Ethereal Chaos

   Frostburn and Stonebolt both collapsed from exhaustion just outside the town. Infernalo was equally exhausted, but straightened himself up to hide it and shook it off.

     “I'm not carrying you,” he said bluntly. “C'mon, we're almost there. Just a few more feet.”

   “Why couldn't we just teleport somewhere,” Stonebolt gasped. Infernalo was about to answer when he came to a realization of the nature of the question. Why hadn't they teleported somewhere? It's not like the Cursed Trossels knew, or cared, where they fled to and they weren't going to track them down. If the legends were true, their presence might envelop this town as well as the rest of Equestria if not stopped, but that wasn't exactly the same principle.

“We would need an exact destination in mind,” he answered.

“And the void thing?” Infernalo, not willing to dwell on this quandary any further, shook the thought from his head.

   “Never mind,” he said dismissively. “C'mon, I suppose we can find shelter somewhere in here.” Infernalo led them to a library, neither of his sisters willing to go any further, and Infernalo knocked on the door. It was a while before there was a response. The door opened and a small baby dragon stood in the doorway. He yawned and looked up at the visitors. “We're looking for a place to stay and we've travelled a great distance. May we come in?” The dragon nodded, half-asleep and they entered. “Yeah, yeah, come on in.” The room inside was very large and the walls were lined with more books than Infernalo himself had, many of the titles unfamiliar to him. An owl swooped in through the window and landed on a perch.

     “Who's at the door, Spike?” A young purple mare trotted down the stairs. She had dark purple eyes and a very dark mane and tail streaked with fuchsia. She was much more attractive than most of the Trossels Infernalo had been around, but instead of spikes on her hooves she had a horn protruding from her head. His sisters, slowly recovering from their long journey, also noticed this. It had been hundreds, if not thousands, of years since a Trossel had ever seen a unicorn or vice versa. The unicorn saw the three visitors and seemed to daze off at the sight of Infernalo. “H-hi.” Infernalo, taking it upon himself to be polite, cleared his throat.

   “If we may, we'd like to stay here for a while,” he explained, trying to sound dignified while containing his excitement at meeting a real unicorn for the first time. The twins giggled whenever Infernalo tried to impress a mare, he’d often try to use a lot of big words. “You see, our last home has become, shall we say, uninhabitable and in fact detrimental to our personal safety. As you can tell, we've come a long way and happened upon this place.” The unicorn nodded throughout, showing that she understood. “If we may, we would like to stay within your home for an indefinite period of time, if that is at all necessary.”

     “You can stay as long as you need,” she said. “You can have the guest room.”

   “Thank you, miss.”

   “You don't have to call me 'miss,'“ she assured him as Frostburn and Stonebolt began looking around the room curiously. “Who are you?”

   “I'm Infernalo,” he said. “These are—unfortunately—my sisters, Frostburn and Stonebolt. Now, if I can't call you 'miss,' what can I call you? (he cleared his throat) I apologize for my speech; you're the first unicorn I've ever met.”

   “Okay,” she assured him. “My name's Twilight Sparkle.”

   “That's cute,” Infernalo said. Twilight blushed, as she remembered what was happening.

   “Let me just show you to your room. You must be tired.”

   “Like you don't even know,” Stonebolt said, dragging herself up from the floor. Infernalo dropped off his bags as Twilight led the three up to the guest room. Frostburn and Stonebolt threw themselves on the beds without a second thought and Infernalo soon followed, Twilight leaving them in the room. Spike stared back at her with a smug grin.

   “What,” Twilight asked.

   “Don't think I didn't see you checking out Infernalo,” he said. Twilight glared at him.

   “So,” Twilight snapped defensively. “Shouldn't you be going back to sleep?” Spike walked off as Twilight trotted downstairs and looked down the contents from Infernalo's bag.

“Why are you going through my books,” Infernalo said, causing Twilight to jump a bit. “I didn’t startle you, did I?”

“N-no,” she said, trying to keep from staring at the spikes on his hooves. “What do you mean I’m the only unicorn you’ve ever met?”

“Ah, perhaps I should explain,” he said. “I’m from Seldreinia, a good few miles from Equestria. It’s all there in my books, but you may go through them if you like. After all, books that are not read are nothing more than paper stones.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “You’re not familiar with that expression? It’s quite uncommon anyway; it would be a bit perplexing for a unicorn to have knowledge of obscure Golirathian expressions. Thank you for the housing and good night, Miss Sparkle.” He vanished into a black void that disappeared just as soon as it was made. Twilight decided to take one of the books, Ancient Seldreinia History, and started reading. Back upstairs, Infernalo was already fast asleep, as was Stonebolt. However, Frostburn, despite her fatigue, couldn't get to sleep. There was something in her mind eating away at her.

     “Stone,” Frostburn whispered. “Are you awake?” Stonebolt grumbled and rolled over to face her twin sister.

   “I am now,” she grumbled.

   “Do you think Infernalo will ever forgive me for the whole Cursed Trossel thing,” she asked.

   “Of course he will, Frosty,” Stonebolt said. “You're his baby sister, and no matter how angry he is, he still loves you.” Frostburn nodded, and tried to get some sleep. “Of course it kinda might take a good long while unless the problem is fixed.” Frostburn was already too far gone to have heard it.

   Twilight woke up with her face in one of Infernalo's books as she looked around, seeing a glimmer of sunlight seeping in.

   “I must've fallen asleep,” she said, then looked over a plate of pancakes with a note next to it. “'Dear Twilight,'“ she read. “'I made you breakfast for when you finally wake up. This is from all of us as a thank-you gift for letting us stay here. I hope all unicorns are as nice and pretty as you. Love, Frostburn.' That's so sweet.” Spike walked in, and noticed Twilight reading the card next to her breakfast.

   “Morning Twilight,” he said. Twilight nodded, not looking up from the book before finally acknowledging his presence as Infernalo and his sisters walked downstairs. “Princess Celestia still hasn't responded back from those letters.”

     “I wouldn't waste the ink,” Infernalo said, causing them to turn to them.

   “What do you mean,” Twilight asked.

   “The Alicorn Princesses have tended to leave us Trossels to our own devices,” he explained, Frostburn and Stonebolt following him to meet face to face with Twilight. “For very good reason as well. Though, we don't require her assistance as we follow the leadership and wisdom of the Omni Trossel, a pony gifted every third generation with the abilities of all other Trossels. It's all there in the books. I thank you again for allowing us to stay here; I'll return momentarily.”

“I could give you a tour of Ponyville, I mean if you want,” she said.

“No, thank you,” he said. “Not now at least.” He walked out the door without another word as Frostburn and Stonebolt walked up to her.

“Is your brother always like this,” Twilight asked. Stonebolt shook her head.

   “Don't worry,” Stonebolt said. “He’s always like this the first time he meets somepony. He just needs to get to know you a little more and this place. Frosty, you wanna come and look around town?” Frostburn nodded, happily skipping out the door after her sister.

“Oh, Frostburn. Thanks for the breakfast.” Frostburn smiled and nodded, closing the door behind her. It didn't take long for the two to catch up with Infernalo as most of the ponies were gathered around them, muttering things before slowly dispersing.

   “Our new home seems really welcoming,” Frostburn said. “A lot of really interesting ponies here to meet.”

   “Stop calling it that,” he barked. “This is only temporary.” out of nowhere, a quick-moving shape knocked over Frostburn. When they drew attention to it, they saw Leafwind lying on top of Frostburn.

     “Frostburn, we found you,” Leafwind said happily. “Are you okay?” Zephyroak and Steelmind galloped over to her.

     “Snowflake,” he said. “Sorry about Leafwind. She just got a little excited about finding you after all this time; all eighteen hours of it. Oh, by the way, you might want this back.” He handed her the glittery red ribbon that Leafwind made for her.

   “Zephyroak, Steelmind,” Stonebolt asked, helping Frostburn back to her hooves. “How did you guys get here?”

“Thanks,” Frostburn said, taking the ribbon back. “I must’ve dropped this back at home.”

   “Leafwind wanted to go with Frosty,” Zephyroak explained. “I couldn't just leave my best friend hanging, and Steelmind's only here because he tracked you down.” Steelmind glared at the teal pony. “And he loves you and junk.” Frostburn hugged him, Steelmind’s pushing his glasses back up.

“I missed you too, Snowflake,” he said. Zephyroak looked around, and noticed the streets barren and empty. “Not exactly too friendly around here, are they?” Frostburn, unable to ignore the feeling of something on her leg anymore, saw Leafwind gripping it frantically.

   “I missed you so so SOOO much, Frostburn,” Leafwind said, only tightening her grip. Frostburn patted her on the head reassuringly as an explosive sound drew their attention. A streak blazed through the sky before creating into a crater not too far from them.

   “What the hay was that,” Zephyroak said in disbelief. They rushed over and Infernalo used his magic to lift a pony out of the crater. She was a bright cyan pony with large wings and a rainbow mane and tail, which she shook dirt and gravel from upon being lifted out. She seemed slightly dazed, as she swayed back and forth uneasily.

“I’m okay. I just took the landing a little too fast.” Leafwind's eyes lit up as she detached herself from Frostburn's leg and rushed over to the Pegasus so fast Frostburn was surprised she still had a leg. Leafwind was bouncing up and down faster than ever.

   “Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh,” she said excitedly. “Ican'twaittotellmybrotherthatIsawarealpegasusponynotlikethetimehesawapegasusbecauseIknewhewaslyingthattimebutIwon'tbethistimeand—” Zephyroak finally shut her cousin up, and smiled awkwardly.

   “Sorry about her,” Zephyroak said. “I am really, really sorry. This is the first time she's ever seen a Pegasus before and she got a little excited.” The Pegasus shook her head and straightened up a bit after regaining her composure.

   “Are you sure you're okay,” Infernalo asked. “You did create your own crater.” the Pegasus scoffed.

   “No problem,” she assured him, before glancing up and meeting his gaze. It was rare that she actually felt this way about stallions, but he really seemed different from the others she'd seen around. She cleared her throat, and continued. “That kinda thing always happens. By the way, I'm Rainbow Dash.”

   “My name is Infernalo,” he said. “These are my sisters Stonebolt and Frostburn, her boyfriend Steelmind, Stonebolt's friend Zephyroak, and the overactive bouncing filly who was obsessing over you earlier is her cousin Leafwind.” Rainbow Dash took notice of the spikes on their hooves, wanting to ask about it but couldn't quite word it right in her head. Instead she just stared blankly at Infernalo, who met her gaze. Frostburn finally got his attention.

   “Is it okay if Stonebolt and the rest of us go exploring around town,” she asked. Infernalo didn't meet her gaze or even look at her. He mumbled a dismissive remark over his shoulder and they left the two alone. He quickly snapped back though and cleared his throat.

   “So,” he said, not making a decent attempt at small talk. “I'll see you around I guess.” he vanished into a dark void, which left as quickly as it came.

“I gotta tell somepony,” Rainbow said. She flew off to Fluttershy’s before screeching to a stop in midair and hovering. “Wait a second, Fluttershy isn't really one for gossip anyway. I could go to the spa to tell Rarity, but she’ll just make a huge deal out of it. Applejack is too busy, and probably won’t even believe me on this, which only leaves Pinkie Pie; that’s just not going to work at all. Which can only mean…”she finally flew off in the direction of the library. Rainbow Dash knew that Twilight would be so jealous.