyes, as the sun glare was already bright enough to cause him to squint.
With a flurry of feathers and a swirl of snow, Maple Leaf launched himself into the air with heavy wingbeats. Rising above the white muffled earth, he winged his way along the buried path, keeping each dark stone column in sight in sequence. As he rose into the cold morning, the severe, cold beauty of the snow-capped peaks took his breath away as they shimmered in the sun.
As the warm celestial sphere rose into the cloudless morning, he spotted a thread of smoke winding its way into the calm sky in the distance. Heartened by this sight of what surely must be his destination, he nonetheless continued following the dotted line of pillars below, firmly refusing to get sidetracked again. Below, he could see a second tiny stone building beside the path; another waypoint. The sequence of columns winding its way between sheer cliffs, he sighed in relief as he could plainly see the snow-blanketed road approaching the now-close stream of smoke wafting into the air.
Gently setting down onto a bare, snow free section of path, Maple Leaf tucked his wings to his sides and paced into the entrance of a large, high-walled valley. The path was carefully cleared, the snow piled to each side in low mounds. Rows of earth-walled houses crouched low, evidently built down into the ground, their roofs close enough to step up onto from the surrounding soil, smoke rising from short chimney pots. A wide, timber-lined hole was evident as it punched into the mountainside, a well-beaten track leading to its dark mouth. In the distance, a crowd of ponies, both unicorn and earth, chattered as they cleared the heavy remnants of the storm, with muscle and magic as each preferred. A large grove of ancient pine trees, dark green needles standing out stark against their pale burden, stood silent and motionless, though Maple Leaf thought he could hear the breeze distantly.
As the young pegasus gazed about, breath wreathing around his muzzle, a tall heavily-built earth pony looked up from his rough wooden plow with an expression of surprise. Backing out of its harness, he trotted forward to meet Maple Leaf.
"Hello there! Wait a moment, you're not Swiftjay." His voice was deep and friendly, his grey eyes warm beneath a shaggy black mane. His creamy coat was thick with a winter growth of hair, an orange scarf wrapped around his throat. "Something must have happened to that daredevil. Is he all right?"
Maple Leaf grinned and pushed back his goggles. "He's fine, just got himself into a little bit of weather that's keeping him grounded for a while. My name is Maple Leaf, and I'm handling this trip while he's not in the skies."
The tall stallion laughed, deep from his chest. "That boy always seemed like he would bite off more than he could chew. I'm Limestone. Welcome to White Peak." He swept a hoof in an expansive arc, indicating the settlement. "It's not much to look at but this valley is home. We have a fine grove of trees, a hot water spring that feeds them, and of course the gold mine that keeps us here." He grinned proudly, then a look of concern passed over his face.
"Speaking of weather, you didn't fly all the way from the Canterlot post office this morning. Surely you didn't fight through that horrible storm?"
Maple Leaf shook his head. "I was meaning to get here last night, but the storm rolled in too fast. I had to take shelter in one of the waypoints." He started to mention the strange dreams that had broken his sleep, but stopped himself. I just met him; that would sound silly.
Limestone sighed with a smile. "You're lucky, youngster. These mountains are filled with all kinds of weird things, and the weather's just the biggest danger. You don't want to get stuck out anywhere at night." He stomped his hooves and pointed at the satchel that still perched on Maple Leaf's shoulders. "Looks like you got a lot of mail for us, but let me show you around, introduce you to the wife and some others. Sound good?"
Maple Leaf glanced back at the almost-forgotten mail pack. Funny, it had slipped his mind last night why he was even in the mountains. He shivered at the thought of losing the mail in the storm, much less the personal danger he had been in. If I lost the letters, Chestnut would have made me wish I HAD fought the storm.
Opening his mouth to reply, Maple Leaf was interrupted as his empty stomach gave an indignant growl, the trail rations he had eaten before he entered the mountains the previous day long forgotten. Limestone roared with laughter once again as Maple Leaf ducked his head and blushed, forelock covering one eye. He sheepishly grinned, lifting his gaze and meeting the taller pony's eyes. "I wouldn't mind a little breakfast, if that's all right."
