“This boy is a bastard.”

That’s what the mysterious man said when he dropped Matthew off at castle black when he was still an infant. After bringing the small infant inside and discovering it was indeed a boy.

Matthew’s name was written on a piece of paper hidden in the cloth that wrapped him. Once the kicking and screaming baby grew up, many years later, Matthew flipped through a book, searching for a story to pique his interest.

The Ranger continued to flip through the old dusty book until footsteps echoed through the library. When someone approached Matthew, the stranger was wearing a black robe with chains underneath not to bind him, but rather, to show his status as head-Measter of the Night’s Watch.

“A Ranger reading? What’s next, pigs with wings, and sociable Giants? What has this world come to?”

Matthew rolled his eyes before he responded. “Careful Maester, I might let comments like that slide, but the other Rangers won’t.” Matthew closed the book as the Maester laughed, and his chains jingled.

“Matt, if I’m being honest, most of the Rangers here at Castle black have gotten too arrogant, because of their Ranger status. But to me? They’re all the same. Plus, I’m the one who patches them up after every little scrap they get themselves into.”

Matthew scoffed light-heartedly at the comment. “True. Very true, but someone has to read the orders from the First Ranger, or even the Lord Commander.”

As Matthew spoke, the Maester moved around to sort the Library. “I know, Brother Matt, I’m just horsing around. I only joke about it with you, because you’re the only Ranger that ever comes to the Library.”

“Rangers, think that only stewards and Builders should read because they never see battle. However, a clever man knows knowledge is a powerful tool that can teach and destroy. If you can’t beat an enemy with brute strength. Then a more strategic approach is sometimes necessary. That is something they will never understand.”

The Maester was about to continue when footsteps came from the steps, as a Steward entered by the main entrance. “Maester, the Lord Commander, requested your presence. You need to be in the courtyard for the ceremony.” The young Steward said before looking at Matthew.

After seeing that Matthew was a Ranger, he gave a glare of disgust before the healer shooed him away. “Tell the Lord Commander I’ll be there shortly.” The Steward turned his attention back to the old doctor and nodded before leaving.

After the Steward left the Maester turned his attention to Matt giving him a sad expression. “They still call you ‘Matthew the Iron-skull,”

Matt took the mask off and brushed his hair out of his eyes before speaking.

“What? I was a boy, and I didn’t like the snow constantly blowing in my face. When I was allowed on top of the wall, for a short time a- “Matthew tried to defend himself before the healer interrupted.

“A boy of twelve years should not be able to make a mask of that detail or quality. You stunned the head smith into silence, for so long that I thought he froze to death in the Forge.”

“What can I say? I was smart for a boy that age. Anyway, you shouldn’t keep the Lord Commander waiting. I’ll be seeing you, Maester.” Matthew said before making his way to the exit.

“Farewell, brother Matthew, you better be staying out of trouble, and a word of wisdom or two, at least try to believe in the seven. Many brothers here, mostly the newer ones, think you have their favor.”

Matthew grinned at how much Maester treated him like his own son.

In a sense, it was true. The Maester more or less raised Matthew. The irreverent doctor had taught Matthew how to read, write, and even how to care for wounds both small and terrible. . .

Fighting, however, was left to his other brothers in black. As he walked up the spiraling staircase, memories played in his mind. They showed how terrible he was with swords and bows in the beginning.

However, Matthew did eventually grow skilled enough to take his vows, along with the rest of the fellow recruits, now brothers of the Watch.

Sighing, Matthew remembered that day. Speaking the words that bound him to the wall until death.

Matthew tried to pass the main gates when he visited Winterfell as a boy, but they denied him permission.

From what he heard, places like King’s landing were complete shitholes; he managed to travel to Winterfell, as a boy, and the furthest from the wall was whitehabor.

And Bravos, ‘don’t even think it’ Matthew told himself. True, it wasn’t a part of Westeros, and therefore, not a part of the seven kingdoms. However, the rumors of face-stealing people, also known as the ‘faceless men, always slightly unnerved him.

Compared to when he was a boy? They very much did scare him. Nowadays, the thought hardly bothered him.

“Brothers of the Night’s Watch, can I have your attention!” said a gruff, commanding voice.

Matthew was finally able to hear, and see, what was going on outside again, but the cold still made Matthew shiver.

The Lord Commander of The Night’s Watch stood on a wooden stage while the large group of fresh recruits stared straight ahead, maintaining a silent formation the entire time. . .

Leaning against a snow-covered stone wall, Matthew listened to the proceedings as snow began to fall.

“These Recruits have proven their worth, but now it is time for them to take their Vows.” He said while looking down at the group of men before him on their knees.

“Are there any of those who keep the old gods here in their prayers? There is a spot where you can do your Vows there.”

Matthew had taken his Vows, before the tree and the old gods. Granted, he wasn’t religious, but it wasn’t like he had a choice.

Shockingly, not a single one of the recruits moved to go. The Lord Commander nodded.

After they said their Vows, the Lord Commander began assigning them to their respective orders. They sent two hundred men to the Builders, two hundred to the Stewards, and only a hundred joined the Rangers.

‘Great, more Fledglings who I’ll need to babysit because they think they’re hot shit, just because they’re a Ranger.’ Matt thought before leaning off the stone wall and brushing off the snow that peppered his dark cloak.

Matthew made his way through the courtyard and heard a familiar snooty voice. “Brother Matthew, I see the Wildlings haven’t killed you yet, nor the White walkers!” Matthew stopped to turn around and saw the saddest excuse for a Ranger in the whole of this Fortress.

“Hello, brother Robert,” Matthew said through gritted teeth. He mostly disliked this Ranger, he refused to go beyond the wall. Not once had he left the safety of Castle Black.

He was a sworn brother of the Night’s Watch, that didn’t do a single productive thing. Not on this side, at the top, or the other side of the Wall.

“Do you need something, Brother Robert, or are you just here to bother me again?” Matt asked as a fake face of hurt flashed across Robert’s face.

“Dear brother! I would never try to be a bother! I’m only here to congratulate you on having to deal with the new Rangers! Ta Ta!” He said before leaving Matthew where he stood, in the courtyard, and heading into the mess hall to warm up.

Matthew shook his head as he let out a heavy sigh. ‘By the old gods, how is Robert the First Ranger?’ He thought before heading over to the group of new rangers.

“Listen up brothers! Since you are now a part of the Ranger, we begin drilling in the early dawn, and once more in the evening. Your First Ranger is Brother Robert. If you have any problems, go to him, but for tonight, there will not be any training. Enjoy assignment day. it won’t happen again. I dismiss all of you.

He stepped into the lift alone. He waited for it to start moving up before removing his helmet. It got stuffy in the helmet, now and then, but sometimes it wasn’t manageable.

‘gods that feeling will never get old.’ mulled Matthew, putting his mask back on when the lift neared the top.

He pulled his hood up too because apparently, he was the ‘ Skull-masked crow.’ It was catchy, and a very simple way to distinguish him from other ‘crows’ to the Wildling Savages. To be honest, he preferred it to what his ‘brothers’ called him.

Once he reached the top of the wall, he opened the old door. He stepped out onto a wooden platform as the door creaked and closed. Finally, Matthew was on top of the wall as he followed the main snowy passage.

Making his way to the edge of the Wall, he looked out at the Lands of Always Winter.

To new members of the Watch, it was breathtaking. But to Matthew. it was overrated.

For years he had seen this unmoving, and frozen nightmare, and if Matthew was being honest? He was sick of it. ‘Maybe I could sneak away in the night?’ Matthew thought. However, he soon remembered what happened to those who became oathbreakers .

‘I need to stop thinking like that. Where would I go? If I did manage to leave and get pardoned from deserting the Watch. I know nothing about anything south of the neck.’ He gently rubbed the back of his head before stepping away from the ledge.

He headed back to the elevator. Maybe keeping watch at night would help Matthew clear his mind of its Treasonous thoughts.

The main mess hall was full of brothers, both new and old, feasting to honor the newly added brothers.

Matthew decided to go back to the top of the wall, thinking it was time to clear his head, as he promised himself earlier.

The moon had risen over the Wall as the sun disappeared from the sky completely. I spotted the top of the Wall with torches and lamps to keep the shadows away.

It didn’t help that most of the wall guards were drinking. Which was breaking one of the many rules, that being the tenth rule, ‘Do not drink while on watch on top of the Wall.’

Matthew was the only sober person on the wall. True, he did drink once in a while, but not to the point of being wasted.

The night seemed calm, a little windy and snowy, but that helped in easing the young but Veteran Ranger. ‘This wasn’t a bad idea, Matthew thought. He eased up as he slowly leaned against the ice wall in an attempt to relax.

He looked down at the base of the wall and saw grayish-black dots climbing.

Not wanting to start a panic over nothing, he simply grabbed a small telescope. Before a horde of the undead began their March on the wall.

Matt’s heart began to race as he confirmed his fears. He began to run; and thought.’ We can handle wights, and White walkers, but the whole Army of the dead?! We’re going to need everybody for this one!’

Matthew’s training kicked, In as he snatched a sentry’s horn off its hook, and lifted his masked helmet to blow into it, as hard as he could while reminding himself of what blast of the horn means. ‘First blast means returning Rangers.’

He caught his breath, then blew again, as the Wall and castle below began to stir with life. A few dark-colored dots exited the hall. Everyone knew what two trumpets meant. ‘Second blast, mean’s Wildling’s.’

But soon Matthew blew the horn for the third time, ‘ Three blasts, White walkers.’ Matthew had learned this from a book and asked the Maester about it many years ago.

The Maester had taught him what that was supposed to mean. He was to never joke about there being a White walker attack. They heavily punished even a false call about a Wildling attack.

Equipping his helmet and mask back on, arriving at his original post, Matthew was able to spot several wights. That had climbed over the Ramparts, screaming and wailing, filling the air as the swarm of undead began to overwhelm the few defenders atop the Wall.

The battle was fierce. Many brothers of the Watch fell to the dead. Those who were too drunk to fight were torn apart, and the few sober guards barely fared any better. Matthew did better than most. He knew how to fight a wight properly, on top of the harsh training, forced upon every Ranger.

Wildlings were easier to kill. This was true. However, if Matthew had to choose, he would battle wights any day. Their lacking intellect made them easy prey.

Matthew had been gifted a special sword. Courtesy of the Lord Commander, that Matthew received while growing up in the Watch. ‘He always favored me when I was younger, sort of like a father-son relationship.’

Matthew shook his head while he fought like a cornered animal. ‘Focus, Matthew! This isn’t the time of day to think about having a father figure!’ testing his luck along with his chances, by grabbing hold of the undead, at random and then throwing them over the 700-foot wall.

And back into the sea of Undead, however, each throw came at a cost. Any time he threw a wight back to its comrades below, he risked being grabbed, bitten, or stabbed.

Eventually, his luck ran dry. When Matthew tried to grapple with another opponent, the rotting corpse stabbed him in the arm.

Matthew grunted in pain as the undead screamed, drawing more of the infestation to his part of the wall. Matthew “Shut the fuck up, you decomposing corpse!” Matthew shouted. While he stabbed the wailing corpse in the head, his sword sliding in like a knife through hot butter, before throwing the remains over the edge.

“Old Gods, damn it. T-this is it.” Matthew thought as he heard the movements of more wights on their way.

They heard the call for aid and were coming to fight, rushing toward him. Matthew knew deep down he couldn’t last forever. They were an enemy that never tired, while he was already getting worn out.

“This is how my watch will End.” All seemed lost; there were too many of them, and no help was coming.

Blackness covered his vision as his mind faded into the void.

Fluttershy had a very eventful day. The mayor asked her if she could provide music for the Summer Sun celebration this year. At first, it took plenty of convincing, but eventually, Fluttershy agreed.

She gathered her choir of woodland birds. Some from the White Tail Woods and a few from Ponyville Central Park. She asked them if they could help her this year and their answers shocked her they had agreed to help provide music for the Celebration. After picking a place in central park and the time to start practicing with them all.

Later that day, Fluttershy saw a purple pony and her baby dragon, which surprised her.

After all, it’s not every day a pony gets to meet a dragon.

Her eyes sparkled at the thought. His name was Spike, and he was adorable! He seemed healthy enough. The biggest joy of all? He could talk! Her animals all spoke in their ways, but Spike? He was able to talk like a pony!

Fluttershy blushed from embarrassment as she remembered that the birds were watching. One minute she was her normal shy self. The next, she was talking and more or less hugging the baby dragon.

She decided that the birds deserved an apology and flew off to where they lived.

“I hope the birds are still awake. I don’t think they found my behavior very P-polite, stupid Flutters!” She silently shouted at herself. She crossed her arms and hunched over as she passed the tree line.

Currently, she was entering the white-tailed woods, which were connected to the Ever-free. At night, a lot of the more dangerous animals were out hunting for food.

Fluttershy could handle manticores as they had some intelligence. Timberwolves though? They acted purely on instinct.

Fluttershy had marked about fifteen birds off her list. Thank Celestia, she knew these parts of the forest like the back of her hand. She was coming up on the next nest.

After gently flying up to the nest, she knocked on the tree. Her efforts spent on waking up the bird were interrupted by a growl from below.

Fluttershy whipped her gaze down, confirming her biggest fear at the time, a snarling Timberwolf.

If that wasn’t enough, it was also big, hungry, and glaring at her like a piece of steak. It began clawing its way up the tree as Fluttershy panicked.

“Now N-now?! Um, I’m not an S-snack if that’s what you’re T-thinking, Mr.W-wolf.” She said as she scrambled further up the tree. The timber wolf growled before howling in response.

A chorus of howls responded.

Fluttershy spread her wings to fly away, seeing that talking wouldn’t work this time. She was just about to leap into the air when sharp needles of pain plunged into her back and wing, forcing a scream from her mouth.

Looking back, she could see the wolf had jumped and latched onto her wing! The added weight made the duo fall, and the Timberwolf began circling her as his pack mates arrived.

Matthew didn’t know how long he was out when he finally sat up. He felt a weight on his face and pulled whatever it was off of him. It turned out to be a black shield that had the symbols of the Night’s Watch painted on its front.

The man looked around to take in his environment. There were trees with their leaves still attached, green plants, Hell, even bugs. This wasn’t the Lands of Always Winter, and sure as hell, not the Wall.

After getting to his feet and checking his person, Matt felt a sharp pain in his left arm where the wight had stabbed him. Besides that, He had found that he mostly kept everything he had on him before passing out.

Bits and pieces of his memory came back to him as he rubbed his head. There were wights. He blew the horn, and in the end, he accepted the coward’s way out.

If his fellow Rangers could see him now, they would probably cut him down where he stood to give up so easily.

Before he could begin to argue with himself about whether he became a deserter, a scream sliced through the dark. However, it wasn’t the scream of a wight or even a white walker.

“Someone is in trouble.” He shoved any thoughts ath-breaking aside while grabbing the shield and unsheathing his sword. The screaming continued as he ran.

After almost getting knocked out again by a tree, Matthew made it to a clearing. In the moonlight, he could see four large wolves made of wood surrounding a girl.

She was curled up into a ball, trying to protect her head, and vitals. Matthew did have an idea but it needed more time than he had.

He sprinted through the bushes he had been hiding behind, before angling towards the nearest wooden wolf. Matthew stabbed it in the side, causing it to crack as the wooden beast howled in pain. While it gave sounds of distress, its friends turned their attention to the uninvited guest.

‘Crap, I’ve done it now, Matthew thought to himself as the wolves growled at him.

“Woman, can you hear me?” He asked as she gasped, her head turning towards his voice.

“W-who are you?! How did you find me?” She asked, while the wolves slowly began circling him instead of her.

“Listen, we can talk about the details later. I need you to run for safety!” Matthew spoke, and the woman nodded in response

“R-right! I will come back with H-help!” she said before a pair of wings appeared in the moonlight, one of which had been bloodied.

As she attempted to take flight, the flapping of her wings alerted one of the Timberwolves. It turned its head towards the strange woman and growled as it decided to break off from the group to go after her.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Matthew said before bashing his shield into the Timberwolf.

The force from the hit knocked it down, and Matthew managed to get on top of it. He began to slam his shield into its head. There were many loud clangs; until a loud crunch of wood sounded out and it fell apart.

The display had stunned the other wolves for a moment, and the woman had stopped to see what was going on. Her voice was barely louder than a whisper, “O-oh my.”

Matthew’s breath was ragged, but he managed to climb off the woodpile and prepared to fight the others.

Knowing this stallion needed help, Fluttershy flew as fast as she could with an injured wing.

Author's Note

I'm gonna be honest with you guys. Correct me if I'm wrong but is this better then my other story? With grammar and spelling.

I literally triple-checked this before publishing it so I hope this works for everyone here.

And before I post this I want you guys and girls to know.

"That winter is coming."