Chapters The Disarray Trilogy Part 2: The Great And Powerful Trixie
Chapter 1: Winter Wrap Up
The Disarray Trilogy Part 2
The Great And Powerful Trixie
Chapter 1: Winter Wrap Up
“And it was I: THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE! Who defeated the ursa major and-” Trixie was not able to finish her story because she had to duck for a snowball targeted for her head.
Trixie stood on her stage enraged by the assault. “Who dares mock the great and powerful Trixie?!” She asked the small crowd of earth ponies and buffalo before her.
A yellow earth pony with a brown mane and wearing a cowboy hat and vest stepped forward answering her question. “Ah dare. Sorry bout that ma’m but ah tried tah get yer attention but ya couldn’t hear me over yer talken.”
Trixie scoffed. “If its about an autograph it will have to wait until after the show.”
The cowpony replied now with a tinge of annoyance in his voice “Its not that ma’m. Mah name is Braeburn and imma fraid I gotta ask you tah leave.”
Trixie glared at Braeburn. “Why? The great and powerful Trixie is in nopony’s way and winter wrap up is not for another few days.”
“It’s not that either. Ahve heard bout you from my cousin Applejack. Yer a fake! And what’s more you put an entire town in jeopardy!”
One of the buffalo in the crowd shook his head looking at Trixie and said “Bogus dudette.”
The crowd began to disperse into the streets. Trixie felt herself loosing her grasp on them and panicked. “No wait! How was the great and powerful Trixie to know that a couple of idio- loyal fans would bring an ursa major straight into town? The great and powerful Trixie was simply not prepared!”
Try as she did she had lost the crowd and only she and Braeburn remained. “Sorry ma’m but I jus don’t want any trouble in town.”
Braeburn tipped his hat to Trixie and continued on his way. Trixie sat there a moment seething with rage. “Always an Apple! ” She thought “Damn them and they’re reproductive proficiency! ”
After stewing for a few minutes Trixie felt snow land on her nose. Looking up she saw snowflakes floating lazily to the ground. The streets of Appleloosa were deserted now, all of the ponies had gone inside to escape the cold. Back to their loving friends and families leaving Trixie alone in the cold.
She fixed her hat on her head remembering what skill it had taken to get it and her cape back from Ponyville without anypony noticing her.
Within moments her stage was folded up and placed in the back of her replacement cart. Unlike her older one that had been glorious and awe-inspiring this one was an older cart that had had no cover when she had found it. Trixie had made one for the driver’s seat that scarcely covered her or her few personal belongings at all. Trixie’s horn glowed and the cart came to life and began down the trail towards nowhere in particular.
Once out of town Trixie followed the train rails barely visible in the snow to wherever they took her. When she was sure that the cart was fine on its own she pulled from a box beside her a rolled up map of Equestria. Nearly all of the towns and cities had large red X’s through them and now Trixie drew another one through the town of Appleloosa.
Trixie sniffed and a solitary tear rolled down her face and onto the map. Once she had been loved and adored by many in the towns. Each year when she passed through everypony would be waiting cheering her name excitedly awaiting her new magic act. “But now…” She thought aloud “I cant even show my face in most towns. I’m a laughing stock.” Trixie gazed at the map and saw Ponyville. Her sadness dissipated and anger replaced it. “Twilight Sparkle. I swear with Celestia as my witness revenge shall be mine!… But how?”
Trixie had long ago accepted the fact that Twilight Sparkle was her equal and maybe even superior. Now all that remained was finding the right way to challenge her for Trixie’s honor to be restored. But there was no way that Trixie would challenge Twilight Sparkle without becoming more powerful. “But” She sadly thought back to her discovery after some investigation “She is Celestia’s protégé that means she has been growing more powerful in a day than any unicorn could hope to be in a lifetime. If only I had some ace in the hole I could use…”
Trixie sighed. This was the thought process she always went through after being rejected by a town. “Neigh” She said “The great and powerful Trixie shant dwell on these thoughts today.”
She rummaged through her box again and found a large hardback book with a picture of a magician's hat and wand on the cover. This was Trixie’s prized possession. This book was a compilation of biographies of the greatest sorcerers, magicians and wizards of all time. It was Trixie’s dream since she was a little filly to one day be in this book with her heroes.
She flipped through the pages trying to decide who to read about. All of them were equally wonderful and amazing whether they be happy, dark or pretentious. Finally she came to a decision. He had always been Trixie’s favorite. Most of the sorceress in the book were always stuck up looking and boring, it was only the magicians and occasionally wizards who not only were interesting but looked interesting as well.
At the top of the page was a picture of a grey unicorn with a puzzle block cutie mark. His mane was very short and black. He also had large bushy white eyebrows and a swirly white goatee. But what always caught Trixie’s attention was his eyes. This unicorn’s eyes were scarlet red and the left eye was smaller than the right. Above this oddity of a pony was the title “Rubik Cube”
Trixie had read and re-read his biography a thousand times before but it never got old to her. The story was unlike any other. A child prodigy who was hoof picked as a teenager to be the advisor of king Concentus. Not only that but the drama! It was rumored that he had love affairs with princess Celestia herself during her younger years and helped to spark the revolution against king Concentus that took place hundreds of years after his death.
The story gave Trixie chills just to think about it. While reading it all of her sorrows were evaporated. She read slowly absorbing every detail in and as she neared the ending paragraph Trixie noticed something she had not before. The page on Rubik was stuck to another. She had always used magic to turn pages so Trixie had never noticed this before. Carefully she peeled the pages apart and found that Rubik’s biography kept going.
Trixie read aloud “Although most of Rubik Cube’s research and belongings have been found and either put on display or kept in the Canterlot archives one item has avoided being found: his legendary book of spells. Rubik Cube had always kept his custom spells in a notebook on himself at all times. It is believed that this fabled ‘book of spells’ has the most powerful and terrifying spells of all time contained. To this day nopony has even come close to finding it but brave souls continue to search for Rubik Cube’s lost legacy.”
Trixie did something she hadn’t for a while. She gave an honest smile. “This is it!” She exclaimed “This is what will get Trixie her revenge on that miserable Twilight Sparkle and friends. With the spells of her greatest hero Trixie will be unstoppable!”
Her mind was made up. Starting that moment Trixie had begun a quest for the lost legacy of Rubik Cube. Little did she know that was exactly what she would get.
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*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*
Twilight Sparkle moaned.
*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*
She reached a hoof to silence her alarm clock on her bedside table.
*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP*
She fumbled to little luck.
*BEEP BEE-*
Success! Twilight made contact and the alarm was silenced. Twilight rolled over and thought to herself “Why in Celestia’s name did I set an alarm for so early? ”
She laid there for a moment almost falling back to sleep before she sat straight up in realization. “*gasp* Winter wrap up day!” She had nearly forgotten.
She stuck her head over the foot of her bed to awaken Spike but his little bed was empty and his green blanket was missing. He had to be hiding somewhere she thought. But she would find him later for now she went over her check list she had handy by her bed.
“Wake up, check, Spike hiding, check. Ok next on the list get ready for work.” She squealed to herself getting her scarf, earmuffs and multicolored organizer vest and putting them on. She then trotted downstairs to eat breakfast before heading to town square where she and her friends had agreed to meet.
For breakfast she ate a quick dandelion on toast. But halfway through making it she received a surprise while going through the pantry looking for bread. When she opened the pantry she found Spike curled up in his blanket using a bag of flower for a pillow.
Rather than shake him awake Twilight thought of a much better and nicer way of waking him up. While her bread was in the toaster Twilight pulled a small hoof full of emeralds from the lowest shelf which was filled with gemstones and other food a dragon would eat and the pancake mix from the middle shelf and made Spike an emerald flapjack. Just as planned once the smell reached Spike’s nostrils he yawned and woke up from his slumber. “*Yawn* Good morning Twilight.”
Twilight giggled “Good morning Spike. How was your sleep?”
“Ok I guess. I kept having this dream that I got too big for the library and had to build my own house out back. And then the dragon that lives in Everfree forest challenged me to a fight cause I flooded his cave or something.”
Twilight giggled. Spike always had the weirdest dreams.
The toaster popped up with Twilight’s toast. She ate her toast while Spike happily munched his flapjack. Afterwards Spike hopped onto Twilight’s back and they went through the library and outside towards the square.
Lots of other ponies were already up and about in the streets all of them sporting a vest for the different team they were on. The same tan, green and blue vests were there but this year mayor mare had also added more multi colored vests for the organization team. Its job was to make sure that all teams were on schedule and worked efficiently. On the new organization team were four ponies Twilight, Ms. Cherilee, Doctor Whooves and-
“Good morning Ms. Sparkle.” -Monarch.
Twilight turned to meet Monarch walking up to her. Twilight with some help from Monarch’s brothers had convinced him to take more caution in his experiments to avoid any more accidents so now his hair had regained some length but was still messy and uneven in some places. After being freed from the spell keeping he and his brothers captive Monarch had gone into a bit of a slump trying to find his place in the world. One day he realized that it didn’t matter if he wasn’t completely in charge of his brothers anymore because now he could be partially in charge of everypony. Monarch had taken to trying to be everypony’s leader but rather than coming across as helpful this came across as bossy. He had more than once been rejected from seeing the mayor because she was “out at the moment”.
Twilight knew that Monarch meant well and admittedly he had very good ideas. He could just be a bit pushy and bossy in his approach.
“Good morning Monarch.” Twilight greeted cheerfully. “Ready to wrap up winter?”
Monarch smiled. “Sure am! By the way have you seen Silver Lining? He said he would meet me and Rage in our kitchen this morning but he wasn’t even in the house.”
Twilight and Spike glanced at each other. “Do you really need to ask?”. At that moment they turned a corner and found Silver Lining standing in front of a cart manned by Mr. and Mrs. Cake serving muffins, bagels, coffee and hot chocolate. But Silver Lining was more concerned with something else sweet.
“No your hair is puffier.”
“No yours is.”
“No yours.”
“No yours.”
When Silver Lining and Pinkie Pie had begun dating Twilight had been unsure of the relationship. Now she knew all too well that they were a match made in heaven. They didn’t always coon over each other as they did now but when they did it was disgustingly sweet. The cutie mark crusaders had thought they were under the effects of a love potion the first time they had seen the two together and had attempted to keep them apart for a whole hour to little avail.
“Ahem.” Monarch cleared his throat to announce their presence. Silver and Pinkie had not noticed. He asked the Cakes “How long have they been at it?”
Carrot Cake thought for a moment counting in his head while he pulled a tub of cream cheese out from within a cooler beside the cart. “Well lets see Pinkie was with us when we dropped Pound and Pumpkin off at the babysitter’s. Then we set up the cart and Silver came by while nopony was looking so I would have to say maybe an hour.”
Twilight looked at the lovesick ponies gazing into each others eyes and she swore she could almost hear their hearts beating in unison.
Monarch chuckled to himself “Well it's almost time we can't leave them here I would hate to see what Rainbow Dash would do to him if he was late again.”
Twilight agreed but was not sure how to move the two. Monarch however did. Monarch bit down on one of Silver’s blue feathers and gave a swift pull.
The effects were instant. Silver’s eyes bulged out of his head and he leapt into the air clutching his wing. “Ow, ow, ow! Why would you do that?!”
Satisfied with the results Monarch spat out the feather “Oh don’t be such a baby feathers grow back.” But whispering to Twilight he confessed “No they don’t.”
Silver landed on the ground disgruntled by his brother’s brutality. “Ok just wait a minute I’m waiting for my coffee and then I will catch up to you.
“Ahem…” Carrot Cake cleared his throat “Your coffee has been ready for almost an hour.” He motioned to a cup sitting next to Silver Lining.
Silver Lining blushed “Oh.” He pulled a couple of bits from his blue weather team vest pocket and handed them to Carrot Cake. Taking his coffee in one hoof he said to Pinkie Pie “Are you coming with us?”
“Later I’m going to help Mrs and Mr Cake for a little bit but I will see you at the lake latter.” Pinkie blew a kiss to Silver which he caught in one hoof and rubbed onto his face. Spike in usual fashion opened his mouth and motioned gagging with his finger.
After leaving Pinkie and the Cakes Silver took a sip of his coffee but spat it out. “Gyah! Its cold.”
Monarch and Twilight laughed “Well” Monarch said “That’s what happens when it’s left out in the cold for an hour. Monarch lit his horn up and an orange aura surrounded the coffee cup heating up the beverage.
Silver happily drank a gulp “Thanks bro. You’ve been practicing that one.” He raised the cup to his mouth but stopped half way and gave his brother an inquiring look. “So it didn’t go well huh?”
Monarch looked away “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Twilight was about to ask Silver what but the brothers had already began. “Come on Monarch you only ever practice convenience spells like heating when you have free time on your hooves. It did not go well with Clockwork did it?”
Monarch bit his lower lip but saw that he had no way out now with both Twilight and Silver looking at him. “Oh alright. No it did not go well with Clockwork.”
Silver shook his head “Bro you gotta step up your game. You’re running out of mares to ask out.”
“Technically I never asked them out.”
“Ok sure me and Pinkie had a hoof in it. But its not easy. You’re lucky that you’re a looker otherwise from word of mouth alone you wouldn’t stand a chance in Ponyville anymore. I mean there was Clockwork and Holly Dash and Roseluck and even Rarity!”
Monarch shot his brother a glare “We promised never to speak of that again.”
Before Silver could retort they had made it to town square where a crowd of ponies were standing waiting for Mayor Mare to begin her annual winter wrap up speech. Scanning the crowds Twilight found Rarity and Fluttershy with the animal team and a very impatient looking Rainbow Dash hovering in midair with a group of other pegasi. Silver Lining had also seen her because he gulped and spread his wings to fly over to her.
Twilight heard Rainbow yelling at Silver already for being late but she tried to ignore it so she could find the other members of the organization team. Finally she found Cherilee talking with Doctor Whooves close to the gazibo.
Twilight and Monarch made their way to them through the crowd passing through the crowd past the plant team where Applejack, Rage and Big Macintosh were talking.
“Its really too bad that Caramel can't be here wit us this year.”
“Eeyup.”
“Yeah… I don’t even know who that is.”
When Twilight got to Cherilee and Doctor Hooves the two of them waved to Twilight and Monarch. “Ello you two. I don’t think that we have ever been properly introduced. I’m The Doctor but some ponies like to call me Doctor Whooves but I much prefer being called just Doctor if you don’t mind.”
This brown colt seemed a bit strange to Twilight but overall friendly. They exchanged greetings but before they could get into any conversation the crowd had hushed and now Mayor Mare stood at the podium clearing her throat.
“Ahem. Fillies and gentlecolts. It is with great honor that I announce this years winter wrap up after last year’s grand success! This year with the addition of our new organization team.” She motioned to Twilight, Monarch, Cherilee and The Doctor and the crowd cheered for them. “I know that this year we will break our all time record for wrapping up winter!” More cheers. “Now then if all of the teams are ready I officially start winter wrap up!”
The crowd cheered for their mayor. Twilight cheered with all of them and was ready to go to her team she was to organize.
The Doctor got ahead of her “Well come on then you lot! Allonsy!” But after taking a few steps something unexpected happened. A few small snowflakes fell from the sky. Nopony else besides The Doctor and Twilight noticed this. Cherilee had already gone to the plant team and Monarch was moving out with the weather team.
One flake landed on The Doctor's nose. “That’s odd… Aren’t the pegasi supposed to keep the skies clear today?” Twilight found this odd as well. “Oh well probably just a few leftover flakes. Come on they’re waiting for us. Allonsy!”
Twilight thought that The Doctor’s analogy was probably correct but still. It was weird to see snow on winter wrap up day.
*************************************************************
“OK! One, two, three PULL!”
When Applejack yelled to pull Rage and Big Macintosh pushed forward as hard as they could inching forward as far as their reigns would allow it.
Every year at winter wrap up the plant team would tear down the old dead trees to make space for the new ones. But every year since Applejack could remember this one old oak tree could never be pulled down. This year however Applejack felt that they would finally get rid of it. She, Rage and Big Macintosh pulled with all of their strength and Applejack felt the tree finally begin to give away.
“Keep pulling ya two! It's almost down!”
All three earth ponies gave all that they had. A small crowd of other ponies on the plant team and a few pegasi from the weather team watched the three and gave cheers of motivation to them.
Finally giving one last strong pull the tree toppled landing on the ground. Applejack panted and wiped the sweat from her brow. The crowd of ponies cheered again triumphantly. From behind Applejack heard Rage laughing in success. “*Pant* Tartarus yeah! No tree can ever get the better of me.”
Applejack fixed her cowgirl hat on her head just as Cherilee arrived on the scene. “Hello Applejack.” Cherilee said “That was amazing what you just did there!” Cherilee looked at the sheer size of the oak tree as a group of earth ponies began to chop it up with hatchets so they could transport the remains.
Two of the choppers voices began to get louder as they began to argue. This called the attention of some of the other choppers who joined in the argument until the entire team was going at it.
“Oh dear.” Said Cherilee. “Excuse me everypony. Everypony. EVERYPONY BE QUIET!” The team of ponies were instantly silenced by the organizer’s voice. “Good. Now what is it that you all are arguing about?”
An orange earth pony by the name of Carrot Top replied. “Dirt Clod says we should cut the wood horizontally but Berry Punch says we should cut it vertically. But they’re both wrong because we should cut it diagonally!” The ponies began arguing again trying to out yell each other. Cherilee tried her best to get things under control. “EVERYPONY! PLEASE BE REASONABLE. EVERYPONY!”
Big Macintosh tapped Cherilee on the shoulder getting her attention. He then opened his mouth and let out a long loud “EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!” This yell was so strong that Cherilee had to cover her ears to avoid going deaf.
This got the crowd’s attention back to Cherilee. “Oh, thank you Big Macintosh.”
“Eeyup.”
“Now that I have your attention might I ask why it is so important how we cut the tree?”
Carrot Top opened her mouth to reply but it hung open. “Umm, well I… I guess it doesn’t does it?”
The other ponies muttered their agreements and Berry Punch and a dark brown pony with a grey mane stepped forward. Berry Punch said “It really was stupid of us to fight about it. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah.” Said Dirt Clod. “I feel like an idiot.”
Cherilee smiled at how quickly the ponies had made up. “Ok then if everypony is happy now would Rage please lead a group to take what wood that has been chopped to the Apple family’s farm?”
Rage more than happy to stop idling trotted to Cherilee’s side. “You heard the lady move it!”
Once everypony was back to work Cherilee had a chance to stop and think. What could have set everypony off so easily to argue about how to chop wood? Cherilee dismissed this and returned to work monitoring the progress of the rest of the plant team. While she marked off her check list she didn’t notice the few snow flakes landing near to her.
*************************************************************
After leaving The Doctor Twilight had begun her duties as the head of the organization team. Cherilee had been in charge of the plant team, Monarch was in charge of the weather team and The Doctor was in charge of animal team. Twilight was the supervisor of winter wrap up as a whole. She was to take attendance, keep track of when each job began and ended and to periodically check in with other team leaders. She had just finished taking down the names of a group of pegasi about to collect the southern birds (Ditzy was going to be given another chance this year.) when shimmers of orange and black light sparkled in her eyes.
“Huh?” Twilight looked up and saw Monarch lazily floating by in the direction of the lake. He had a set of orange and black wings from a flight spell and was happily humming a tune to himself.
“Oh hi Monarch.” Twilight greeted the unicorn.
Monarch opened one eye and came in closer to Twilight. “Hey Ms. Sparkle. How is it going? No disasters?”
“Nope nothing yet. How about yourself?”
Monarch shrugged. “Pretty good Rainbow is really on edge today. But I think she just woke up on the wrong side of the cloud.”
Monarch continued to glide in the direction of the lake. Twilight followed not because she wanted to keep the conversation going but because her next stop was also the lake to check in with Pinkie on the ice cutting.
The Unicorns traveled in silence for a minute or two before Monarch asked “Ms. Sparkle… What can I do to make mares like me?”
This was not something that Twilight could have expected and she just looked at Monarch his face a bit blushed while her mouth was slightly agape. “Well… What exactly do you mean?”
Monarch blushed even more but continued “Well whenever I went out on one of Silver’s blind dates it would always end the same; she would always leave pissed off. Am I really that bad?”
Twilight thought of the best way to say what she was about to say. “Well Monarch you can be kind of… Bossy. You also kind of assume control of situations.”
Monarch thought on this. “Oh I thought as much. But I can't help it! Its in my nature to be that way. I was created off of the design of a military commander.”
“Yeah I know that but nopony besides Cherilee, Zecora and the crusaders know. And it might be a bit awkward leading with that on a date.”
Monarch chuckled at this. “Yeah it would.”
“But don’t give up hope you just need a mare who is just as bossy as you to counteract you. At least that kind of makes sense.”
“Well then I may be waiting for a while Ponyville mares aren’t all that mean.”
Twilight laughed. “Its alright when its time its time. For now just enjoy the bachelor’s life.”
The two continued to laugh and partake in idle talk until they made it to the lake. Pinkie had already finished criss-cutting the ice and was now surveying the skies with the other skaters for the pegasi that would clear the clouds for them. When she saw her friends she bounced over to join them.
“Twilight its so good to see you! You too Monarch. Have you guys tried one of Mrs. Cake’s muffins this morning? They are delicious! I helped make them of course but it was her recipe. I wonder if I could get her to give it to me? But she might want to keep it a secrete to herself and-”
Pinkie kept going on and Twilight and Monarch stood there smiling and nodding praying to Celestia or Discord that the pegasi would get there soon. They’re prayers were answered when the clouds opened and beams of sunlight poured out onto the ice slowly beginning to melt the ice.
From within the opening three pegasi flew out. Rainbow Dash in the lead and following her Silver Lining and another pegasus named rainy days. One look at Rainbow and Twilight now knew what Monarch had meant by “one edge” Rainbow’s face was more annoyed looking then Twilight had seen in awhile and Rainy and Silver looked fearful of her.
The three changed formation to a V shape and landed by Twilight and Monarch to give their report. “Hey guys sorry we’re late but SOMEPONY thought it would be good idea to fly as slow as possible.”
Rainy looked hurt and looked down as Silver patted her on the back. “Dash that’s not fair everypony knows that you are the fastest in Equestria.”
Rainbow glared at Silver “Oh really? You had no problem keeping up with me.”
“Yeah but that’s because…” Silver trailed off. He couldn’t say why he was able to keep up with Rainbow in front of so many ponies. They had sworn themselves to secrecy with Celestia not to tell anypony who or what they really were. They had only told Cherilee because she had deserved to know after being used as a pawn in their past plans.
Rainbow smiled devilishly “I thought so.”
Twilight was amazed at how her friend was acting. Rainbow was known for being mean from time to time but this really took the cake. At that moment the sunlight disappeared and the clouds had covered the hole in the sky.
Rainbow gave an annoyed grunt and rocketed to the sky blasting an even bigger hole in the clouds. While she was in the sky both Silver and Rainy gave looks that said “Help us please!” But before they could say anything Rainbow was back.
“Ok you feather brains lets go! We need to take out the clouds over town hall next.”
Both ponies replied “Yes Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow took off and both pegasi followed after trying to keep up. When they were gone Twilight asked “What was her problem?”
Nopony else had a response except for Pinkie who guessed “Maybe she has a thorn stuck in her hoof?”
There was a long awkward silence before everypony returned to work.
*************************************************************
“And… TIME!” Mayor Mare pressed the button on her stopwatch and everypony in the square tensed in the dramatic pause.
The mayor glanced at the watch and proudly announced “Eight hours forty-two minutes and twelve seconds! This beats our record by more than five hours from last year!”
Everypony cheered at the news of the record being beaten by so much this year. This winter wrap up had been their most successful yet in a long time. From somewhere in the crowd a familiar voice shouted out “This calls for a PARTY!”
To this everypony even the mayor and her aides agreed.
Pinkie in preparation for this party the day before had gotten permission from Applejack to use her barn for a town sized party. When everypony got there they were amazed at the decorations Pinkie had used. Real clouds were floating near the ground. But unlike other clouds these were made of cotton candy.
“Wow Pinkie.” Said Carrot Top. “How did you make these?”
“With love.” Pinkie answered
This didn’t answer Carrot Top’s question but before she could inquire any further Pinkie was already off greeting other arrivals and occasionally taking a bite out of a cloud that got too close.
The party lasted all afternoon and into the night. Nopony began to go home until around midnight. By then all of the clouds had been eaten and most of the mess cleaned up.
On her way home Twilight could hear arguing ponies in the street coming home from the party. Nothing sounded too serious but it was weird to see ponies in such foul moods all day.
When Twilight got home she could tell that she was very drunk and was going to regret it in the morning. She was quiet as possible so as not to wake Spike. When she finally found her bed she snuggled in and immediately fell asleep.
Outside the lights in other houses turned off one by one. When all were out and everypony asleep silent as a moth flying clouds rolled onto Ponyville. Then without warning snow began to fall.
The Disarray Trilogy Part 2: The Great And Powerful Trixie
Chapter 2: The First Day Of Spring
The Disarray Trilogy Part 2
Chapter 2: The First Day Of Spring
Monarch opened his eyes waking from his deep slumber from the night before. He sat up in bed yawned and stretched popping his joints. Since his last encounter with booze Monarch had sworn off alcohol completely so he had not partaken in the beverages from the party from the night before as to avoid another hangover.
Monarch examined the clock he had hanging on his wall, It read 11:32. Monarch pulled the covers off of his body but instantly regretted it. His room was freezing. During winter Monarch had had a spell cast on his broken windows from his experiments to keep the cold out. In preparation for spring Monarch had lifted the spell the day before. But know he could see his breath.
“Wh-what g-g-gives?” He asked nopony in particular his teeth chattering.
Monarch’s orange painted room was completely frozen over. When putting a hoof to the ground Monarch retracted it from the cold. Finding a pair of slippers under his bed he slid them on and walked to one of his windows. Looking outside Monarch was met with complete madness.
Outside the clear streets from yesterday were now covered in what had to be at least six feet of snow. Doors were completely covered so some ponies had taken ladders and had traveled from the upper windows of their houses to the snow below.
The sky above was dark and gray and blocked out the sun on the other side. Snow continued to flurry from the sky.
Many earth ponies and unicorns were in the streets wearing heavy coats and snow shoes. Most of them were silent staring expectantly at the skies while others talked in lowered tones so nopony could hear them.
Monarch stepped away from the window and got himself geared up. He levitated his coat to himself and zipped it up. Next he went out into the hallway.The house was unusually quiet as Monarch crept down the stairs to the living room.
Again unusually quiet. The brother’s living room was one of the most unused rooms in the house thus it was one of the cleanest. The only mess was where Monarch saw his original plan cave in as he saw somepony else had had the same idea and had met the obvious conclusion. The door was wide open and the snow from outside had fallen into the house in an avalanche. A hole in the snow marked where somepony had been buried and had dug their way out. Watery hoof prints lead back to the stairs.
Monarch decided that the best way to get to the bottom of things was to follow the hoofprints up again. The prints dried up somewhere halfway along the stairs. Monarch knew that it would have been Rage who had tried to go out the door but curiosity as always pulled him away from the earth pony’s room.
Behind the door to Silver’s room were a short flight of stairs. Silver’s pegasi instincts had always craved heights so with a bit of magic his room had been elevated and transformed into a tower of sorts and a another flight of stairs built for more comfortable conditions.
At the top Silver’s room was round and painted sky blue unsurprisingly. Clouds lazily drifted around the ceiling occasionally stopping to hover for a bit before continuing. Monarch did his best to ignore the closed cardboard box leaking chocolate milk with the label: “DO NOT OPEN” and instead inspected Silver’s bed.
Usually Silver was quite good at remembering to make his bed during the morning but today the sheets were tossed aside as if in a hurry and his window was wide open. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Silver had obviously left for the weather team office but Monarch wished that his brother had thought to tell him about the snow.
Finally making his way to Rage’s room Monarch contemplated the origin of the snow. It just did not make sense no matter how he looked at it. From what he knew once Winter was ended the snow did not return unless by the actions of a pegasus. Monarch only knew of one other creature that could control snow and ice and the entire species had been dealt with long ago.
Rage’s door had been left open so Monarch invited himself in. Rage’s room was the cleanest in the whole house. He had red painted walls and a large poster with the Ponyville police logo of a star and shield on it and a concert poster for Blues the local saxaphone player.
Rage had a window that overlooked the back yard. Outside this window Monarch found the ladder and at the bottom could see hoof prints leading to the front yard.After sliding down Monarch followed the hoof prints in the snow from his earth pony brother. Once out front the prints were impossible to follow but Monarch knew exactly where he should go.
*****************************************************************************************
Monarch found it difficult to trot through such deep snow. Occasionally his leg fell through and he would struggle to free it other times he would kick buried lamp posts and stub his hoof. But before too long he finally made it to his destination.
Outside the library Twilight Sparkle and Spike stood in a melted niche from the snow. Spike was inhaling to release a jet of emerald green flames that melted another few feet of snow. Twilight dressed in a purple coat was looking around at the snow frantically finally making eye contact with Monarch she leapt onto the higher level of snow to meet him.
“Monarch! Do you? I mean have you seen? I-Ijust don’t know what happened.”
“Well” said Monarch. “ That makes two of us.”
“Spike and I woke up and didn’t even notice the snow until we opened the door and it poured into the library. He was able to melt some but…” She glanced at Spike sitting on the ground catching his breath. “I don’t think he can keep at it.”
Twilight levitated Spike from his sitting position onto her back. He continued to catch his breath but managed “*gasp* Thanks Twilight.*gasp*”
Monarch suddenly remembered the absence of his brothers and asked T “Have you seen Silver Lining?”
Twilight thought for a moment. “No” She answered “In fact… I haven’t seen any pegasi.”
It was true the sky was nothing but cold dark clouds. The familiar colored wings did not grace the skies for now. Monarch shook this off. For now they needed information. Winter didn’t just unwrap itself like this. They decided to head towards the center of town. This hunch was fruitful for at the town square a large group of earth ponies and unicorns had gathered.
At the center gazebo Mayor Mare along with her aides stood trying to get the attention of the crowd but they were too busy yelling and arguing. On the edge of the crowd were police ponies trying to keep the peace and calm everypony down long enough to listen to the mayor.
After a moment of searching Monarch, Twilight and Spike found the police pony they were looking for. Standing on the edge of the crowd with Rarity, Applejack, Big Mac, Pinkie Pie and the only Pegasus in the crowd Fluttershy Rage was trying his best to out yell the crowd.
“I SAID SHUT YER FACES! AW TO TARTARUS WITH IT!” and he gave up turning to the group of friends. “Any of you lot have any ideas?”
“Ah think that the best course of action might be tah let them burn out.” Applejack suggested.
Rage rolled his eyes. “The thing with that bad idea is that they won't burn out! They will only grow even more out of control until this whole thing is one huge riot.”
Applejack looked a bit hurt at Rage’s bluntness but noticed Twilight’s approach. “Twilight, finally. We were bout to come fer y’all but we got ourselves roped in wit this crowd.”
“It’s ok AJ. But what is happening here?”
“We don’t know Twilight. All ah know is that when I went tah bed last night it was all ready fer spring but this mornen there was snow all over mah freshly plowed fields!”
Pinkie popped in between the both of them. “And sugar cube corner is completely snowed in! Me, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake kept trying to go out and play in the snow but Cup Cake and Carrot Cake wouldn’t let us! Instead they started a fire and tried to get the baby Cakes to calm down but we were all riled up now! And then we-” What Pinkie did next would remain a mystery because Rarity had taken her hoof and plugged Pinkie’s mouth.
“Erm, I think that she gets the idea deary.”
Twilight asked Fluttershy “Do you know what happened to all of the pegasi Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy opened her mouth to answer but from nearby the unicorn Lyra had overheard and was now making herself involved in the conversation. “Hey yeah where are the pegasi? Is this your kind of a joke? Because let me tell you nopony is laughing you little twerp!”
Fluttershy squeaked in fear and tried to defend herself. “Oh no I would never-”
But once again she was interrupted by another mare. This time Bon-Bon. “You know what Lyra? You are absolutely right! A snow storm hits in the middle of the night and now no pegasi are around? It had to have been them nopony else can control the weather. So spill it clouds for brains where are your comrades?!”
Fluttershy squeaked as the two ponies surrounded her but they were intercepted by Applejack. Standing in between the earth ponies and Fluttershy Applejack said with a glare “Nope.”
The mares were caught off guard by Applejack’s protection of the smaller pegasus and took a few steps back. Returning to their spiteful looks Lyra said “Come on Bon we can find out where the pegasi are hiding later.”
The two ponies hoofed it into the crowd away from big Macintosh. When they were gone Fluttershy looked around Big Mac’s hulking body to make sure that they were gone before saying to her savior “Applejack thank you for getting those two to go away. They usually aren't like that I just don't know what could have gotten into them...”
“Uh… Fluttershy? The pegasi?” Twilight asked.
“Hm? Oh yes! Well the truth is… I don’t know where the pegasi are. They probably are doing something about the snow since all of them besides Derpy and myself are on the weather team.”
Almost as if it had been a convenient plot device after Fluttershy ended her sentence from the clouds above the pegasi of Ponyville flew down in a V shaped alignment. The arguing of the ponies below ended as they looked up at the formation of pegasi and spread out to give them a landing space.
The pegasi tightened formation and descended into the square. At the head of the group were Rainbow Dash, Silver Lining and Rainy Days who landed in front of the gazebo and Mayor Mare.
The mayor looked relieved to have the pegasi of the weather team present. “Oh thank Celestia!” She said. “Please tell me that you have some news on the situation?”
Rainbow Dash panted for a moment with her team before opening her mouth to answer but Bon-Bon from earlier had shoved her way to the front of the crowd. “What is wrong with you?” She demanded. “Ruining all of our hard work just for some twisted joke? You should be ashamed of yourselves!”
Silver and Rainy both leapt to the gazebo and hid behind the mayor peeking over her shoulders. At first this seemed strange but when everypony in the crowd saw Rainbow Dash it was understood. She seemed no better if not worse than the day before.
“WHAT WAS THAT YOU UNGRATEFUL TWERP?!” She yelled.
Lyra and a small group of earth ponies were now backing up Bon-Bon and were shouting out accusations and insults to the pegasi. In return the pegasi acted no better. Before long the arguing had began and again and nopony would be quite long enough for the predicament to be explained.
The noise was getting to Twilight. It seemed the only sane ponies left were herself, her friends, Mayor Mare, Rainy Days and Silver Lining. Twilight suddenly felt a chill from a strong northern wind. Looking to the sky she saw the clouds begin to pour out a blizzard. Nopony besides she and her friends noticed it. Something had to be done or else things could only get worse from here.
“Hey big guy.” Rage tapped Big Macintosh on the shoulder.
“Eeyup?”
“Do that thing, you know that thing from yesterday.”
“Eeyup.”
Twilight wondered what the two colts could be talking about, the noise she heard next made the crowd sound like an annoying fly.
“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!”
The entire crowd was reduced to murmurs as everypony looked around for the source of the noise. Those closest to Big Mac however had gone temporarily deaf from the loud noise except for Rage who had in foresight plugged his ears with his hooves.
Mayor Mare saw her opportunity and seized the moment of peace and addressed the crowd. “Fillies and gentlecolts! We are now going to hear the weather team’s report on the snow storms. I want nopony” She glanced at Lyra and Bon-Bon. “To interrupt them. Now then Rainbow Dash? Please begin. From the very beginning if you don’t mind.”
Rainbow inhaled preparing her story. Silver and Rainy had returned to her side and everypony in the audience was silent.
“Ok” Began Rainbow. “To be perfectly honest I got wasted at the spring has sprung party last night. So this morning I was one of the last to know about the snow until some other pegasi found me at home and woke me up. The entire weather team got together at about four this morning and we tried to get rid of the clouds. But no matter what we tried we just couldn’t get rid of them! We tried everything. We tried blowing them away, smashing them away, even eating them away but no matter what we try they just won't budge.”
“And you don’t know where they came from?” Asked Mayor Mare.
Rainbow Dash shook her head.
Twilight could feel the guilt from the other ponies in the crowd who had moments ago yelled at the pegasi who had just spent the entire morning trying to get rid of the renegade clouds.
After the town meeting everypony had been told to return to their homes for now and await a solution from Mayor Mare. After everypony had left Mayor Mare had gone to Twilight and begged on her knees for the unicorn and her friends to help. All nine ponies and one dragon agreed to help. Big Macintosh had returned home to watch Applebloom and Granny Smith.
The think tank gathered at the library and the first thing they did was write two letters. One to princess Celestia, the other to Discord.
“What?” Monarch had asked when Twilight gave him a judging look. “He’s been around for awhile. Plus this seems much more his domain.”
So they had written two letters. The first read:
Dear Princess Celestia,
The letter to Discord read.
Discord and/or Rubik Cube,
Once both letters were done and rolled into scrolls Spike took them to the window and exhaled them into a swirl of green flames. Now all they could do was wait. They didn’t wait long because about thirty seconds later Spike burped up two rolled up scrolls. Both of them read:
We’re sorry [RECEPTINT”S NAME HERE] but the pony who you have tried to reach is unavailable. Please rewrite your message and try again. Thank you.
“What does it mean?” Spike asked Twilight.
Twilight replied “Well it means that something has either happened to Canterlot, Celestia, or both. I was half expecting this with Discord’s message since we usually send any for him straight to Celestia. But something must be wrong… You don’t think something like this could have affected Canterlot do you?”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “No egghead. Canterlot’s weather team has the wonderbolts and some of the other greatest fliers in Equestria working twenty-four seven. Think before you ask.”
Twilight was finished with Rainbow’s attitude. “Ok Rainbow, what is your problem? You have been like this since yesterday. You can't be like this to us. I want to work with you but not if you're going to bite somepony’s head off every time they talk!”
Rainbow was about to reply with another nasty retort but stopped herself took a deep breath and l gave a sorry expression. “I-I know Twilight… I’m really sorry. I don’t know what’s been coming over me lately. I just find myself angry at other ponies all the time.”
While she didn't consider this to be a perfect excuse Twilight was glad to have her old friend back. “It’s ok Rainbow. Just try to relax and find something to take your mind off of things.”
Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and sat down trying her best to stay calm.
“Well then.” Said Twilight. “I guess that we need more information on the situation before we take any action. Ponyville is completely covered in snow, we can't contact the princess and almost everypony in town has a short fuse. Does anypony else have an idea on what we should do?”
Everypony in the library was silent. The next half hour was spent thinking. The only noise was Pinkie Pie’s hopping in place. “It helps me think.” She had said.
Twilight with her eyes closed was beating herself up on the inside. “Come on Twilight. You know that you have seen or even just heard of snow like this before.” *tap, tap, tap* “Its right on the tip of my head I just know it.” *tap, tap, tap* “What is that tapping noise?”
Twilight opened her eyes and realized that the tapping was coming from outside the door. “Oh.” Twilight said. She got up from her sitting space and made her way to the door. She opened it and two pegasi flopped into the library. Twilight recognized the first one as Rainy Days and the other was another pegasus twilight did not recognize. This pegasus was a brown colt with a light brown mane and his cutie mark was a set of weights. This pegasus had icicles hanging from his wings and was shivering furiously.
Rainy gently shoved the half-conscience pegasus off of her shoulder and closed the door behind her.
Silver had trotted beside Twilight when he had seen Rainy enter the library. “Rainy? Are you ok? Who is this is he ok?”
Rainy shook herself dry from the outside snow in her mane and tail. “I-I don’t kn-know who he is. I f-f-found him by the Everfree forest. He wa-was frozen stiff when I found him.” Rainy shivered from the cold and made her way to the fireplace to warm up. When she made it there she laid down and let the warmth consume her before she passed out.
“Wait a second...” Rainbow Dash had come over in the excitement and was now inspecting the newcomer. “Hey I know him. He’s one of those jerks I showed up back in Cloudsdale. Dumb-bell I think.”
Twilight levitated the freezing pegasus to the fire she had going. Monarch then lit his horn and performed the heating spell he had done on Silver’s coffee the day before. The colt glowed orange as the icicles on his wings melted away. He continued to shiver but didn't wake up.
“Well...” Said Twilight. “This was unexpected. Rainbow do you have any idea why a Cloudsdale pegasus would be here like this?”
Rainbow shook her head. “Nope, No idea. But I wouldn't put it past this one to get lost without noticing it.”
Twilight thought about it more but her thought process was interrupted by Spike. “Whoa. That is a doozy.”
“What is Spike?”
“Look outside.”
Twilight did so and when she did she saw that a blizzard had brewed outside and this one had a fury. Only shapes and distant lights were visible through the snow and the depth of snow on the ground was rising.
Twilight was in shock at the intensity of the blizzard. Know more than ever did she feel the pressure to think of a solution but it seemed that there was only one thing left to do; She and her friends would have to brave the snow to make it to Canterlot to seek Celestia’s help personally.
Twilight turned to her friends to tell them what had to be done but saw that they had gathered around the newcomer. Dumb-bell was shifting and making noise. At last he finally half opened his eyes and shook his head. Dumb-bell then sat up and popped his joints while grunting. Finally he yawned and looked around at his surroundings.
Applejack gave Dumb-bell an inquisitive look before holding out her hoof for a hoof shake and saying “Uh, howdy ya probably don't remember us but-”
Rainbow cut her friend off. “Give him a minute he needs to turn on what little brain he has.”
Dumb-bell looked at Rainbow confused but after a moment got what she was implying. “Hey, I have brains.”
“Sure you do big guy.”
“Whatever Rainbow Cra- I mean Dash.”
It seemed to Twilight that Dumb-bell’s brain had finally thawed out and he was ready to give an explanation.
“Excuse me Dumb-bell?”
“Hi my name is Twilight Sparkle. Um, do you remember what happened to you?”
Dumb-bell scrunched his face in what seemed to be a process of deep thought. This went on for about half a minute before Twilight decided she should say something.
“Um, Dumb-bell? Are you okay?”
Dumb-bell didn't respond but in a couple of seconds his face lit up. “Oh yeah now I remember. I was coming from Cloudsdale to Ponyville but I flew over some weird looking forest and something hit me and I crashed. After that I woke up here.”
Twilight knew that any number of things could of hit Dumb-bell over Everfree but she was just glad that Rainy Days had found him when she did.
“Okay, are you feeling alright? You seem a little shook up.”
“Yeah im ok I have had worse like this one time Hoops dared me to- wait no that's not important. I have more important reasons to be here. Uh, can I talk to all the pegasi here?”
Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Silver Lining all stepped forward to Dumb-bell.
“Ok, is that other filly asleep? Ok yeah I’ll talk to her later. So here is the deal guys Cloudsdale has been completely frozen over and all pegasi are being called back for defrosting. Me and about three or four other pegasi were sent out to get the captains and their weather teams from other towns. Now lets go and get the other pegasi here and hoof it.”
Dumb-bell made for the door but when he opened it he ended getting blasted by a gust of wind coming from the outside. This sent him toppling over back to the group. Twilight used her magic to shut the door.
Dumb-bell shook this off and turned to his fellow pegasi. “Well we may have to wait for the storm to calm down. But as soon as it does we can get everypony to Cloudsdale.”
“And just what makes you think that we are going to Cloudsdale?” Rainbow’s anger seemed to be resurfacing but she was trying her best to control it.
“Well, the pegasi have to stick together right?”
“Yeah but if we just leave the earth ponies and unicorns who will help them with the snow storms?”
Dumb-bell just shrugged “I dunno.”
“That has to be one of the most selfish things I have ever heard.”
“Not my call Rainbow Crash, I have my orders and my orders are to get all the pegasi I can to come back to Cloudsdale so we can survive. If you want to freeze here be my guest.”
Dumb-bell looked expectantly to Fluttershy and Silver Lining but could tell that they had similar thoughts to Rainbow Dash. Dumb-bell didn't say a word but rather went to the window and looked out to wait for the blizzard to end.
“Just let him be. The other pegasi will do what they think is right.”
Rainbow still wanted to give Dumb-bell a piece of her mind but decided that Silver was right and Dumb-bell really wasn't worth it.
“Well then, now what.” Rainbow asked impatiently.
Twilight caught up in the argument had forgotten her idea to go to Canterlot. But now it seemed hopeless, since the blizzard was back with a vengeance there was no way that the trains would be in use and walking was out of the question. Now it also sounded very likely that the blizzard was across Equestria.
But Twilight didn't have anything better so it was all they had to work with. She explained her idea and her doubts about it to her friends who all listened patiently and intently.
“So it seems like the best of course of action but I just don't see how it can be done.”
When she had finished she had expected her friends to return to quiet thinking but instead Monarch nodded in agreement and said “Well there is the obvious way there.”
“What?” Twilight asked curiously.
Smiling Monarch rolled his eyes and pointed to her horn.
Twilight blushed “Oh yeah. Well we definitely have not been authorized for a high rank teleportation spell but considering the circumstances-”
The door suddenly flew off its hinges erupting snow in an avalanche that swallowed Dumb-bell.
“I think Celestia will be understanding.”
Twilight smiled to the solution but in the back of her mind remembered what happened the last time she had tried a spell like this. The only reason she and her friends had survived was that Luna had saved them all. But she had to be brave her friends were all counting on her. It was either brave the void or be frozen in a blizzard.
Twilight looked to her friends. “Well what do you all think?”
It was unanimous by her friends looks. they all trusted Twilight and would be there for her.
“Ok.” Said Monarch “When do we leave?”
Twilight was surprised by Monarch’s question. “We? You’re coming with?”
“Of course Sparkle. We wouldn't leave you hanging right guys? Don't answer that Rage.”
Twilight wasn't so sure about this part. Celestia still wasn't the brother’s biggest fan and probably wouldn't like having them in Canterlot. But she knew that there would be no stopping the brothers from coming with and it would be helpful to have Monarch’s magical energy for traveling the void.
“Well, alright. I suppose as soon as everypony is ready we can go. Does anypony need to do anything? No? Ok, Spike if you could tell everypony where we are it would be appreciated.”
“Huh? I don't get to come with? Alright but bring me back an apple fritter from Donut Joe ok?”
Twilight giggled “Ok Spike. Well then are you all ready? Monarch take my hoof.”
Monarch obeyed. Everypony else held on to one another preparing for the voyage. Fluttershy in particular held very tightly to Rainbow Dash.
“Ack-Fluttershy-cough- you’re choking me.”
“Oh, sorry.”
Twilight cleared her mind and imagined Canterlot. She powered on her magic in synch with Monarch. simultaneously purple and orange sparks flew through the air and arcs of the same color made contact to the ground. The frequency of sparks and arcs steadily increased until the air was hot with the shear magical energy. Finally in an ear deafening explosion and flash of brilliant light the group of nine was gone.
Spike left alone with the two pegasi decided it was about time for a nap. Yawning he laid down on the couch and closed his eyes the last thing he heard was Dumb-bell muttering to himself “Idiots.”
The Disarray Trilogy Part 2: The Great And Powerful Trixie
The Disarray Trilogy Part 2 The Great and Powerful Trixie By Walker “Ink Blotch” Holden
Chapter 3: The Ice Age
Vivid colors streaked past Twilight and friends just as they had before the last time they had journeyed into the strange zone known only as the void. But this time instead of every color one could imagine the void was instead filled with only white, cyan, blue and other more cold colors. It was almost as if the void was reflecting the condition of Equestria. This made one such as Twilight think. Could the void be alive? Could it be directly affected by Equestria? These thoughts and more traversed the unicorn’s thoughts but she pulled herself back to reality. She had to be sure that her friends were safe.
A quick glance around proved that all were still accounted for. She could tell that her friends were scared of the void after their last encounter, Fluttershy especially had her eyes shut tightly and she continued to squeeze Rainbow Dash to the point that the blue pegasus might have popped.
Beside Twilight Monarch was still grasping her hoof. His eyes were now open and he stared at the lights mouth hanging open. Beside him Silver Lining and Rage both held on to their brother. Silver had his eyes open and seemed less impressed with the void then his brother. Rage had only his left eye open half way and he squinted at the sights of the void rushing past.
Twilight was unsure how long the trip would last, the last time they had travelled through the void she had not been very concerned with timekeeping and this time there was more magic and ponies to take into account.
Twilight began to build a formula in her mind on void travel time but before she could get very far a light caught her eye. Unlike the other auroras of the void this light was shaped more like a door. This marked the end of their travel, the “door” rapidly grew closer and closer until finally Twilight could not bear to look directly at the source of the light.
Then Twilight felt cold. She reopened her eyes and saw that the void was gone and in its absence Canterlot stood only a short distance away. Twilight had brought them just outside Canterlot past the small lake outside the walls to avoid causing a commotion. Now though she wasn't sure that she would have.
Canterlot once colored purple and gold from a distance now appeared white. Ice gleamed off of every surface and unlike Ponyville snow was nowhere to be found. Even the grass that the ponies now stood on was completely crystallized and shattered at the slightest touch. The lake waterfall were a marvel to behold as if frozen in time every drop of water was frozen in place. Even near the shore a splash of where somepony had thrown a stone into the water was frozen catching the light and throwing it around.
Everypony was speechless whether in horror or awe was to each their own. Everypony had one thought on their mind and Rage spoke that thought out.
“Well this sucks.”
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Finally after much difficulty the nine made it to the gates of Canterlot. The drawbridge was lowered but the gates themselves closed and frozen. On the right side of the gate was the guard house encased in ice.
Twilight stood before the gates and slowly melted the ice with a spell from her horn slowly sending a beam down and around the gate. Once melted Twilight pulled on the handle with all of her strength. The gate would not budge.
“Drat It’s locked”. She said “We will have to find the key first.”
Applejack shrugged “Simple ‘nough.” She then proceeded to buck the door of the guard house down.”
“Applejack!” Twilight yelled in surprise and shock.
“Sorry Twilight but we jus don't have time to unfreeze every door we come across now do we?”
Before Twilight could continue Applejack and her friends had already piled in Rarity being the last as she said to Twilight “Don't worry darling, in an emergency it is needed for somepony to be brash even if it means being ugh, uncivilized .”
Rarity and Twilight entered the crowded guard house where everypony struggled to find a spot to stand.
“OW, that's my tail!”
“Oh, excuse me...”
“Ah dropped ma hat don't step on it!”
“ Who touched my flank!?”
“Sorry thought you were Pinkie.”
“Ok someponies have have got to get out. Monarch stay with me everypony else ou- Silver! Wrong again.”
Once everypony was out and only Twilight and Monarch were left the guard house had much more room to move. The guard house was small and probably was only meant for two or three ponies, the inside of the house also had not been spared the freeze over of the outside. A stool sat in front of a window meant for the guards to speak to whomever was outside. The only other piece of furniture was a counter that only had a coffee maker, a radio and a stack of old magazines. The only other object in the house was the odd ice outcropping in the center.
“Finally,” Twilight let out a breathe of relief “now we can find the key. We might have to use dowsing spells but it shouldn't take too lo-”
“Found it.” Monarch said pulling an emerald key off a hook on the wall.
“Oh, well at least now we can get in.” Twilight turned to leave “I still can't help but wonder where everypony is. You would think that the guards would be patrolling the entire perimeter at a time like this.”
Monarch still holding the key tapped the ice mound. Squinting his eyes he used his leg to wipe in a circle and he looked deeply into the ice before nearly tripping over himself jumping back.
Monarch’s face was tensed in horror and his breathing had increased drastically. Twilight had slipped over in surprise of Monarch’s jump but she had to know what had startled the colt.
Looking into the area that Monarch had wiped clean Twilight squinted to see what he had seen. All Twilight saw was blurred white, but then a glimmer of gold caught her eye. She squinted and could make out more golden yellow and the white seemed less blurred. Finally Twilight saw blue that almost seemed to be looking back at her.
Twilight nearly jumped out of her skin. “Th-thats a-a...”
“Yeah a guard. Frozen solid.”
“But is he” Twilight swallowed hard before she could say the word. “Is he dead?”
“Not gonna lie Sparkle, it doesn't look too good for him.”
Monarch gritted his teeth, when he looked at Twilight she looked to be on the verge of tears. Quickly he came up with something to try and keep her from crying.
“But it’s impossible to say for sure. This cold is unpredictable, I mean Canterlot got frozen over while Ponyville got snowed in. Then Cloudsdale gets snowed over, that shouldnt even be possible since it’s above the clouds.”
Twilight sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes.She didn't look much better but she seemed to be able to go on. “You’re right Monarch, we can't jump to conclusions yet. *sniff* We have to keep going it’s the only way we are going to help anypony.”
“That’s the spirit. Come on the others are waiting.”
“Should we tell them about...”
“Hmm... Probably. Even if we didn't there is a chance that we are going to find more ponies like this.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Sparkle, I think I have an idea of what is doing all this but the chance that I am right is incredibly slim. The only way for me to confirm it is to speak with Celestia and Discord. Until then I don't want to get anypony’s hopes up.”
Twilight wanted to question Monarch more but when he had finished he had trotted outside before giving her a chance. She knew that Monarch meant well but she didn't care, she had to know what he thought so she could at least have some ground to stand on. She was the only one in the group with any family in Canterlot and if anything happened to them...
“No... I’m wrong. A lot of my friends has somepony important to them in Canterlot. Rainbow Dash has the wonderbolts, Rarity has that Fancypants fellow and I would not put it past Applejack to have family here. Then Monarch has Discord...”
“Twilight!” Rainbow called for her. “Come on slowpoke the gate is open we gotta get going.”
“Coming girls be right with you.”
Twilight gave one last look to the frozen guard before leaving. “I promise to do everything I can to help you.”
*****************************************************************************************
The streets of Canterlot sparkled from the slightest beam of light causing the already stunning city to become gorgeous. The entire city looked as if it was made from diamonds. As a result this ended up being a bit of a distraction to one pony in particular
“Oh my, just look at that lamp posts darlings. And that building is simply divine.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes as Rarity continued to coo at every last sparkling inch of Canterlot. “Oh yeah Rarity and take a look at that bedazzling mailbox.” Rainbow said sarcastically.
“Where, Where?”
Rainbow and a few of the others couldn't help but laugh.
“Hmph, go on and laugh but it takes a refined eye to recognize such beauty.”
“Yeah Rarity.” Exclaimed Pinkie Pie “Just look at how shiny everything is. Oooh pretty.” Pinkie said while she stared deeply into a frozen over fire hydrant.
“Well, perhaps not too refined.”
“Are we to the castle yet?” Complained Rage. “It’s a bit too corpsey for me out here.”
On que Monarch hit Rage over the head with his hoof.
“Nyah! I only said it cause it’s true!”
Rage was referring to the many more frozen ponies that they had found upon entering the city. When Monarch had explained the state of the guard from the guard house it had been met with the utmost horror. When they passed the gate they found two more guards in the same condition and past them frozen citizens of Canterlot. It had taken much coaxing to convince Fluttershy to even take another step into the city. But once they had mentioned the animals at Canterlot gardens Fluttershy was convinced to go in order to check on the animals.
“We don't actually know if they are... Deceased yet Rage. Now quiet down, we’ll be at the castle at any moment.”
Rage continued with his usual muttering under his breath as they made their way through the streets. When he was out of earshot to his brother Monarch asked Twilight “Hey, uh just how farther is it to the castle anyway?”
Twilight giggled “Just a few more blocks, we should be able to see it in a moment. But i’ve been thinking...”
“Yeah?”
“I-it’s nothing, it’s just what if Celestia and Luna are...” She trailed off.
“Oh, hadn't thought of that. I just assumed that they would be powerful enough to not get frozen. But now that you mention it I can't help but wonder.”
“Sorry Aj, what's the matter?”
All Applejack could do was point ahead of her her eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Twilight and Monarch looked towards where Applejack was pointing and saw the spires of Canterlot castle but beneath the spires the majority of the castle was encased in a cube of ice.
“I feel like we should have seen that coming” Said Silver.
Twilight was exasperated and fell to her knees. “B-but that isn't possible. The castle is protected by numerous protection spells it shouldnt even be able to have ice on the outside.”
Twilight had been expecting to see citizens inside the castle taking shelter from the cold but know if the castle had been frozen over then that meant they had little hope at all.
“At least now we know that this was all intentional.”
Twilight blinked pulling herself out of her daze and she pulled herself back to her hooves to face Monarch.“Wh-what do you mean?”
But the unicorn shrugged and nodded his head towards Rage.
Rage still looking at the castle had not seen Twilight ask Monarch and not him so he continued. “Well, I mean just look at the ice. No way that’s pegasus made.”
“Oh yeah?” Challenged Rainbow “and just how would you know that?”
“Because there is no way that any pegasus could do that. That is just too big.”
“But then why do you say that it was intentional?” Asked Twilight.
“Because that block of ice is too perfectly made. Somepony must have put a lot of work into that.”
Twilight saw the sense in what Rage was saying but this left a question unanswered. “But then who could have-”
“H-hey is somepony over there?”
Everypony was silent. It seemed too good to be true to hear another pony’s voice in the city. But sure enough from around the corner a brown stallion in guards armor stumbled and slipped on the ice towards them with a look of pure joy plastered on his face.
“Oh wow, real ponies. I thought for sure that this was just a wild goose chase but... Hey wait aren't you Twilight Sparkle?”
The pony got really close to Twilight’s face making her feel uncomfortable
“Um, Yes.”
The pony’s smile grew even larger. “Oh thank Celestia, Captain Armor will be ecstatic.”
“Wait, Shining armor? My brother?” Twilights eyes were shining now.
“Yeah he and his wife Cadence found me and my friend this morning and we have been hiding out in their house ever since.”
“But then what are you doing out here now?” Monarch asked with a cocked eyebrow.
“Oh, the captain had me and my friend go out and look for survivors. The three of us went out about an hour ago, by my guess they are probably on their way back to the house by now.”
Twilight seemed like she was about to burst from joy. “What are we waiting for then? Let’s go meet up with them.”
“Hold on Twilight.”
“What Monarch?”
“Is it really a good idea for us to go with a strange pony that we have never met before?”
“But Monarch he’s our only chance to find anypony.”
“Or he means to lure us into a trap.”
“What other choice do we have?”
“Continue on our own.”
“And do what wander aimlessly?”
“I am just saying we need to think this through before following him.”
“Why are you being so suspicious of the first pony we find who wants to help us?”
The pony cleared his throat getting their attention. “Oh no he is perfectly in the right to have suspicion. My name is Hilt, I’m a private on the palace guard. I can't really prove it though, but I promise you you can trust me.”
Twilight felt that she could trust Hilt fully. So, tired of Monarch’s stubbornness Twilight decided that it was time for her to take charge. “Alright Hilt please lead the way.”
“Great, we’re going to the sculpture garden.”
Hilt happily turned and trotted his way to the side of the frozen castle. Twilight followed but knew that Monarch wouldn't be happy about this. But she didn't care. “He is always such a big baby about these kind of things .” She thought angrily “Right now I bet he's sulking at the back of the group .”
Twilight glared over her shoulder but saw that Monarch was still following right behind her and didn't look the least bit angered. Twilight was confused but didn't care. She was going to see her brother, a part of her family that she knew wasn't frozen into a ponysicle. This thought erased her anger and peace filled her mind once more.
*****************************************************************************************
“So then Blade and I thought we would hide out in some abandoned jewel mines underneath the castle until the captain was done giving out last minute winter wrap up duties. We decided to bring a few sub sandwiches and some cards and just hang out for the night. But when we tried to leave the next morning the trap door that lead to the guards washroom was locked tight. We panicked for a while but then we found another trap door that opened to the statue garden. Apparently one of the statues that had been blocking it off but when Discord attacked about a year back it must have been destroyed and so the way was open.”
Hilt had been helping to pass the time by telling the story of how he and his friend Blade had escaped from the overnight freeze over from the night before. Apparently Chrysalis the queen of the Changelings had not been the only one to know about the ancient mines. Hilt and Blade had discovered the caverns on their first year and had since used it as a hangout for themselves.
“After awhile we found the captain and Princess Miamora Cadenza and we made a makeshift shelter. The captain then had me and Blade go out and look for survivors while he and Princess Cadenza stayed behind to improve our shelter.”
“Uggh” Groaned Rage from the middle of the group. “Enough with the exposition. I realize this sounds really cliche but, are we there yet?”
Hilt looked around at his surroundings and bit down on his lip. “Uhm, well by the looks of these building’s distance from the castle I would say that the garden is is around... There.” Hilt pointed to a nearby frozen archway.
“Finally.”
The troop of ponies made their way past the archway but Hilt signaled them to stop the with an outstretched leg.
“What’s up?” Rainbow asked.
Shifting his eyes Hilt quietly answered “I think we’re being watch-”
At that moment another brown colt in guards armor leapt from atop the archway and landed on Hilt. The colt laughed hysterically while Hilt squirmed and called uncle trying to escape. All the others could do was stare in astonishment.
“C’mon Blade let me go.”
“Nuh uh. Not until you say you're a little filly.”
“C’mon just get off.”
“Who’s a little filly?”
“I am ok? I am.”
“Yes you are.”
The colt finally let off of Hilt allowing him to breathe. Hilt caught his breath while the other guard snickered at him. “Well Hilt i'm surprised you actually found somepony in this wasteland.”
“Yeah, but shouldnt you be out looking for survivors as well?”
“I was but then I got bored so I decided to hideout here until you came back. Well worth the wait in my opinion.”
Rainbow whispered to her friends “Who is this guy?”
“I don't know.” Replied Silver “But I like him”
“Anyway” Blade said changing the subject. “I have to say I am impressed Hilt I never thought that you would be able to find anypony much less a group of beautiful mares.”
Blade looked at each of them almost sizing them up. This made Twilight feel a mix of embarrassment and disgust, she could only guess what the others were feeling.
Hilt sensing this displeasure rolled his eyes at Blade. “Yes I found them a few blocks away. This is Twilight you know the captains sister?”
This almost instantly got Blade to stop. “Oh, uh, Then I guess that these are the elements of harmony then.”
“Yes they are.”
“Ah, yeah I got it. But then who are those?” Blade asked desperately hoping to change the subject.
“They are, they are, uh I actually don't know.”
“Oh how how rude of me.” Monarch exclaimed. “My name is Monarch and these are my brothers Rage and SIlver Lining.”
Blade cocked an eyebrow. “Why do those names sound familiar.
“Oh we’re just good friends of Twilight so you probably heard about us from Shining Armor or Celestia.”
Hilt and Blade seemed satisfied but now Twilight couldn't help but think of what if the brothers were on some sort of blacklist in Canterlot. But this overall wouldn't matter at the moment.
“Ok then Hilt, lets stop wasting time and go show the captain who we found.”
“Yeah. Hey wait, what do you mean by we?”
*****************************************************************************************
Shining Armor was not feeling well. Not to say he was sick but he definitely didn't feel good. In one night the entire city of Canterlot had been frozen completely over. Every citizen and almost every guard was frozen in ice, even the castle was inaccessible. He did have one thing working for him however. Cadence the love of his life was still around with him. He would have fallen apart if she hadn't been with him on this day.
They had built an igloo together with their magic and soon after found Hilt and blade who while lazy and almost delinquent like would be a great help and gave him some hope for other survivors. One thing that bothered Shining Armor though was that Hilt and Blade had a reason to be safe since they had been literally underground but he and Cadenced had been in their house and most of it had been frozen except a small portion of their bedroom.
It was useless to think this over and instead Shining returned to his task of packing snow into their igloo to make it warmer on the inside. Cadence meanwhile was putting the finishing touches on a beacon that she had made from a crystal from the mines Hilt and Blade had been hiding in. The beacon sat atop one of the status and when the light hit it a beam of light would shoot towards the sky signaling any survivors.
Still with their plans going smoothly Shining couldn't help but want something really good to happen to them soon.
Sometimes the universe gives you a freebie.
“Captain Armor sir? We’re back and we found some ponies.”
Shining’s spirits were lifted by this news but nothing could have prepared him for what he saw when he turned around.
“Twi-Twilee?”
There was no mistaking it Twilight and her friends were all right there before his very eyes. Nothing could have made him happier at that moment. Shining rushed to his sister who was also doing the same and they met in embrace.
“I was so worried about you when we got to the city.”
“I didn't think I would have anyway to communicate with you. I wasnt even sure I would be able to leave the city. Oh hold”
Shining quickly sprinted past the igloo and out of sight. A moment later he could be heard shouting “Cadence, quick come see who Hilt and Blade found!”
“Hold on i'm coming just give me a second and- there.”
Past the igloo a beam of purple light shot up to the sky illuminating the spot.
“Ok, now who did they find?”
“you are never going to believe it but it’s Twilee and her friends.”
Excited chatter could be heard between the couple on their trek to the igloo but the noise that everypony was hearing the most at the moment wa Rage’s laughter.
Rage pulled himself together “Twilee? Ha, I am never letting you live that one down Twilee .”
Twilight didn't care about Rage’s attitude and instead allowed herself to be happy to not only see her brother again but also Cadence alongside him.
Explanations were exchanged and stories told between the two siblings, for the time they took shelter in the igloo. After both sides explained their situations and how they had come to them a question came up from Shining Armor.
“So Twilight who are your new friends?”
Twilight having been so absorbed into reuniting with her brother that she had nearly forgotten that she would have to introduce the brothers to her brother.
Luckily Monarch had not and had prepared for this. The way he saw it was that either Celestia had told her captain all about the brothers and he would either form his own opinion of them or follow Celestia blindly, more likely the latte in Monarch’s mind, or Celestia will have kept him in the dark of the situation. Monarch decided that perhaps the best way to deal with Shining Armor would be to be honest but attempt to talk circles around him.
Before Twilight could respond Monarch was already at it. “Ah yes, well my name is Monarch Wisdom Disarray and these are my brothers Silver Lining Disarray and Rage Disarray. You might remember us we sent the tupperware set to the wedding. Anyway we haven't met but we have known your sister and her friends for about a year. I guess you could say that we do have some political tie ins but we don't really like getting fully involved with Celestia. Anyways there isn't much you need to know about us besides that we want to help and I actually believe that I may have figured-”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down buddy. I got most of that. It’s alright a friend of Twilight’s is a friend of mine.”
This gave Monarch more to work with, now he knew what Shining knew or more appropriately didn't know. “Sorry, but anyway after quite a bit of thinking and experimenting I believe that I have figured out what has caused this freeze over of Equestria.”
Silence, Monarch just sitting there with his usual smug grin.
Twilight couldn't believe him. “And?”
“Now just hear me out on this.” Monarch paused for a moment and then said “Windigos.”
More silence followed by a face hoof by Twilight. “Monarch... No, just no. That’s what you have thought has caused this the whole time? That makes no sense. The windigoes are from a hearth’s warming eve story not even that but a myth. What possible reasoning could have lead you to believe that?”
“I'm glad you asked that my dearest Ms. Sparkle.”
“Here we go.” Rage muttered laying down to sleep.
“You see the first time I suspected the windigoes was when in Ponyville whenever the crowd began to argue the snow would fall more rapidly. This matched the windigoe’s ability in the story to freeze ponies with negative feelings to each other. After that when we arrived at Canterlot you may remember our frozen friend in the guardhouse, he matched the description of a victim to the windigos to a T. As for the city itself it would seem that the ones responsible flash froze it and especially put work into the one place they would know that the greatest threat to them would be residing; Canterlot castle. With the princesses out of the way they would believe that they were safe from enemies. Also when we first met Hilt I conducted an experiment where I angered Twilight, sorry about that by the way, and the results were that when Twilight got mad it got colder meaning that the windigo magic was lingering.So what do you think now?”
Twilight sighed “It still doesn't make sense, Windigoes don't exist and if they did don't you think they would have tried to take over Equestria a little sooner?”
Monarch shook his head in that way of speaking to a child. “Twilight I thought you would have learned by now to think out of the box. Maybe something was stopping them from attacking or maybe they were waiting for the right time to strike like a moment of weakness for Equestria.”
“But” Said Shining Armor “Equestria is not weak right now in fact it might be at one of its highest points.”
“Easy soldier boy, I didn't say it was. I really think that we need more information anyway and I know just where to get it. Tell me soldier boy, is Canterlot tower at all accessible?”
“Uh, yeah it’s not frozen somepony could probably get in, Why?”
Monarch was now smiling ear to ear. “Because now we have not only a witness that probably has previous experience with windigoes but also the elements of harmony.”
Ironically it had been when Monarch had said too little and slowly rather than too much and fast that Shining got confused. “A witness? Who?”
“Why don't you come with me and find out?”
“Fine then.”
“Ok then that makes you, me Silver and Rage anypony else want to come?”
Pinkie happy to have a chance to move joyfully hopped up. “Ooh! Me,me,me.”
“Well I suppose I had better come as well.” Said Twilight. “If only to make sure you three don't forget the elements. Even though I doubt that there are any windigoes I feel as if we will need them.”
Monarch nodded in agreement. “Right then let’s go”
*****************************************************************************************
“Would you mind telling me who we are meeting yet?” Shining Armor asked crossley.
Monarch just laughed. “But the surprise is the best part.”
The group was now in Canterlot tower and had made their way past the foyer. Now they were heading up the stairs towards the second floor where the elements were kept. The inside of the tower was just as frosted as the outside causing the colored shards of light from the windows to reflect upon the icy ground.
Twilight was beginning to sense her brother’s nerves coming short. “It’s ok he’s always like this you get used to it.”
“Yeah and are they always like that?”
Shining was referring to the grumbling of Rage, a colorful slew of curses and complaints coming from under his breath, and Silver who was fawning over Pinkie from the air both whispering Celestia knew what to each other.
“Would you be surprised if I said yes?”
“I would Twilight.”
“Uh,ok that was really a rhetorical question.”
Shining was looking around himself. “That wasn't me.”
“No, it was me.”
If Discord could have made a less dramatic entrance he certainly hadn't tried. When they had reached the top of the stairs Discord had been waiting in the first window closest to Shining Armor.
Shining Armor then caught off guard by the talking window lost his footing on the last step and fell down a few steps of the staircase.
“That picture just talked.” Was all he could manage.
Discord rolled is two-dimensional eyes. “Oh how original, and i’m a window not a picture. On another note it is oh so lovely to see you all again. How have things been?”
Monarch shrugged “Not so bad ups and downs, the world seems to be freezing over at the moment but besides that it’s ok.”
Discord and Monarch continued their idle conversation while Shining Armor picked himself up and continued to stare. “Twilight? What is going on?”
Shining Armor slowly nodded his head.
“Good, cause we’re kind of just going headfirst right now. Monarch?”
“Hm? Oh yeah. So Dad, we were wondering if you knew exactly what attacked Canterlot and the rest of Equestria?”
“Oh yes of course it would have been pretty hard to miss.”
“So?”
“So what?”
“What was it?”
“Oh nothing too threatening just some windigoes from a few thousand years back.”
“Aha! I told you guys I was right.” Monarch proudly exclaimed with a proud smug grin.
“Monarch.” Discord said sternly. “Calm yourself, nopony likes a sore winner.”
Monarch’s grin faded quickly. “But dad-”
“Yes, father.”
“There’s a good boy.”
Twilight now was just as dumbfounded as her brother, not only had Discord talked down to Monarch but had also been able to hurt his pride.
“Anyways” Continued Discord. “I assume that you want to know all about the windigoes don't you?”
“Yes.” Said Twilight. “As quickly as possible please.”
“Very well here is the cliff’s notes version: A few thousand years ago during an age where Equestria was on the verge of civil war a herd of windigoes, supposedly the ones of the hearth’s warming eve’s story, were making their way to Equestria. King Concentus of course had me take action and by using some powerful interdimensional magic I sealed the beasts into a jar. Don't ask me how I don't even remember. So basically it means somepony has been monkeying in my laboratory and has released the windigoes once more. What you need to do is take the elements and do your friendship rainbow beam thingy. Questions?”
Shining Armor raised his hoof.
“Any that aren't about my being in a window?
Shining’s hoof went down.
But Twilight had one “Well, why didn't the windigoes freeze Canterlot tower if the elements can stop them so easily?”
“Uhm,” Shining grunted “I have one”
“Shoot”
“Well me and my wife were at our own house but we weren't affected by the windigoes at all. How come?”
Discord scratched his goat beard. “Hmm, your the captain of the guards right? Shining Armor?”
“Yes.”
“And you married Princess Miamora correct?”
“Yes.”
“And her magical profession is ‘love’?
“Yes. I think I see where this is going. Her magic shielded us from the windigoes ability to freeze ponies with anger and hatred right?”
“Give the stallion a cigar!”
Twilight now understood the situation and it seemed pretty straight forward. “So, when should we leave?”
DIscord replied “Probably in the morning would be best. Get a good night’s sleep but also I need you to find one thing for me.”
“What?”
“Why?”
“The trail you trek is a long one and you shall need a guide. I am the only one present with the knowledge of the location of my laboratory so you shall need me. That aside get going, it is nearly nightfall and you all need to be properly rested.”
Silver and Rage who had been standing there the whole time looked disappointed at these words. Discord picked up on this and said to them “Do not fret my sons we shall have much time ahead to talk for now save your strength.”
Both nodded. All ponies satisfied with their find made their way to leave. Before they got half way down the stairs though Discord called out one last time.
“Oh yes Twilight. I am also looking forward to us having some quality talk time.”
