It was winter.
This was a development that hadn’t really surprised anypony, since it generally happened at around the same time every year. It was safe to say that they’d expected it to happen again. The surprise had been that this was by far the coldest winter in memory – a fact that Granny Smith made a point of telling all comers at every opportunity, elaborating with the kind of relish reserved only for the aged when sharing their experiences of times of hardship. Not in all her many years had Equestria seen such weather, and she was more than certain, not in all the years beforehand.
For the most part, the folks took that information with a calm nod and a smile, appreciating the unspoken law that gave grandmothers the rights to any and all forms of exaggeration. But as the days grew colder and then impossibly colder still, the smiles came less and less often. The lake by Ponyville had frozen over before the first week of November had ended, the Everfree Forest’s trees were bare of their leaves before the time when they normally began to think about turning yellow. Sightings of wild animals in the countryside increased tenfold as food grew scarce, before dropping as the winter hibernation began early. And still, it got colder.
When every morning saw inches of frost, ponies told one another that it only made sleeping of a morning more delicious. When every night saw a fog so thick it felt almost as though you could cut it with a knife, they said that it only made nights sitting around the fireplace a better time to spend with loved ones. When the snows fell and blocked the roads, they said that it was only a matter of settling in until things got better. But by the time the crops failed before the fall harvest, none of them were smiling any more at all.
And still, impossibly, it got colder.
Those who could brave the cold marched the streets in protest. Letters were sent to Canterlot demanding that the Princesses intervene to help, to insist that the Pegasi of Cloudsdale fix the problem and return the weather to what should normally have been expected. It was their job, after all, and the foodstocks of the countryside would last only so long before the cold days and nights began to take their toll, and the letters poured in thick and fast. The ponies pleaded for help, they pleaded for warmth, they pleaded for food and salvation.
Two weeks after the letters began, Couldsdale was evacuated. The Pegasi were forced from their homes as uncontrollable thunderstorms boomed and crackled, injuring several. The cold below was intense, but the town in the sky found its water supply freezing solid, many weatherponies coming down with hypothermia in their own beds. The clouds swelled thick and uncountable in number, pouring rain and hail and sleet and snow over Equestria faster than the Pegasi could clear them, despite their best efforts. There was one case of a young colt trying to save a farmhouse from a blizzard before his wings froze over, sending him plummeting through the roof. As he recovered in Canterlot in a critical condition, the Princesses ordered that the citizens of Cloudsdale come down to earth until the crisis had ended. All attempts to control the weather were halted by necessity as the weatherponies were grounded until further notice.
And still, beyond all imagining, it got colder. Icicles formed on the awnings of buildings. Trees burst in the night under the weight of their own frost. Birds fell from trees, frozen in their roosts. The ponies huddled together for warmth, they rationed their food carefully, and in the corners of their dark homes, they began to whisper amongst themselves that something, somewhere, was terribly wrong in the land of Equestria. And when Granny Smith reminded them yet again that never before had anyone seen a winter like this one, everypony was beginning to agree.
“Close the door, Sweetie. It’s freezing out there.”
“Duh, you think I didn’t notice?”
Twilight trotted toward the sound of voices. Her expression was set in a look best described as ‘grimly optimistic’, a look that many residents of Ponyville were sharing these days – toughing out the hard times with the conviction that it would get better. Eventually. As she reached the Library foyer, she managed a genuine smile at the sight of Rarity and Sweetie Belle stripping off wet wrappings and scarves. “Hi there. How are the two of you?”
Rarity shorted as her scarf wrapped itself around a hook by the door, shaking herself to get the last of the cold out of her coat. “Ghastly, darling, but then who wouldn’t be in this abominable weather? I swear, everything I own is going to be ruined by this damp, I’m getting mildew into every clothesrack, my mane is getting the most ghastly split ends…” she shook herself theatricality. “Still, one perseveres. It gives us more of an excuse to be social, at least.”
Twilight shook her head a little at that, her smile still warm. Some ponies coped with the times through grim optimism, yes, but Rarity was as reliable as the sun and the moon in that she’d complain about the little things to the end of the world with a smile on her face. It was her way of not letting the bigger picture bother her. “And how about you, Sweetie Belle?” She winked at the filly. “Having fun cooped up in the boutique with your big sister?”
Sweetie snorted, flicking her tail. “Oh, it’s been great. I’ve learned so much.” Sarcasm was pooling on the Library floor faster than melting snow was. “Like, I spent four hours today learning whether it’s possible to get a cutie mark in shovelling snow. FYI? It’s not.”
The two older unicorns chuckled at that. Rarity lowered her head and brushed her nose against the young filly’s mane. “Now, dear, don’t think I don’t appreciate it. If that weather piled up any higher we’d have been sealed in. You’re making a tremendous effort on everyone’s part.” A faint glimmer flashed from her horn as a small leather satchel rose into the air, resting over her back, and at last she straightened up. “Well. Shall we?”
The trio made their way through the library to where Twilight and Spike had cleared out one of the main reading areas for a larger table. With the weather being the way it was, and supplies such as lantern fuel or candles at a premium, few ponies were visiting the Library these days, and there was less need for sitting space. The same logic had led to the decision that drew the little gathering this evening; food stocks weren’t exactly low in Ponyville, but they were far from infinite. It had been Twilight’s suggestion to pool their resources, on the logic that one meal for a large group could be produced for far less cost than many meals for several individuals. None of them spoke out loud what they all were secretly relieved for, far more than simple food – that when the wind screamed especially loudly through the empty streets of Ponyville, having the company of close friends seemed to mean more than ever. A group meal at the Library was becoming a nightly event, as evidenced by the pink and yellow figure at the table as they approached.
“Rarity! Sweetie Belle!” Fluttershy looked up with a smile as the three Pegasi reached the little dining area. “I just got here myself. I… I hope you’re well?”
Rarity bobbed her head gracefully. “Always, Fluttershy, always.” She gave a warm smile of her own. “And you? Taking care of those sweet little creatures of yours?”
“Oh, my, yes. They’re a little grumpy about the cold, of course, but then I think everyone is. It’s just a matter of keeping them warm and fed, you know, I’m sure the cold will break eventually.” It was an unusually long speech from the shy Pegasus, but then the care of her beloved animals was one of the few subjects that could loosen her tongue for more than few words anyway.
Sweetie Belle looked around curiously at the otherwise empty Library. “Is anyone else coming tonight?” She asked curiously. Twilight shook her head.
“The Apples are too busy at the farmhouse tonight. Applejack said that she and Big Macintosh have been trying to get the fields plowed for the last four days, but the ground’s just too hard.” She tried and failed to hide a grin. “I hear they’re making Rainbow Dash earn her keep with the other chores, though, that’s for sure.”
That earned a few chuckles from around the room. Following the evacuation of Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo had both been offered beds at Sweet Apple Acres until the cold weather had abated. The cyan Pegasus had complained bitterly about the arrangement, adamantly insisted that she didn’t need anypony’s help, reminded all and sundry on a regular basis that she was an independent and all-around practically perfect pony, and convinced absolutely nopony that any of this was true. She’d also thrown herself into farmwork with a dedication that had surprised her friends, giving the explanation that if she was going to be stuck on some stupid farm for the duration of the winter, she could at least show those earth ponies how a real Pegasus worked. And again, nopony had challenged her on that – the only thing Rainbow was worse at than modesty was admitting that she needed help, and everyone understood how truly grateful she was.
“And Pinkie Pie is eating with the Cakes tonight,” Fluttershy put in quietly, shuffling a little in her spot. “So it’s just us. Well, and Spike, of course.”
Hearing his name, the dragon’s head emerged from around the door to the kitchen, eyes wide. “Huh? Oh!” He beamed, scrambling out on short little legs toward the new arrivals. “Hey, Rarity! Hey, Sweetie Belle!” He stopped in front of them and drew himself up to his full, diminutive height. “It’s great to see you, you’re looking beautiful tonight!”
Rarity smiled at the compliment. “Patently untrue, Spike, I look simply dreadful with this weather. But thank you.”
“No, really, you…”
“Spike.” Twilight’s voice cut him off before he started trying to recite poetry or propose marriage. “How’s dinner coming along?”
“Huh?” He looked around, his train of thought derailed and a blush creeping up his neck, faintly visible under his scales. “Oh, r-right. Dinner.” He cleared his throat. “Uh, it’s going fine. Got some steamed vegetables, quiche, and some honey-oat cakes for dessert. Should be done soon?”
“Ooooh.” Sweetie Belle’s eyes went round at that – Spike’s ability to bake may not have been on a par with that of Pinkie Pie or the Cakes when it came to desserts, but his dandelion quiche was just shy of legendary amongst the kitchens of Ponyville. “I call dibs on the quiche.”
Rarity chuckled and bowed her head for a moment, the leather satchel rising off her back and floating through the air to drop into Spike’s hands. “Here, then. If you’re going to go to such efforts on our part, my dear, consider this the very least we can do.” The top of the bag opened slightly to reveal a collection of emeralds and sapphires, and even a particularly choice-looking ruby. Spike’s belly gurgled as though struck by an earthquake.
“Oh man. Yes. Yes, yes, yes.” He nodded, eyes wide and eager. “Thank you! This is fantastic!”
“It’s in self-preservation,” Twilight pointed out. “We gotta stuff you full of gems or you’ll just eat all the food before we can get any of it.”
“Hey!”
Fluttershy giggled soflty. “Spike, I’m sure they’re joking…”
“Yeah, yeah.” Clutching the bag as though he feared it would be stolen from him, Spike scampered back toward the kitchen. “Alright, give me five minutes and it'll be ready.”
The three unicorns seated themselves comfortably, at ease in one another’s company, and at Sweetie Belle’s prompting Fluttershy began a tale of the exploits of her rabbit Angel and his ill-fated attempt earlier that day to break into the food supplies using a pilfered fork and a handful of stale walnuts. The mood was light, despite the howling wind and falling snow outside, a little bastion of warmth in the cold winter night, broken just as Spike was setting out dinner by a rapid knocking on the door. Gesturing for Spike to begin serving, Twilight went to answer it.
“Twilight?” There was a further series of knocks as she approached the door, the voice outside familiar and sounding more than a little concerned. “You in there? Hurry your tail up, I’m turning into an ice cube out here…”
The door swung open at last, to reveal a shivering Rainbow Dash. Stepping aside in surprise, Twilight let the Pegasus enter, cocking her head. “Rainbow? What in Equestria are you doing out in this weather? I thought you were staying at Sweet Apple Acres…”
“I am.” Rainbow tossed her head, stamping her hooves on the floor to get warm. “I just had to get here to see you.” She paused, looking about the Library. “Well, technically to see Spike, actually. Is scale-butt around, or did he go to bed already?”
“Spike? Oh, he’s this way.” Looking confused, Twilight led her friend through the bookshelves, still eying the Pegasus with concern. “Rainbow, are you alright?”
“Long way from alright, let me tell you. I just…” her voice trailed off as she saw the assembled group sitting at the table, serving up the meal. “Oh! Uh, hi, everypony.” She gave a smile that seemed just a little too forced. “Sorry to barge in like this. I just, uh, need to borrow Spike for a moment?”
The dragon looked up in surprise. “Me? What’s wrong?”
Rainbow shook her head quickly. “Oh, nothing, nothing’s wrong at all. Really. I just, um, need your help to send a letter to Princess Celestia.”
“What about?”
The Pegasus shifted on her hooves a little, throwing a rather pointed look at Sweetie Belle, who was thankfully concentrating on her quiche. “About something I need to talk to you privately about. Now c’mon, I didn’t freeze my flanks off so I could get asked a bunch of stupid questions!”
Rarity smiled and with a twitch of her horn, the serving implements lifted from Spike’s claws. “Off you go, dear. If it’s this urgent, you can help Rainbow with her letter. I’ll finish serving and we’ll be sure to save some for you as well.” She looked up at Rainbow Dash. “Will you be joining us as well, darling?”
“Hmm?” Rainbow looked agitated, about to refuse, before she eyed the table. “Is that… dandelion quiche?” For the first time since she arrived, she managed what looked like a real grin. “Oh, there’s no way I’m passing that up. Yeah, save me a slice.”
At a nod, Spike climbed down from the table, and he and Rainbow Dash headed for another corner of the library away from the dinner table, Twilight following close behind. “Rainbow Dash? Is… is everything all right?”
Once they left the earshot of the others, the smile melted from Rainbow’s face. “Not even close.” Her eyes went hard. “I just didn’t want to bring it up in front of Sweetie. We’re keeping it from Applebloom and Scootaloo as well. There’s been an accident.”
“Oh my.” Twilight’s brow creased. “Are… is everypony at the farm alright?”
Rainbow nodded. “Yeah. At least, everypony staying there is. But…” she took a deep breath. “Big Macintosh found an overturned wagon past one of the Northern fields half buried in a snowdrift. It looks like a wheel got broken and they were stuck in the blizzard. Two earth ponies and a foal, they must’ve crawled under the wagon for shelter when they couldn’t reach anywhere else.”
Spike gasped, his eyes horrified. “W-wait, you mean… are they…”
“They didn’t make it.” Rainbow’s voice was rough, her eyes closed. “I… we told the fillies to stay inside with Granny Smith. I went with Applejack and Macintosh and we… we uncovered them. Brought them to the farm, managed to clean them up a little.” She looked sick at the memory. “I flew straight here. We can’t…” she swallowed. “…we can’t just leave them in the barn, but the roads are too blocked to get anypony out to collect them. We don’t even know their names.” She took a shuddering breath. “Spike, I need to ask you to write to Princess Celestia and tell her what’s happened. Ask her what we should do.”
The young dragon spent only a few moments longer looking ill before he nodded, padding to a table and lighting a lamp. There was ink and a quill there, along with papers, and he began scratching out the letter in short order as Twilight stepped in close and pressed her shoulder against Rainbow’s.
“Rainbow?” she asked quietly. “Are you alright?”
The Pegasus looked as if she’d been stung. “Who, me?” She snorted. “I’m always alright! You forget who you’re talking to, Hornbrain?” The tone was harsh, but she made no move to step away from that little contact. The faint little tremor in her voice told volumes more than her words ever could have, and Twilight nodded gently, knowing her friend far too well to be fooled by the bravado.
“I know you are. I just…” she gave a little shudder. “…I don’t know how I’d be after seeing something like that.”
It was just the little crack that the Pegasus seemed to need, her act dropping for a fraction of a second, and she took a deep breath before nodding. “I… I know. I just don’t know what they were even doing.” A haunted look came into her eyes. “These ponies, Twilight, their wagon was full of personal stuff. They were moving everything they owned, through a blizzard, at night, with a foal.” She looked down at the floor.
“I mean, why the hay would you risk that? What's so awful you gotta do something that stupid and get yourself frozen solid? What were they trying to run from?”
“Run!”
Wind Whistler’s breath sobbed in her throat, coming out in frosty plumes as she galloped through the snow, hooves kicking up clumps of white behind her. She nearly slipped banking around a tree, stumbling, only to be caught by the strong shoulder of the pony next to her. Caramel pushed her upright, looking behind them for signs of pursuit.
“Caramel, I-I can’t see the road.” Her voice was trembling and high-pitched, the filly trying not to give in to her panic.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.” His own voice was hoarse. “We keep going in this direction, we’ll come out about a mile from Ponyville.” Caramel looked around. “I think.”
“Are they still chasing us?”
“I don’t know. Don’t stop or we might find out.”
They dashed madly through the woods, bare trees looming in front of them as the rising wind and fog reduced visibility to no more than a few feet. The two ponies were nearly stumbling with exhaustion, driven on by fear of whatever was behind them – until Caramel’s hoof struck a buried stone, turning under him, sending him sprawling into the snow with a cry.
“Caramel!” Wind Whistler skidded to a halt, turning back and pushing at him. “Get up, get up, get up! C’mon, hurry, you have to get up…”
With a groan the pony raised himself, standing gingerly on three hooves – the fourth throbbing in agony, badly twisted. “Nnngh… Celesita damn it, no…” he looked up at her. “I… I c-can’t run on this, Whistler, you…” his voice trailed off as his eyes fixed on something behind her. “Oh no.”
“What?” Turning, the filly looked around, her heart leaping into her throat as she saw something moving through the blinding spray of snow, a collection of white figures. “No… n-no, noooo…”
“Whistler. Run.” Caramel’s voice was thick and urgent. “Just run. Forget about me.”
She looked at him wide-eyed. “W-what? No, I, I can’t do that!”
“Do it!” His eyes were blazing. “Just go, get to Ponyville and get help! You have to run, I’ll hold them off!” He shoved at her with one hoof, drawing himself up. “Run!”
He charged at the figures on three hooves, disappearing into the mist. Wind Whistler watched him go, breath sobbing, tears freezing on her cheeks as she felt her heart pounding in panic – and then she turned, galloping on, though the forest as fast as she could run. Her breath seemed deafening in her ears, her eyes nearly blind, the poor filly’s mind screaming in panic.
When she heard Caramel’s scream somewhere behind her, she lost it completely.
All grace left her, the filly scrambling wildly on her hooves, her sense of direction gone completely, just running wildly and madly in the desperate hope that she’d find some refuge, someone to help her, to keep her away from the figures in the mist. On and on and on she ran, hooves leaving deep divots in the snow, until at last she came to a halt, flanks steaming and breath heaving as the last of her adrenaline left her exhausted and trembling, sobbing pitifully in terror.
In the mist all around her, she could hear hoofsteps.
She curled up in the snow, shivering violently, whimpering like a lost foal as white-on-white silhouettes became visible in the swirling weather. “N-n-no… p-please, just… just let me go… p-please…”
There was no answer. There was no sign they heard. There was nothing but the sound of the screaming blizzard, and the faint crunch of hooves in snow, and as the figure of a pale rider loomed out of the fog at her, she felt so cold, so horribly deathly cold and her vision faded. It was like falling asleep, but not quite – she could feel herself being moved, could feel her limbs being manipulated, dragged somewhere, but her mind was sluggish and dull, and she couldn’t make herself move, and it was so cold, so very cold. After a time she was set down somewhere, in a deep bank of snow, and with the very last vestiges of her strength she raised her head.
Caramel lay beside her, eyes closed, not moving. No warm plume of breath rose from his nostrils, no twitches came from his muscles to protest the cold, no signs of life came from him whatsoever. A thick layer of white frost covered him, as though he’d been painted by somepony who didn’t care if they did a good job. She wanted to reach out to him, to touch him, but she couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, could only feel the tears welling up as she stared at her coltfriend’s motionless body.
There was a sudden crunch in the snow as something else approached. Something different, something not white with frost, something that was not one of the pale riders that had chased them. Wind Whistler looked up weakly, eyes nearly blinded again, her mane stiff with ice, some pathetic part of her praying that someone had come to help them, to save them.
Then she saw the figure that stood over the two beaten, frozen ponies. She stared for long moments, wide-eyed in horror, uncomprehending exactly what she was looking at but knowing, somewhere deep inside of herself in a place that didn’t need words, that it was the end of her.
And the very, very last shred of will in her frozen and failing body went into a long, pitiful scream that faded into the howling wind.
My dear student,
It is with true pain that I learn of the fate that befell the family discovered by Sweet Apple Acres. Even as I write this, a contingent of Royal Guards are on board the train to Ponyville; they will be there before morning to tend to the fallen. I cannot express deeply enough my regret that this terrible event has come to pass, or that the burden of tending to those who have passed has fallen to your friends. Please extend to them my deepest sympathies, and my heartfelt thanks that they took it upon themselves to do what was right, knowing that it was no mean task.
No doubt you are amongst those who wonder what has befallen Equestria, though in your letters you have not been so forward as to ask outright. I shall save you the effort; we simply do not know. The ferocity of this winter is something that has not been seen before in these lands. And loath though I am to tell you this, the tragedy of that family by your friend’s farm is not the first such story. There are dark rumours circling Equestria, whispers of unnatural happenings and of things perhaps best left as whispers for now. Yet the searching of my sister and myself have revealed nothing; we can find no trace of malevolent cause behind this ill-fated winter. It is possible that this is simply the hand of fate at work, dealing to us a harsh season with more than its share of tragic accidents.
It is possible... and I pray that it is so. Would that I could truly believe it.
If I could, I would make a request of you to ease my mind. Many towns are under threat at present, some near, some distant, as this terrible winter cuts off those around us from aid. I have received reports of many incidents, and many hardships, but at present it is silence that disturbs me most. It is silence that I have from one town in particular: Buckton, a small village some fifty miles south of Ponyville. There has been no word from the town in the last week, and though the last contact suggested no ill happenings, my concern is no less. Much that passes beneath sun and moon is hidden from my sister and myself in this infernal fog. I am aware that several Pegasi have moved to Ponyville following the evacuation of Cloudsdale; if you could request that one of them make the journey to Buckton and check on the ponies there, I would take it as a great and personal favour.
Beyond this, all I can ask of you in this time is to remain strong and true to those close to you. Hardships are a part of life, and there is a lesson to be learned from them: tragedy and difficulty can strike, but it is through friendship that we find the strength to go on through them, and it is the memory of hardship that makes times of joy taste all the sweeter. These are more than empty words, my student, and I counsel you to think on them in the winter to come. And know that whatever else may pass, the blessings of the sun and moon are with you, and watching over you all.
Yours in trust,
Celestia.
The sun that rose in the sky the next morning was sickly and pale through the fog, lighting up the frozen streets of Ponyville but doing little to warm them. Dinner had been a slightly subdued affair after Rainbow’s letter had been sent, though they’d made the effort to remain cheerful, not telling others of the grisly discovery at Sweet Apple Acres for the time being. Spike had gorged himself on gems and hung on every word Rarity had spoken, Rainbow and Sweetie had demolished far more of the quiche than the others considered to have been fair, Twlight and Fluttershy had discussed the finer points of lapine temperament in subzero temperatures, and after reading Princess Celestia’s response, they’d called it a night.
Rainbow Dash had predictably volunteered to make the trip to Buckton, accompanied by a surprising offer from Fluttershy to keep her friend company; they’d agreed to meet at sunrise at Fluttershy’s house before making the trip together, after Rainbow Dash had returned to Sweet Apple Acres to deliver the news and collect a few essentials for what promised to be a tiring flight. Now, it was midday, and those ponies brave enough to venture outside trotted through the snowy streets, their breath fogging in the frigid air.
"...don't see how that's really gonna achieve anything, honestly. Why'd you wanna do somethin' like that in the first place?"
In particular, two earth ponies were standing in the street, drawing the occasional odd look as they pointedly ignored the icy conditions for the sake of a particularly odd conversation.
"I need a reason?" Pinkie Pie's head tilted to one side as if the concept of needing a reason for her actions had legitimately never occured to her, which in all fairness, was entirely possible. "How come? It made all the foals laugh when they were coming into the bakery to buy a birthday cake!"
Applejack shook her head, trying not to chuckle. "Y'can't just start doin' random things for no good reason, it don't make no sense!"
"I started doing that a long time ago!"
"...okay, y'got a point."
Pinkie beamed. "So are you going to help me, then? If we can get everyone to try it'd be the most super-fantastic idea ever, I just know it! We're gonna be stars!"
That made AJ snort. "I said y'had a point. It ain't that good a point. Hell, I don't even know how in the hay you keep that darn thing up there long enough to do your trick!"
"What thing up where?"
The two Earth ponies turned to see Twilight approaching, a large paper-wrapped bundle on her back. "Don't tell me you two are planning another prank session?"
Applejack looked indignant. "Another? I ain't the sort to get involved in that tomfoolery and you know it, Twi! Leave me outta Pinkie's shenanigans."
"Shenanigans is a fun word," observed Pinkie. "And hi, Twilight!"
The unicorn smiled. "Hi, Pinkie. What are you two talking about anyway?"
Applejack rolled her eyes at the question; Pinkie beamed. "The Rainbow 'Stache!"
"...the what?"
In answer, Pinkie braced her back legs, lowered her head, crossed her eyes, and held the pose for several long seconds. Twilight stared at her in confusion before looking up at Applejack, tilting her head to the side.
"Give her a sec," Applejack advised.
The unicorn's eyes slid down to Pinkie, still in that odd position - and then suddenly the pink pony sneezed, loudly. Her head shook, all four hooves coming off the ground, her tail going stiff and straight, and abruptly a large rainbow-coloured moustache erupted from her nose and positioned itself perfectly above her upper lip. Her head came up, a huge and absurdly pleased smile plastering itself on her face, and she beamed at Twilight.
"Ta-daah!"
Twilight couldn't quite hold in a snort of laughter, Applejack pressed a hoof to her face, and Pinkie beamed at her friends as if she'd just performed the greatest miracle ever seen by ponykind. Then, nodding, she tilted her head back, gave a bizarre snorting-hiccupping sound, and as suddenly as it had appeared the Rainbow 'Stache vanished back to wherever it was that it had come from.
"Whaddya think?"
"Um..." Twilight managed to contain herself enough to get a straight face. "That's... that's a neat trick, Pinkie. Really!"
Pinkie looked confused. "Trick? It's not a trick!"
"But... then what..."
"Anyway." Applejack cut in gently. "That's pretty much what you walked up listenin' to, Twi. Pinkie's real happy with herself."
Pinkie nodded at this. "You just wait! It'll be the best idea ever to hit Ponyville, it'll change the world and save lives and make us all rich enough to buy candy any time we want!"
Twilight blinked. "You think the... the Rainbow 'Stache can do all that?"
"Huh?" The party pony looked confused for a second before beaming again. "Ooooh, that's an even better idea than the one I was thinking with the stilts!"
There was a very long pause before Twilight opted to simply change the topic. "So. Applejack." She smiled at the orange pony. "Got any produce to sell today?"
Applejack grinned. "Y'ever see me when I don't have at least a couple?" Turning, she trotted over to the stall and nosed around in the crates. "Now. Bad news is, with this weather we're usin' the preserved an' dried stock more than the fresh. Gotta use what we have sparingly. Good news is, business has been slow, so we got plenty of everything. What're you after?"
"Two bushels, please. I'm sure Spike can do wonders with them even if they're dried."
Pinkie watched as Twilight fished around for some bits. "I probably oughta get some more from you soon too, Applejack," she said thoughtfully, her mind for once grounded in reality. "In this sort of weather everyone loves a warm dessert, and there's a recipie for strudel I want to try, or maybe some cobbler..."
"Any time you need 'em, sugar, you just lemme know."
As she levitated the apples onto her back, Twilight looked awkwardly at Applejack and cleared her throat. "So, uh... h-heard from Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy yet? I know it's only been a few hours, but Buckton's not that far, and the Princess did want them to be quick..."
Applejack flinched a little at the mention of the errand to Buckton - the mention of the letter to Celestia brought back the memories of the previous night and their grisly discovery. "No sign of 'em yet, Twi." She shook her head, "Figure we'll hear from 'em when they get back. Y'know how those two can be. Unless Dash gets it in her fool head for a race, she'll laze around all she can, and lord knows Fluttershy ain't gonna try an' make her pick up the pace any."
"Good point." Twilight nodded. "So... what happened with the soldiers..." She cast a sideways glance at Pinkie, who looked on curiously. Applejack just nodded.
"It's alright, Twi. She knows. I just ain't so keen on tellin' the little fillies about it, y'understand?" She sighed. "A buncha the Royal Guard showed up a few hours after midnight. Took care of the family, personal belongings, all that. Even offered us a reward." The orange pony shook her head. "I know they meant well, but... it just don't seem right, gettin' rewarded for somethin' like that. We turned 'em down."
Pinkie looked uncharacteristically somber. "You did a good thing, Jackie."
Applejack shot her a fake-grumpy look. "Told you to stop callin' me that," she muttered, before shaking her head. "Anyhow. Big Macintosh kept up a vigil o' sorts in the barn while we waited for the soldiers, told me to get some sleep. I made him promise not to leave the house until midday, or that darn fool'd be out there tryin' to plow those fields now on about an hour's sleep. Everythin' else is just... well, what is there to say?"
"Not much." Twilight looked sympathetic. "Pinkie's right, though. You did well, Applejack. The Princess was really grateful in her letter for how you did the right thing for that family."
The farm pony just snorted. "Yeah? Well, lemme tell ya, doin' the right thing sure ain't fun."
Pinkie and Twilight exchanged a look; before either of them could say anything, however, a new voice cut into their conversation.
"Twilight! Twilight Sparkle!" The call came from not too far away, and the trio of ponies turned as one; Rarity was visible at the door of Carousel Boutique, waving frantically. "Twilight, we need you!"
The three friends didn't hesitate, Applejack abandoning her stall for the time being as they headed for the Boutique. "Rarity!" Twilight's voice was alarmed as they ran. "What is it?"
Rarity held the door for them. "Oh, my stars, it... it's Rainbow and Fluttershy, they just came in the back door, and... oh dear..."
As one, the small group entered the Boutique. Inside, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash sat at a large table, looking haggard; the two of them were drinking mugs of what looked like apple brandy, apparently collected from Rarity's kitchen as a stunned-looking Sweetie Belle stared up at them.
"Sweetie!" Rarity's voice contained only a hint of its usual self-control and kindness. "I need you to upstairs, dear. Now."
"But..." the foal's face was the picture of confusion. "I don't understand..."
"Just go!" Rarity pointed with one hoof. "I am sorry, dear, and I will explain soon, but you don't need to hear this." She looked a little worse for wear herself. "I don't understand either but I need you to trust me and listen to me. Please just go upstairs."
As the bewildered foal reluctantly obeyed, the others crowded around the table. Rainbow Dash looked up, her eyes red and bloodshot, and she drained her mug before looking down at the table. "Hey." Fluttershy didn't even manage that, keeping her eyes down as she nursed a mug of brandy, trembling.
"Hey..." Twilight's voice was soft, and she stood close to her friends, not sure exactly how to proceed. "Are... are you two okay?"
Rainbow gave a harsh little bark of laughter that contained no humour at all. "Us? Oh, we're fine! Just fine!" There was real bitterness in her voice. "Look at us, all bright and happy and... and fine..."
The four standing ponies looked back and forth at one another. "I have no idea," Rarity forestalled the obvious question. "They came in and asked me to get them a drink of whatever I had that was strong. They've not said anything else."
Applejack trotted closer, nudging Rainbow Dash with her nose. "Dash? You look a little shell-shocked, honey. What happened, was there something at Buckton?"
The cyan pegasus flinched at that, grabbing at her mug again, and letting it roll away when she found it to be empty. "Buckton? Yeah. We went to Buckton." There was a ragged edge in her voice. "The Princess wanted us to check it out so we went, we flew all morning, and then... then..."
As her voice trailed off, Twilight stepped up and tried to get Rainbow Dash to meet her eyes. "Rainbow. What happened in Buckton?"
"They were dead."
The soft voice cut through the quiet room, and in shock four heads snapped around to Fluttershy. Even Rainbow looked up, looking as if she were on the verge of tears. Fluttershy kept her head low, not looking at anyone, her voice soft and choking.
"We arrived and there was nopony in the street because they were dead. And then we checked the businesses but they were closed because they were dead. And then we looked in houses but nopony was moving around because they were dead. And we went inside a house and we went upstairs and we looked in a bedroom and they were there and they wouldn't move and they weren't breathing and the next house was exactly the same and they were all dead and... and..."
Her voice rose higher and higher with each word, becoming more and more hysterical until it broke, the yellow pegasus curling up into a ball as tears ran from her eyes. In a flash, Pinkie Pie and Rarity were beside her, wrapping their hooves around her and holding her tight as they looked with shocked eyes for confirmation to Rainbow Dash. Reluctantly, the cyan pegasus nodded.
"She's right."
Applejack looked sick. "But... th' whole town..."
"The whole town." Rainbow nodded. "I mean we... we didn't check every house, but... yeah. It's like Fluttershy said."
Twilight looked from the sobbing Fluttershy back to Rainbow Dash, eyes wide with horror. "But how? Were there... were there signs of a struggle, or..."
"Nothing." Her multicolour mane flicked as she shook her head. "There was food in the houses, the fireplaces had wood, the doors were secure..." her voice faltered, but she went on. "...and the... the bodies were whole. They were covered in frost, but they were whole. All the windows were open in the bedrooms." Her voice started to break as a tear ran down her own cheek. "Even... even a nursery in the third house we found. That's the one that... that I think Fluttershy broke on, we couldn't... c-couldn't do anything..."
"But this doesn't make sense!" Twilight's voice rose, nearly a little hysterical herself. "How could this happen? How could it happen to a whole town?"
"I don't know." Rainbow's voice had none of its usual fire or force. She wasn't arguing or boasting. She just sounded... defeated. "I just don't know, Twilight. That whole town lay down and let themselves freeze to death and I don't know why."
The Boutique fell silent as Fluttershy's sobs trailed off into sniffles, the shy yellow pegasus curling up against Pinkie Pie and letting herself cry out the horror of what they'd found, all six of the friends wondering the same thing: what terrible thing was happening to Equestria.