Being optimistic about the future deserved a slap across the face, at least according to Fleetfoot. Listening to the wind whipping across the sky prodded her ears after a few minutes; the noises typically lasted a while. The sights outdid anything the sounds could produce, however. Ponyville was surrounded by black, vine-like creatures with vicious maws all waiting to slip inside. Fleetfoot dreaded to hypothesize what the world beyond the horizon endured, her spine freezing whenever the thought arrived.
And to think a vacancy in Canterlot's government started such trends; Princess Celestia just vanished one day, and nopony knew how to fix the new crop of problems. The other princesses could only scratch their heads before problems plunged into their lives, just so fate could reassure Fleetfoot amid the hysteria of longer and longer nights.
Hysteria, fitting it'd rhyme with Equestria, monster attacks transforming from a rarity to a weekly occurrence. Nowadays, most ponies batted an eye whenever a hydra stomped past a town or two. He and his fellow creatures were just tall tourists, though Fleetfoot saw them as the pushy, arrogant kind of tourist.
Leaping onto the bed, its springs squeaking like famished mice, Fleetfoot allowed her body to sink into the cushions. She grasped the newspaper atop the counter. Unfurling it, the paper already decorated with a bit of grime from her abode, all the headlines reported the same news ad nauseam. Life without Celestia, who could save Equestria, whether the chaos could be stopped, and if Discord was to blame for all of it were what clogged the newspaper.
"I know, I don't know, no, and maybe," Fleetfoot muttered. Those were almost always the first words to greet the day; whining about who woke her up early was the exception to the rule. She thrust the newspaper across the bedroom, the sheets fluttering onto the floor. "I'd fix all of this if I could, but I can't. I'm still waiting for my moment, but it'll never come." She rubbed her eyes. An itch covered the back of her head; Fleetfoot cringed. "Great. I'm turning into a whiny brat, aren't I?"
Just then, a trio of knocks polluted the air, Fleetfoot pushing herself onto all four hooves.
"Is Negative Nancy here?" a familiar voice called out. "Because Raindrops has a special delivery!"
Fleetfoot rolled her eyes. "Of course!" Each week saw Raindrops come to visit her in the morning; the conversations had all run their course, though a part of her couldn't turn her away. "You know the door is open a few minutes after I get up!"
The door creaked open, a yellow pegasus trotting in with a bright smile across her face. She meandered around the pale furniture, her eyes watering as she sniffled. With her was a white bag, a mouthwatering aroma soon tickling Fleetfoot's nostrils.
"I got ya breakfast for the big day," Raindrops said. "Just some scones I managed to put together with what we had. Let me tell you, getting the berries and the baking powder was a pain, but at least the rest was easy to come by." Plopping the bag onto the nearest table, Raindrops approached Fleetfoot and nudged her shoulder. "What do we say when somepony gives us something nice?"
"Thank you, Raindrops."
Raindrops clapped her hooves together, her smile bright. "You're welcome!"
Fleetfoot opened up the bag, procuring the plastic utensils and the fresh food. "You must already know about my turn for gathering resources, right?"
Raindrops nodded. "Yep."
"I don't know why East Cloudsdale still bothers with that." Fleetfoot sighed. "Only one or two of them come up with enough crap that's useful for a place as big as this."
"And those two did become famous, you know." Raindrops winked. "And you were somepony famous during Celestia's time, remember?"
"Again with that reminder." Groaning, Fleetfoot pressed her hooves on the table, its surface chilling her forelegs. Said reminder, the Wonderbolts she was once a part of, still occupied a role. However, they merely symbolized what one could do with their fifteen minutes of fame. "But I do remember."
"Uh, those moments were good for the most part." Raindrops raised an eyebrow. "Okay, maybe there were moments where you messed up a stunt, wronged somepony due to some crazy stuff, nearly died to some big guy, and placed the blame on somepony without thinking it through." She caught her breath. "But we all have our moments, right?"
Fleetfoot's shoulders drooped. "Good job, genius. You made it worse."
"Oh." Raindrops paused for a few seconds. "But at least it wasn't all bad, right? After all, I bet some townsponies think you're amazing."
"I don't know. I think my fellow townsponies might be glad to see me scram."
In the blink of an eye, Raindrops extended her foreleg out. She then massaged Fleetfoot's back. "Well, your grouchy attitude kinda turns some ponies away from you. Like, moping around all the time isn't going to earn you lots of friends, you know. Sympathy? Debatable. Friends? Not so much. And friendship is—"
"I know how you're going to finish that, and it's wrong." Fleetfoot exhaled. "Destiny is the strongest magic. Why else do you think a friend of mine hit a snag and fell into a deep depression?" Her name was on the tip of Fleetfoot's tongue, though her mind swatted the thought away. "And why is it that we can only taste the wonders of achieving a group effort while in a dream?"
"I—I don't know." Raindrops stood up; she ruffled her wings. "Maybe it's just because being the hero is hard. Maybe that's why so many ponies dream of being one."
Fleetfoot peered out of the window, the sunlight becoming harsher. "Well, I may as well eat breakfast and head over to the town's border."
"Okay." As she trotted away, Raindrops waved her hoof. "I hope you return with lots of good stuff." She froze in place and then straightened her posture. "And one more thing."
"What is it?"
"Wear as much warm clothing as you can."
Crossing her forelegs, Fleetfoot peered into Raindrops' eyes. "I'm wearing a scarf when I leave. That will do."
Raindrops' pupils shrunk; her eyes widened. "A scarf?" Her jaw dropped for a moment. "B-but you need more than just a scarf!"
With a soft groan, Fleetfoot then placed a hoof to her cheek. "Fine, I'll wear my boots."
"I know you have one more—"
"I don't." Fleetfoot shook her head, blushing. "That's all I've got when it comes to keeping warm."
"Aren't you—" Raindrops arched an eyebrow; she smirked "—forgetting something? Something wonderful, if you know what I mean." She winked, then forced a soft chuckle.
Shuddering, Fleetfoot nodded. "Okay! I'll wear that—thing as well. Happy?" There was no point in even trying to argue with Raindrops. Everypony knew she was as persistent as Fleetfoot was pessimistic.
"Good." With a quick bow, Raindrops then waved to Fleetfoot, a smile adorning the latter's face. "I hope to see you later."
Fleetfoot waved back to Raindrops. "Same here." When Raindrops exited the dusty abode, the door slamming shut, Fleetfoot mustered a quick sigh. "I know where this is going. There's going to be more cheers about me leaving than for me going on an important mission. Serves the jerk right, I guess."
The missing tension in the air coupled with the cheerier than usual voices outside prodded her. Anypony would normally see this as a good thing, wondering if optimism was born anew.
However, Fleetfoot wasn't anypony.
Was she just nervous about it being her up for the job?
Fleetfoot shook her head. "I better be lucky for once; just once I could find something big and succeed when it mattered most. Maybe I'll get some respect that way." Glancing at the petite clock on the counter, Fleetfoot read a time of ten past eight in the morning. Fifty minutes later, she'd be clad in clothing and being waved goodbye, the thought of ever returning home crossing her mind.
Hopefully, it'd all be over quickly.
With Fleetfoot finding herself isolated once more, she filled her stomach with the breakfast Raindrops delivered. The two scones were only half the size of hockey pucks, but the warm and soft textures earned a smile. Licking her lips to pick up every last crumb, Fleetfoot then meandered toward the front door. She shivered; a white mist already departed her nostrils. A few muffled voices outside gossiped about those assigned to trek the mountain, Fleetfoot's ears twitching whenever her name was dropped.
"Clear Skies, Tornado Twist, and Fleetfoot are the ponies being sent, right?" a distant, unrecognizable voice asked. "At least I know I'm not being assigned to go there."
As expected, her name carried a different, edgier tone than the other names. With sagging shoulders, Fleetfoot could then only muster a sigh.
"Yeah," another voice replied. "I don't see many of them coming back with anything big—or maybe even coming back. Do you know how big that mountain is?"
"It's big. Well, I hope Clear Skies is at least able to find what we're looking for."
Fleetfoot bit her tongue. For once, she yearned to become a hermit instead; anything seemed preferable to a dangerous voyage without the excitement.
At least somepony would be waiting for her to return.
Hours rocketed past Fleetfoot, then slowed to a crawl once more as she now found herself amid a sea of snow, a few crags and rocks jutting out of the blanket as though they tried to escape.
It seemed as though mere seconds passed by when she set out on her assignment.
The parting and the first steps of the journey just happened, nothing noteworthy catching her eye or reaching her ears. A few quick phrases and glances were all she recalled as Fleetfoot trudged through piles of thick snow. Much to her dismay, however, no signs of resources propped up during the hour or so she'd been trekking. Such was the only shred of normalcy she'd experienced in the past few years.
In Equestria, oddities just happened. They were the norm for as long as there was earth.
Collect minerals and fruit. A simple task on paper, though anypony who survived the ordeal would turn pale by merely alluding to it. Most of those who returned home had their bags filled with a few ores, some fruit native to the region, and a few other essentials. However, the quantity of such goods would be lacking for even the smallest of building projects.
At least she wasn't stuck in Ponyville with those vines. Fleetfoot's mind drew blanks as to why they returned. But if recent history had a word, especially history involving the mare named Twilight Sparkle, it was to not question oddities.
Clenching her teeth, Fleetfoot ascended up the mountain. A gust of wind swirled past her and kept her hooves planted to the ground. Specks of snow pecked her muzzle; the environment was merely a howling, white abyss. Changing the weather was futile as well. Any recent attempts to do so only saw the storms snap back into place as if nothing had happened.
However, Fleetfoot knew she'd prove the naysayers wrong about failing to come back with anything meaningful. Her tall, black boots helped warm her body, as did her aquamarine scarf and her Wonderbolts uniform. While she wished the third of these would stay huddled up in her closet, the specifics forcibly blocked from her memories, it proved too useful.
Annoyingly useful was how she saw it. A groan left her mouth, some bits of snow tickling her tongue.
A shuffling sound split the air; Fleetfoot shuddered in surprise.
"Is that w-what I think it is?" she asked herself, struggling to catch her breath. "Please tell m-me it is."
Fleetfoot scurried over to the sound's source. Panting, she stretched her hoof toward the sparkling surface, the bumped texture covered by a thin layer of snow. Bringing her eyes closer to the object, she blinked thrice, massaging the rock as though it was visiting a spa. With another blink, followed by a deep breath, Fleetfoot noted the sapphire-like figments glowing on the stone.
"That's the one," she murmured.
Gripping onto the stone, Fleetfoot tried pulling it upward, grunts escaping her mouth. However, despite exhausting every last drop of strength, the stone failed to budge an inch. Fleetfoot collapsed against the snow; a sickening thud echoed in the air.
"Stupid rock," she whispered. "Why won't you move?"
Fleetfoot refused to be seen as weak. Weak was something she wished would release its grip on her; her balanced diet and exercises designed to break the body ensured this. Sure, she couldn't hold a candle to the feats some ponies boasted about, but she could count on doing what anypony could do and a tad more.
So why was moving a rock impossible? Was the mountain already having its way with her?
"No." Fleetfoot shook her head, slowly propping herself back up. A gust of wind thrashed about, her mane flipping all over the place. "I'm not dealing with that crap."
She wiped her hoof across the snow, whiteness giving way to reveal an array of graphite and sapphire colors.
"Huh?" Fleetfoot arched an eyebrow. Anypony could tell her Blue Brilliance only came in bite-sized chunks. "Something's not right here."
With another swipe across the snow-covered mountain, more Blue Brilliance revealed itself. All of it was a part of one mass as before, seemingly growing the more Fleetfoot analyzed it.
"Is this some sick joke?" Fleetfoot stomped across the precious stone; a deep scowl was emblazoned on her visage. Hundreds of sharp voices swirled in her mind. Her cheeks reddened, eyes shimmering. "Let me guess, this kind of rock is for somepony superior. Somepony else would hoist it up and be crowed the Queen of Equestria, right?"
Fleetfoot resumed her climb; her legs wobbled like jelly. The wind's whistling picked up, Fleetfoot wishing she could grab wind by the neck and order it to shut up. And the snow became deeper for every hoofstep she took. Freezing to death seemed like a possibility if it wasn't for her clothing.
Minutes passed by in a flash, a square silhouette looming in the distance at last. Fleetfoot forced a slight smirk. Pounding the snow with each step, the figure metamorphosed into a small cottage. The wooden logs supporting it were all chipped; snow relentlessly attacked its surface. And the roof wore a snowy blanket.
"What's a cottage doing all the way up here?" Fleetfoot whispered. She tilted her head a tad. "It's not like a village or a vacation spot is nearby."
After all, nopony would live in such a bland, isolated home; the uneven snow looming from behind tightened Fleetfoot's throat by its mere presence. Nevertheless, she noticed candlelight flickering from within. A mare's shadow came into view, her back somewhat hunched and wings opened up. Her curly mane even looked familiar.
Fleetfoot's pupils shrunk. She knew who resided within the cottage. Taking a deep breath, she crawled over to the front door; the snowstorm battering her around. With every bit of strength bundled inside her foreleg, Fleetfoot knocked on the door.
At least it wasn't an illusion. Fleetfoot wiped her brow; a sigh of relief escaped her lips.
"Is that a visitor?" the homeowner asked. "I-I hope she isn't a meanie."
Fleetfoot gulped. She knew such a mild voice could belong to only one mare.
Fluttershy.
A click reached Fleetfoot's ear, followed by a short pause. The door opened up seconds later; Fleetfoot shimmied through the small gap and into the room, crashing down onto the green carpet. Huffing and puffing, she closed her eyes and allowed her muscles to loosen. The homeowner could've been Queen Chrysalis for all she knew, but even she'd be just tolerable enough to where Fleetfoot wouldn't rip her mane out. The crisp, warm air and the crackling fireplace outweighed the rest.
And she grinned by just thinking about it. Maybe it wouldn't be so abysmal after all.
"Fleetfoot? What are you doing here?" Fluttershy asked. "Are you okay?"
"I am," Fleetfoot replied. "Though why you'd give a damn about me after all I've done is kinda hard to stomach."
"Um, everypony makes mistakes."
"I and a few others seem to be more prone."
Fluttershy rubbed her muzzle, head cocked. "But you mean well, right? You'd protect the life of another pony if you could, right?"
"Of course I would." Fleetfoot shimmied an inch away; she winced. "I can't stand seeing an innocent pony wounded. I'm not that cruel."
Fluttershy shrugged. "What do you mean? I don't get why you keep bringing that up."
"I'm not exactly what one would call chivalrous."
"We've all had moments like those, right? I mean, Captain—"
Cringing, Fleetfoot pushed herself upright. "And don't say anything about her. She stepped down, remember? That whole thing about her depression and her impaired judgment caused more panic than it should have."
"But depression was so rare in Equestria. We were all a happy society—from the looks of things."
"And look where that's gotten us." Fleetfoot made her way over to the red couch, plopping on the leftmost cushion. "We've had not one, but four major instances with deity-like crazies. We've had ponies getting bruised and pushed into all sorts of crazy hijinks, some of which ponies like I would want to forget about. And don't get me started on Princess Celestia just vanishing over a year ago. Now, everypony is going nuts and we're afraid of revisiting the time when tribes just bickered with each other."
Fluttershy remained static, only the muffled gusts outside and the ticking clock making a peep. Taking a deep breath seconds later, she muttered, "You have a lot on your mind, don't you?"
"No kidding."
"Maybe Rarity can help ease things a bit."
Fleetfoot moaned; her stomach twinged a tad. "You mean she's here, too?"
"Do we have a visitor, darling?" a voice asked. Trotting forward was a white unicorn, her purple mane curled and sparkling. Her sapphire-colored eyes captured Fleetfoot's attention, though instead of gasping and blushing, she merely recoiled. "I'm glad you could join us at this time, dear."
"Here it comes," Fleetfoot whispered to herself.
"Fleetfoot, right?" Rarity's smile vanished in an instant; a bemused expression took its place. "You know what I'm still waiting for, dear. Your behavior toward Rainbow Dash isn't what I'd call admirable."
"Sorry." Fleetfoot sulked. "Helps that everypony but you and Rainbow Dash weren't themselves that day." Nopony wanted to revisit such an awkward day. Rolling her eyes, a sigh escaped her mouth. "Tell me this. Have any of you acted differently on a certain day for one reason or another?"
"I don't know, but—" Rarity nodded "—I guess so."
"I took Iron Will's lessons too seriously one time," Fluttershy added. "And I've become shier than I've always been at times. I-I don't know if those counts, but it's something."
"It works for me." Stretching her wings out, a snapping sound pierced the air, Fleetfoot's joints back in place. "So then, I know I've been a huge jerk and all, but do you mind if I crash here for the night?"
"You're welcome to stay here as long as you need to." Fluttershy grasped a green blanket; she gently tossed it onto Fleetfoot. "I'd never let anypony freeze to death outside. And besides, you're a better pony than you think you are."
Fleetfoot cocked her head. "What makes you say that?"
"Call it a hunch, dear," Rarity said. "Anyway, we have some hot chocolate available in the kitchen, though it's not much. We also have some water if you'd prefer that. Would you like a cup, dear?"
"Sure. I'll take the hot chocolate." A slight smile decorated Fleetfoot's visage; the silhouette of a yellow and aquamarine pegasus reaching the tip of her mind. "Not too big—" she rubbed her muzzle "—please."
"See, you do have exquisite manners. More of that, and things will go wonderfully!"
Rolling her shoulders, Fleetfoot kept her mouth sealed. Neither she nor Rarity uttered a peep, the fireplace's crackling all anypony heard.
"Well, I'll go get your hot chocolate ready, darling." Rarity trotted into the kitchen, only to stop and resume eye contact with Fleetfoot. "You're free to relax as you please."
With Rarity out of sight, Fleetfoot placed the back of her head against the cushion, her forelegs spread out. She closed her eyes a second later. Perhaps spending some time within the cabin's confines a little longer than planned wouldn't hurt. Why anypony, especially those she has a history with, would welcome her had no basis in reality. Yet, here she was, her nostrils tickled by ashes fluttering from the fireplace and her muscles loosening at last.
Oddities just happened.
Yet, the circumstances seemed too unusual. Fleetfoot peered around the room, a few framed pictures of the pair with their closest friends displayed. One of the larger pictures, a poster of sorts, had a slight tear in it, but the rest were in immaculate condition. A small bunny hopped across the floor; he then paced around one of the carpets with his buck teeth protruding. The scrunched face drew an arched brow from Fleetfoot.
"At least someone here has the right idea," Fleetfoot muttered. Closing her eyes again, she yawned. "Still, what are they doing up here in the first place?" Resuming scanning the cabin, Fleetfoot noticed a few additional pictures and decorations, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. No trinkets which turned her pale or any concoctions to knock her out were anywhere to be found.
It was a normal cabin in the mountains. Nothing more and nothing less.
It was too normal.
Fleetfoot clenched her teeth. Maybe leaving soon wouldn't hurt.
"Fleetfoot, is everything okay?" Fluttershy asked. The pegasus approached the couch and sat next to her; she then wrapped a foreleg around her back. "Oh, you're quite warm." She blushed. "No offense."
"It's okay," Fleetfoot replied. She locked gazes with Fluttershy. "By the way, what are you even doing here? Don't you live in Ponyville?"
Fluttershy pursed her lips. "It's—it's a long story."
"It's about those vines just outside Ponyville, right?"
Nodding, Fluttershy then exhaled. "Yes, it's about those vines. Nopony knows why they're back. Even Twilight has struggled in keeping them away from the town." Her eyes shimmered; a small stream cascaded down both of her cheeks. "And some ponies—well—they've been hurt quite badly."
"At least Ponyville is standing." She paused, the tip of her hoof rubbing her muzzle. "Look, can you stay calm? It'd be easier for you and everypony involved, if I must be honest."
Fluttershy twiddled with her mane. "I-I guess so."
A blank expression adorned Fleetfoot's visage. "Promise?"
"I-I promise."
Rarity trotted out of the kitchen, a coaster and a teacup levitating to her left. A white mist flowed from the cup's rim; a warm, crisp scent reaching Fleetfoot's nostrils. Less than a second passed between then and when her lips curled into a bright grin; the mouthwatering aroma also perked up her seating posture.
"It's the best I could do with what we have," Rarity said. She brought the cup over to Fleetfoot, the latter swiping it. "I do hope you enjoy it."
Fleetfoot kissed the warm liquid; she retracted them in a flash and puckered her lips, a stinging sensation coursing through them. A scrumptious, refreshing taste tickled her tongue, however. "It's awesome," she replied. Exhaling, she sipped once more, the stinging on her lips fading. "It's quite the recipe."
Grinning, Rarity then made her way toward an empty chair. "Well, it is a recipe I've been tinkering with for years. My younger sister adores having it during cold days like this—" Rarity shrugged, face tautened "—though it's always freezing nowadays."
"Sister?" With her head raised, Fleetfoot locked gazes with Rarity. "Where is your sister, anyway?" She cocked her head. "Does she live here?"
"She's stuck in Sweet Apple Acres, but is doing just fine from what I've heard." Rarity plopped onto the chair, her body bouncing on the cushion for a second. With a quick breath, she pursed her lips. "Still, I worry about her. I know Applejack and Big Macintosh can keep her safe, but for how long I don't know." Tapping her hoof against the floor, clacks filling the air, Rarity let out a groan. "Getting rid of those fiendish plants is much harder than it looks." She rubbed her back, cringing. "They sting, too."
"Have you tried—" Fleetfoot ruffled her wings "—you know—flying above them with Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy nodded. "We've tried that, but the plants keep biting at us whenever we get close."
"Of course." Fleetfoot rolled her eyes. "It's never easy. There's always some sort of mountain to climb."
"I-I guess so." Fluttershy twirled her mane around her hoof. "By the way, why are you here?"
"I'm collecting minerals and rare food for Cloudsdale." Fleetfoot paused; she scowled. "It's a load of crap, to be honest."
"Well, I hope you'll find what you need," Rarity said. "Nopony deserves to be stuck in such preposterous weather."
Just then, Fleetfoot's ears twitched. A rustling sound filled the air; a muffled pounding noise followed a second later. Her heart lodged up into her chest. "D-did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Fluttershy asked, raising her brow. "I don't hear anything weird."
"Maybe you're imagining things, darling," Rarity added, her expression slightly grim. "Maybe you just need some rest."
The rustling returned. Fleetfoot's breathing picked up; her cheeks turned pale. She knew her imagination wasn't playing tricks on her. After all, she'd experienced bone-chilling trials in the past; one instance saw her eyes turning glassy as she almost kissed death's lips once. Then again, most ponies she knew survived said ordeal.
Even if logic dictated they should've perished, but oddities reigned as king back then as well.
Another series of rumbling noises polluted the air, Fleetfoot's legs quivering.
"Wait, what was that?" Fluttershy shrieked. Her pupils shrunk. "Did anypony hear that?"
"I did," Fleetfoot responded. The floor vibrated, Rarity toppling onto her flank with a harsh thud; Fleetfoot cringed at the sight as creaks and cracks split the air. Every inch of the glass windows to the right was covered with a white mass. She knew she'd have a close encounter with the snow; Fleetfoot noticed fissures running along the glass, growing. "This is gonna suck."
The wall before the three mares collapsed, a rush of snow sweeping in and devouring all in its path. Neither a scream nor a whimper reached Fleetfoot's ears, the rumbling drowning out all in the vicinity. Clenching her teeth, Fleetfoot braced for the impact, knowing no amount of flying prowess would see her escape.
The world became a vast expanse of white; small punches collided with Fleetfoot's body. She caught a glimpse of a yellow foreleg flailing about, then Rarity's shut eyes and battered, bruised coat.
And then, the aches ceased all at once, everything around Fleetfoot metamorphosing into a black void.
Everything fell silent.
The soil was buried in a fluffy white. It was what Fleetfoot expected upon regaining consciousness, and her predictions came true once more. The avalanche crushing her was all she remembered before everything turned to darkness. Any signs of the weather backing off would've been appreciated, however, but only the snowfall vanished. The whistling wind still whipped about.
A groan left Fleetfoot's lips; sharp twinges coursed throughout her body. But she could breathe easily soon enough.
Her black boots and Wonderbolts uniform stayed intact as if nothing had happened, this earning a slightly arched brow from Fleetfoot. Finding out what they were made of always puzzled her. Fleetfoot's prized scarf didn't fare as well, however. Its form was now a mangled mess of threads.
Of course the most important of the three would be the one damaged. It was to be expected. At a young age, Fleetfoot learned if at least one of a series of items were at risk of being damaged or lost, the best one would always bite the dust. She avoided eating buttered toast over carpets for this reason. Her past classmates and friends during her youth all experienced the destruction of such goods at least once, some ponies going through it twice or thrice.
But what prodded her mind most of all was the earth beneath her. The snow seemed to slide past her, almost as if it was sentient, and she knew whatever her chest rested on wasn't snow. It was fleshy and warm. The yellow legs beneath her moved irregularly, at least from where she reclined.
"Rarity, do you think we're lost?" asked Fluttershy, inhaling and exhaling quickly. The sounds of chattering teeth reached Fleetfoot's ears. "P-please tell me we're not lost."
Shrugging, Rarity pursed her lips. "I wish I knew, but it's just some ghastly caverns and rocks," she murmured. She sighed and placed her hoof on a snow-covered boulder. "We've been wandering for hours, but no sign of anypony else has come up."
Fleetfoot's eyes widened; her breath was taken away.
She'd been out cold for that long?
While keeping up with the strongest ponies was beyond her reach, she had to rank among the more skilled ponies, and a strong pony wouldn't stay out cold for so long in her eyes unless they were tucked in bed. She'd rather release her stomach's contents or endure the more traumatic parts of life again than look weak.
She couldn't appear weak. Not again.
A plumping sound split the air, Fleetfoot noticing a makeshift bag next to Rarity. Holes pierced the aquamarine cloth, food and drink items visible in these gaps. Fleetfoot gazed back at the ground beneath her, then to her scarf, and exhaled. At least she knew where the rest of it had ended up.
"Um, Rarity?" Fluttershy muttered. "I think Fleetfoot is conscious."
"She is? How marvelous!" Rarity's eyes glowed like stars; a radiant smile adorned her visage. "Please tell me she's okay!"
"I-I am," Fleetfoot weakly replied. She tried ruffling her wings, a searing pain forcing them closed once again. Gritting her teeth, she swiveled her head toward Fluttershy. "But I've been better."
"Do you think you can walk?"
Pushing herself off of Fluttershy, Fleetfoot landed upright, a soft thud echoing for the briefest of moments. She took a few short steps; the environment which surrounded her cleared up. Aside from the thick blanket of snow, rugged cliffs extended from the ground and reached for the heavens. The orange, blue sky and the stars decorating it were visible. Deep scars ran along the wall's surface; many of these were in three parallel lines, though a few were long gashes. Such carvings couldn't have been the work of an ancient artist, the etchings of the past all distinct in style if she recalled correctly. Just then, Fleetfoot's heart rose up to her throat; her eyes caught debris resting atop the snow.
For once, being the only living beings for miles was something she'd consider a positive.
For once, the abnormal was preferred over the normal. Fangs against flesh made the hairs of her coat stand up at the thought.
Fluttershy's cheeks turned pale. "I can carry you more if you want," she offered.
"I'll be able to walk," said Fleetfoot, grunting. She took another few steps forward; her wobbling legs urged her to accept Fluttershy's idea, though they regained their composure seconds later. Anything to avoid further embarrassment was preferable.
"You could always try flying. If trotting is too much, that is. Just don't hurt yourself, okay?"
Fleetfoot rolled her eyes. "I won't hurt myself. There are other things to worry about." While also mentioning what her eyes caught may prove useful, how old the scars were and whether she could avoid frightening Fluttershy to death rang in her mind. Not jumping to conclusions couldn't have been hammered into her head more. "Anyway, my wings are a bit sore. I'll be grounded for a bit."
"They don't look mangled." Fluttershy scrutinized Fleetfoot's wings for a few seconds; she then cracked a smile. "They'll heal soon. I'm just glad you're okay."
"I'm also glad—to an extent."
"We were so worried about you."
"I don't know why you'd be worried about me." Fleetfoot shrugged. She knew she'd end up repeating such a phrase ten dozen more times before the end of their journey, likely more, that is if the journey even had an end. "You've got bigger problems than the well-being of somepony like me."
Rarity's brow sagged, her visage twisting into a frown. "You need to stop with this self-deprecation," she growled. "Such melodramatic behavior is unhealthy. Try adding some flair or glee into your life, dear."
"Sounds like somepony I know," whispered Fluttershy. She snickered and blushed.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Rarity smirked for a split second; she then glared at Fleetfoot once more. "But seriously, please don't act like that."
"I'm being truthful. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
"Sometimes, ponies can be a little too truthful. And when you're more dramatic than I am, that's when you need to find a relaxing place and meditate." Rarity swiveled her head around; after a minute of studying the scenery, she stared back at Fleetfoot. "Well, as tranquil as you can find. I hope you like snowy hills."
As much as Fleetfoot loathed admitting, Rarity had a point. Her brief interactions with Rainbow Dash proved she'd behaved poorly in the past. Always finding herself on what she heard was the antagonistic side grew exhausting after a point. She winced and then exhaled. "Well, I'll keep my mouth shut. I'm not in the mood for meditating."
Fleetfoot surveyed the scenery once more. Out in the distance appeared to be a hole in a wall, the wide semicircle seemingly having no end on the other side. The stalactites and the stalagmites within glowed like fireflies. Just gazing at them for even a few seconds chilled her spine; the beating of her heart filled her ears. Despite this, anything to shield themselves from an upcoming snowstorm would help.
"Rarity, Fluttershy, I have an idea!" Fleetfoot blurted out. Staying silent could wait. "We'll trot through that cave to the right." She paused for a moment. "I don't know if it leads to someplace—or anywhere to be honest—" Fleetfoot's throat tightened "—but it's our best chance at getting somewhere."
"A-are you sure that's a good idea?" Fluttershy questioned. She twirled her hoof around her mane, lips pursed. "What if something scary lives there? What if it's filled with traps?"
"You're a strong pony if I recall correctly." Fleetfoot turned toward Fluttershy and made eye contact. "Anyway, fly around for a bit to see if it leads anywhere."
"I'll try."
Fluttershy flapped her wings, slowly ascending a second later. With Fleetfoot and Rarity remaining earthbound, the latter trudged forward with a stern expression. A verbal lashing was likely in Fleetfoot's future, her muscles tightening to brace herself; at least she knew there were worse situations out there, freezing to death in a blizzard only marginally worse.
"Fleetfoot, do you mind if we chat?" said Rarity. "And before you ask, this has nothing to do with your character."
"It's not like I can say no," Fleetfoot muttered. Her head hung low. "Fire away."
"Can you provide me with a little information about Spitfire, please?"
Blinking, Fleetfoot then raised an eyebrow. She sat down; the snow was as soft as a pillow. "Why—why do you want to know this? What makes you want to know so much about Spitfire?"
"I'm just concerned about her, if I must be honest." Rarity's cheeks turned a bright pink. A faint chuckle escaped her mouth. "I never apologized for my wretched actions in that flying competition." Rarity pressed her hooves together. "Even when I bumped into her again during that mess in Canterlot, I never had the courage to apologize." Cringing, a soft sigh left Rarity's mouth. "I hope she's okay."
"I thought you weren't fond of us Wonderbolts. Um, back when we were an active organization, that is."
"It's complicated, not to mention how judging every Wonderbolt as being the same would be preposterous. Just because I'm not fond of you doesn't mean I loathe you or anypony else. We all could improve in some regard."
Rarity nudged closer to Fleetfoot and massaged her shoulders. The motion was rough and circular, more like treatment at a spa than anything. While such rubbing ached at times, Rarity's still managed to loosen Fleetfoot's muscles up a tad. "It's just—Spitfire is quite the unique mare. I couldn't help but think about her again when we last crossed paths," she continued.
"Maybe so, but where are you going with this?"
"Like I said, I'd like to meet her again and apologize. I thought you might know something, that's all." Rarity ceased massaging Fleetfoot; the tightness in the latter's muscles returned a second later, her aching bones close to being crushed. "Do you know what she's up to nowadays?"
"She's kind of doing her own thing." Shrugging, Fleetfoot twisted her head; she locked gazes with Rarity. "Don't know the specifics, but it's kind of what she did as a Wonderbolt. It's more to do with protecting others."
"How intense." Rarity leaned an inch closer to Fleetfoot, eyes unblinking. "And how about—"
"Most are doing either what Spitfire or I are doing. Protecting ponies or collecting resources. Rinse and repeat."
"Where's her home?"
"Cloudsdale, obviously." Fleetfoot propped herself back up. "She does deal with the issues over in the Everfree Forest, so she might show up there."
"Well, I guess if we don't bump into her again, I'll make sure to apologize once this whole mess blows over."
Cocking her head, Fleetfoot then paused for a few seconds. A bemused expression adorned her face. "You seem so—confident about that. Why the heck would you think that? Are you crazy?"
"I just have this tingling sensation in my heart, dear. I wish I had some concrete evidence to back me up, but I don't have anything like that. Not even an investigation will help me piece it together."
"I think I found something," Fluttershy called out from above. Rubbing her eyes, she then hovered a few inches forward. "It looks like a few cabins together."
"What direction are they in?" questioned Fleetfoot, ears pointed toward Fluttershy.
Fluttershy pointed straight ahead and then descended toward the earth. "They're that way, but far away." Her hooves touched the snow. Crunching sounds, much like a muffled version of hooves stomping autumn leaves, polluted the air. "It looks—it looks like we might have to go through the c-cave." Her cheeks turned pale. Fluttershy's pupils shrunk and her eyes widened. "I hope it's a short cave."
"Remember, try to face your fears and be brave," Rarity suggested. "You've got a warrior's spirit resting inside of you, Fluttershy. You're one of the strongest, most dazzling ponies I know."
"But what if something tries to eat us?"
Fleetfoot stretched a foreleg out to Fluttershy; a soft sigh then departed her mouth. "Just calm down," she said in a blunt tone. "Even if something dangerous lives there, we could probably flee from it and head toward where we're going. Not to mention, anything in there is probably hibernating."
"But what about monsters that live in caves?"
"I don't know why they'd be out right now," said Rarity. Clenching her teeth, she then tugged her mane. "Even something that lives here would find the cold dreadful."
"Even yetis?"
No amount of fur could keep you warm here, darling." Rarity rubbed her hooves together. "Maybe the cave will be comfortable—a nice change of pace from the outside. If we stick together, we'll be fine."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Rarity's right," Fleetfoot added. The blood in her veins froze as her shoulders sagged. However, something about the yeti seemed familiar. She'd heard the name uttered before, likely by Spitfire blabbing on about what creatures to be weary of during missions, though the context was nothing but thin air in her mind. What she did recall, however, was something rather vicious. It was something she quivered at the thought.
"Let's group together," said Fleetfoot. She took a few deep breaths. "Just be careful, okay?"
"I'll try," muttered Fluttershy. "Just—please don't get mad if I get scared, okay?"
"No guarantees." Exhaling, Fleetfoot took a few short steps, the weight returning to her legs. "Let's head on over to the cave."
Fluttershy gulped; she then nodded. "Oh, okay."
With a few quick nods, the trio marched toward the cave in the distance. The snow covering the earth was thicker than ever, the white mass covering half of Fleetfoot's legs at some point and slowing her to a crawl. Its slushiness required every ounce of strength to lift a leg at times. A few dozen steps were all it took for aches to course throughout Fleetfoot's limbs. Rarity lagged ten or so yards behind, scowling as she seemed to whisper profanities. At least her moving lips suggested as much; Fleetfoot wouldn't blame her. Fluttershy, however, stayed airborne, flapping her wings. Aside from trekking forward, shivering was all Fleetfoot could do in response.
She'd tackle Fluttershy and tie her wings up if she could. The snow and her twinging wings had different ideas.
Mumbling gibberish was the next best thing to Fleetfoot. Anything to release some tension would work.
"Are—are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Rarity, huffing and puffing as she tried to keep up.
"It's better than waiting to die," Fleetfoot retorted, brow sagging. "Do we even have a choice?"
"I hope we do." Rarity's head hung low, shoulders sagged. "The wind is just too violent. It'd eat up my dresses if any of them were here. At least my mane is already a mess."
Both Fleetfoot and Fluttershy swiveled their heads toward Rarity; she blushed and giggled. "Well, I'm glad you're all okay, but that goes without saying," she continued.
"We should get to the cave soon if all goes well," said Fleetfoot. She shuddered. "Though things going well almost never happen."
"Again with the pessimism. Dear, is everything alright?" Rarity surveyed the environment, then brought her gaze back to Fleetfoot. "I mean, not counting how Equestria is in trouble and how we're stranded."
"Take a wild guess." Fleetfoot flicked her tail. Muttering anything specific wasn't required. Celestia's disappearance and what transpired for Equestria were terrible enough to no longer require any explanation. As for Fleetfoot herself, she wished to avoid going into detail about why the Wonderbolts ceased operations or why her personality became more bitter than espresso. Telling such stories to ponies as far away from friends as anypony could be spelled disaster.
Fleetfoot blinked. At least they hadn't crossed over into becoming enemies.
However, she wouldn't bat an eye if such a claim ended up true.
"I guess that speaks volumes," whispered Rarity.
Fluttershy glided up to Fleetfoot without warning, her cheeks pale and pupils shrunk to the size of pinpricks. "Fleetfoot, I-I think something's n-nearby," she stuttered. "Look below you." Shuddering, Fluttershy then landed and whimpered incoherent phrases.
Doing as instructed, Fleetfoot noticed a series of indents within the snow. They all followed an irregular pattern, though none of them were simple lines or in the shape of hooves. The entire series bore the outline of a paw-like shape from what she could tell, three straight lines extending from them. Shifting her eyes about, nothing out of the ordinary revealed itself.
Yet, Fleetfoot knew she was being watched. Her heart thrashed in her chest, its beating the only sound reaching her ears.
Such was the case until she'd heard creaks splitting the air. Fleetfoot dug her hooves into the snow, her leg muscles tightening.
Jumping up in surprise, Fluttershy wrapped her forelegs around Fleetfoot. "Who's there?" she asked, her tone high-pitched. She released Fleetfoot from her embrace and then planted her hooves onto the ground; whimpers left her mouth. "Are you friendly?"
Fleetfoot ruffled her brow. "Of course not," she scoffed. "You saw those prints, right?"
"I-I know, but some scary animals are nice."
"Yeah, and I'll become pleasant to be around." Exhaling, white smoke bellowed from Fleetfoot's nostrils. While Fluttershy may have had anecdotal evidence, the stories about her calming bears and caring for eagles coming to mend, the tension swirling around Fleetfoot suggested whatever lurked didn't fit with those stories. "Just because it's possible doesn't mean you shouldn't err on the side of caution."
Without warning, a shriek pierced the air, Fleetfoot and Fluttershy shivering in unison.
"Rarity!" Fluttershy bellowed as loud as she could. "Are you okay?"
"What does it look like?" Rarity screamed. "Help me!"
Standing over Rarity, its paws pinning her to the ground, was a wolf-like creature. However, its entire body consisted of just a skeleton made of icicles; a purple flame flickering where its eyes would've been was the only other feature. Fleetfoot gasped at the sight. She knew some creatures had been known to prowl about the coldest environments, but making eye contact with something far attached from the living carried a distinct, cold fear. And for some reason, a tightness akin to dark magic filled the air, the specific tension in the air recounted in history books she read in school.
None of that knowledge would save her now, however.
The creature snarled, its jagged maw slightly opened. In a flash, it leaped toward Fleetfoot. A cold paw struck her cheek, Fleetfoot collapsing onto the snow in a heap.
"Fleetfoot!"
Drifting in and out of consciousness, all Fleetfoot could muster was a groan. A hazy, yellow blob approached her. It paced around her, unable to remain still; limbs flailed about until the earth shook, the world becoming blurrier by the second.
"Fleetfoot, wake up!"
She gently closed her eyes, the world turning a pitch black once more. Yet, muffled screams and barking still reached her ears.
Her muscles loosened. A floating sensation consumed Fleetfoot. Everything became silent for a few seconds, touch and smell followed soon after.
Why did it have to happen again?
Passing out wasn't an option. Fleetfoot's muzzle scrunched; noise returned to her as she groaned. The snow's soft, bone-chilling texture and the pungent aroma of sweat also came back.
"Fleetfoot, speak to me!"
She couldn't let Raindrops down, the only pony who cared about her at home. It was the same story for Princess Celestia, her whereabouts unknown. And the same even applied to the Wonderbolts she spent time with in the past. For as much trouble as she found herself in, they carried a sense of nostalgia nonetheless, the breeze against her mane and the crowds warming her heart at the thought.
Even if she was rotten to the core, they were all counting on her in some way. So were Rarity and Fluttershy.
Fleetfoot's eyes shot open; weight returned to her body once more.
She sprung upright and scowled at the beast; their eyes locked.
The monster charged at Fleetfoot. Its howls sent a chill down her spine.
Fleetfoot raised her foreleg up. Her muscles locked into place.
The monster leaped once again, mouth open.
Then, Fleetfoot punched its maw; cracking sounds reached her ears.
Whimpering, the monster crashed into the ground. Snow kicked up into the air.
"Run!" Fleetfoot shrieked at the top of her lungs. Both Rarity and Fluttershy remained static, dumbfounded. "Don't worry about me! Just save your own hides!"
"No!" Rarity shrieked. "We stick together!"
Fleetfoot tilted her head. "What?"
"B-but we can't leave you," said Fluttershy. "I can't bear to leave you here." Her shoulders sagged. "I'd never forgive myself if I did. You know that."
"You're kidding, right? Have you lost your mind?"
The skeletal monster slowly pushed itself upright, its lower jaw now hanging by a thread.
Fluttershy's breathing quickened, pupils shrunk. "I haven't. We can't let you get hurt."
Digging its bony paw into the ground, the creature then charged at Fleetfoot. The purple wisp in its eyes flared up.
Fleetfoot ducked as the wolf dived at her. She thrust her hoof into its maw; fissures ran along the monster's bones.
And before it crashed into the earth, Rarity enveloped her horn with a bright aura. A crystalline-like structure sprouted from the earth and pierced the monster's ribs.
In a flash, the wisps disappeared. The skeletal structure separated, turning into normal icicles. It was as though any trace of a beast had vanished.
Fleetfoot shook her foreleg, her hoof aching a tad. Studying the icicles only produced an arched brow. Was there somepony else out there? Did they create this monster? And if so, how? The creature's appearance unlike any sentient being, even far from the timber wolf it seemed to mimic, coupled with the flames in its eye sockets twisted Fleetfoot's mind at the thought. And the inanimate remains being like any old ice pick eluded her further.
"Why didn't it finish me off?" Fleetfoot whispered to herself. "I was almost unconscious again, and it wasn't even close to me when I got up. Why?" The answer to her question merely consisted of a shrug.
"I don't know," replied Fluttershy. "But thanks for helping fight it off." A smirk decorated her visage. "We owe you one."
"I did what I had to do." Fleetfoot took a deep breath, tapping her hoof on the slushy ground. "Still, something felt off about that thing."
Fleetfoot gulped, throat tightened. Somepony had to be out there. The coincidences were too many for it to be anything else. Surveying her surroundings, nopony aside from Rarity and Fluttershy appeared in her sights. No other animals or monsters even patrolled the area. Everything else was a vast white with the occasional, decaying trunk trying to break the snow's surface.
Trudging to the left, a grim expression adorned Fleetfoot's face. She caught her breath and her muscles loosened. "We need to get to the cave," she said. "Now."
Fluttershy nodded; her lips were sealed.
"Are you sure?" asked Rarity. She trotted up to the two pegasi. "What if it's dangerous? What if the scent is appalling?"
"It's not like we're safe here," Fleetfoot retorted. She crossed her forelegs. "You do want to live, right?"
"Of course I do." Rarity placed a hoof to her chest, eyes shimmering. "We just need to ponder our choices and—"
"I think that thing decided for us." Fleetfoot turned away from Rarity; she flicked her tail. "Are you following us or not?"
"I guess it depends."
"Fleetfoot's right," said Fluttershy. "You know she's right. We'll be lunch if we don't go there." Fluttershy motioned a hoof to Rarity. "You've reminded me to be brave in the past. Now it's my turn." She glided toward Rarity, their faces inches apart. "We need to face our fears. We need to get to safety, and fast."
With sagging shoulders, a sigh escaped Rarity's lips. "Okay, maybe I'm scared."
"It'll be less scary in there than out here," said Fleetfoot. Then again, how anything could be scarier than the monster she held off was unimaginable. Though Fluttershy being the braver of the two mares at the moment suggested anything was possible. "Let's go."
"If you insist."
"We should also set up camp once we make enough progress." Fleetfoot wiped her brow. "We'll probably need to rest up at some point."
"Good idea," Fluttershy added. "But we should be careful about what we eat and drink." She glanced over to the cloth Rarity bore. "Not much of our supplies survived the avalanche. Only more common food and a few bottles of water survived."
"You mean we'll have to ration things?" asked Rarity. She rolled her eyes. "Having nothing exquisite to eat is the worst. Could it possibly—"
Fleetfoot poked Rarity's lips, her face donning a scowl. "Don't say that!" she shouted. "You know that's just tempting fate!"
Stepping back a few inches, Rarity's pupils shrunk. "No need to be so confrontational."
"Look, let's just get some progress in the cave. Time is of the essence."
Specks of snow precipitated from the clouds overhead. At least the wind died down, only a slight breeze remaining. However, as Fleetfoot approached the cave's entrance, a faint glow pulsated from within. It was as though some sort of sapphire lighted the interior. Stories about precious stones lighting caves weren't unheard of in Equestria. Her experience as a Wonderbolt saw her traverse a wide array of caves, some of which lit by a magical stone. What they all had in common was the beating of her heart picking up the closer she got. This cave was no different.
Her blood froze when her hooves touched the bedrock. Only adding to her confusion was how its rough, coarse surface was slightly warm; snow kept its distance from the rock. The two mares beside her simultaneously turned pale. There was no turning back now. For all she knew, another creature would slither toward them and pierce their flesh if they stayed outside. Just thinking about it sent squirms through her body.
At least Fluttershy's scouting suggested the cave had an end. How long it winded for, however, was anypony's guess. She'd pass out again if it coiled for miles.
Even worse was how Fleetfoot knew something mischievous or terrible would be waiting for them. She just didn't know who or what resided in the rocky abode. Something always awaited her.
Fleetfoot hoped she wouldn't regret her decision. She wished she'd be wrong about awful incidents for once.
Either way, retaining normalcy somehow felt further away than ever.
