Monster Hunter: Omega

Most ponies used a single word to describe the Frozen North.

Unsurprisingly, the word is "cold."

During the summer, when every other part of Equestria was enjoying sunshine, greenery and bounty, the tiny mountain village of Little Flanchard was wet, muggy, and cold. During the winter, snow piled in higher than a pony's head that no team of Pegasai could stop (had the town had had more than three), but life moved on despite. The ponies of Little Flanchard would delve into the mines for the metals and Rhimestones, tirelessly clear the train tracks to load the cars with ore, and struggle on. One could never say there was plenty, but there was enough, and the town survived.

As a mining town, there where exactly two kinds of ponies living in Little Flanchard: those who worked in the mines, and those who made sure the miners could continue to work in the mines.

Teo was one of the latter ponies. A blacksmith's shop saw steady work in such a small village. Things broke, and the young Earth Pony mended or replaced them. It was never his real talent in life, but it needed to be done, and he did a good enough job. And so, Teo lived a simple life, dividing his spare time between helping with the family café and daydreaming about mares.

Stretching his neck and yawning, Teo broke off one of said daydreams as a mug of steaming coffee was set down in front of him. "Eh? O-oh, thanks, mom."

His mother ruffled his maroon mane with a hoof. "You looked like you could use it. Sleeping in and still tired?" she trotted back behind the counter of the café, artfully moving empty clay mugs to her tray with her nose for more coffee as the door opened, letting the first wave of miners in, dusted in snow.

"Morning, Chai! Morning, Teo!" The big pony pulled off her fleece lined cap , shaking the wet powder off it to melt near the fire.

"M-morning, M-Mal. Aren't you running late? How are things?" Teo wrapped his hooves around his mug as Malachite sat next to him.

"Cold. No rush today, though." The big miner accepted her own mug and took a gulp right away, seemingly immune to the scalding liquid. "Hey, I dropped my pick off at your shop, the handle is starting to feel loose."

Teo nodded, contemplating his drink. "I'll have it done by the time you're b-back. D-di- ack!" Teo worked his jaw, annoyed by his stutter. He tried again, more carefully. "Did you need a spare?"

"I'm good. We're not going in today."

Teo blinked, shocked at the casualness of the statement. "Not g-going? Why? More of those blizzard-lizard things?"

Malachite shrugged. "Yup. Apparently they're in the mines now, and are getting real aggressive. Carlin got cut pretty bad yesterday, so the foremare called us off."

"Carlin's hurt!?"

Mal gave Teo an annoyed look. "I literally just said that. You were working, you probably didn't hear any of the commotion."

"But that's terrible!" Teo put his hooves on the counter, eyes wide. "A real monster attack, out here! T-that hasn't happened for generations! What are you gonna do?"

Mal shrugged again, downing the rest of her mug. "Wait around for the experts to show up. The mayor sent off another letter as soon as he heard, I'm certain we'll get attention now that company has actually been hurt by the things."

"B-but that's-"

"Gonna' take at least a week, and we'll be behind schedule, and the town'll have to pay them, and behind for the whole year, I know. Smarter ponies than us have been thinking about this." Malachite shrugged, getting to her hooves and pulling her woolen cap back on. "Don't hurt yourself, Teo. Chai, stay warm and have a wonderful day!"

"You to, Mal. You too." Teo's mother waved, somehow not upsetting the tray across her shoulders as she trotted around to the other miners filing in. Teo took a moment to judge their faces: mostly sullen, as usual, some of the ones his age cheerful to have the day off, but the older ponies looked worried.

"I'd better get to work, mom." The young Earth pony slid off of his stool and nosed his sweater over his head. If the older ponies were worried, he should be too, right? "Might be a g-good chance to catch up, right?"

Chai nodded. "Don't get distracted, honey! Or burned! Or bang yourself in the head with a pair of tongs again!"

"T-that was one time, mom. Once. It's not even funny anymore."

"Oh, it was just a joke, you silly colt. Stay warm!" His mother gave him a loving nuzzle as he passed, pushing his way through the door of the café and straight into a gust of stinging wind.

His forge was back-to-back with the café, but the housed on Little Flanchard were tightly packed, and one street over could mean a slow slog through chest-deep snow. He pushed his way through until he found a trail the miners had previously carved, and trotted around to his forge. To his great surprise, it was already occupied. A young unicorn mare with a lime-green coat was standing next to the dim coals of the forge, shivering.

Oh! Hello, Kushala. And how might I help a pretty mare such as yourself? was everything Teo wanted to say. Let me stoke the furnace, and you can tell me all about it.

"Duuh?" was what actually came out. He jerked to a halt, sweat beading under the collar of his sweater.

Thankfully, Kushala didn't seem to notice. She brightened immediately on seeing him in the entrance. "Oh! Mister Teo! I'm glad you're open today. Can you fit an extra order?"

"I-I-Uh-Ye-I-ack!" Teo swallowed, clamming up and nodding. The both stood stock-still, the Unicorn expectant, the Earth Pony frozen, until Kushala started and stepped aside.

"Oh! Sorry! I must be in your way, excuse me."

"N-no, sor-" Teo gulped, desperately trying to get the word out in one piece. "Sorry!"

"Please, I'm the one dropping in unexpectedly. I hope this is an easy fix." Kushala levitated out a pair of metal parts, setting them on the counter. "My uncle can't seem to remember his own strength in his age, he twisted the handle clean off the door. 'Body might be failing, but his horn... whew!"