Chapter 12

Light is beginning to brighten the world around us. Through the cracks in the clouds streaks of it strip the darkness down to where I can actually see the trees on the other side of the camp. We didn’t get any sleep after what happened last night, and it shows. As the ponies are packing up their gear and disassembling their tents they do it with such fatigue and constant yawing. Adarrell announced to all the ponies that it was time to start cleaning up for we were about to head out. Wick Flame dashed into the camp to begin taking down his own tent. He said that he would meet up with us later. Twilight hasn’t said a single word to me or even looked at me since we walked back to camp. Not even Wick Flame could get her to say anything. Even though she hasn’t looked my way I’ve seen her heated expression as she quickly takes down the tent we slept in last night. Standing nearby I feel a bit too frightened by her to even try and lend a hand. I even feel too scared to even ask if she needs any help.

“D-Do you need help?” I reluctantly ask, but she doesn’t respond. “. . . T-Twilight?”

“No Aireal, no I don’t need any help.” She says irritated. “Here.” Twilight says tossing my bag into the snow before me. “You can take your bag back.”

“Thank you.” I say, but she doesn’t say another word after that.

By the tone of her voice I choose to keep myself quiet and just let her go about taking down the tent alone. I hoist the bag over my shoulder and fasten the rope across my chest. Now I stand awkwardly in the snow with my arms wrapped around my body to keep warm looking around at all the ponies whom are also disassembling their tents. I still wonder about last night. Why did Twilight even venture out into the woods anyway? It feels so strange; there just has to be a reason. Do I dare to ask with how her attitude is? With a trembling heart and stutter in my voice I blurt out the question.

“Why did you go out there last night?” I ask.

Twilight refuses to answer as she folds up the tent and starts stacking the pieces in a pile. She picks up my bag and fastens the rope around her waist.

“I’m going to go get the bag for the tent. Stay here.” She says without even looking at me.

Twilight walks through the snow in the general direction where she left the bag which reminds me about the sick mare from last night. Twilight said she hid the stone in her tent, I wonder if it did anything. I hope so at least, that poor sister of hers, I can only imagine what it’s like losing someone so close to you like a sister. Then I begin to think of Twilight’s friend we found last night. Seeing her again just brought back those fearful shivers up my spine, and they were not because of the cold. Just revisiting it in my mind gives me an odd feeling. Her lifeless body frozen stiff staring up at me. Those lifeless eyes. How . . . still, and empty.

“Ah Aireal there you are!” Wick Flame calls as he trots towards me with his tent bag hung around his waist. “Well, I’m all set to go. Where is Twilight?”

I shake myself awake as I felt I had been dozing off for a minute and point in the direction she left in the midst of all the ponies gathering their things together.

“I see. . .” Wick Flame says followed by a pause as he stands near me fixing his bag around his waist. “She must be looking for the bag for the tent. I’ll go and see if I can find one-be back in a second.”

Wick Flame trots off to look for another bag. I should have told him that Twilight was already going to get our bag, but my mind is beginning to doze off again just thinking about that pony’s eyes. I can see them staring, peering into mine. Despite how hollow they are I can feel they still see me, watching me. Screaming, begging to be set free, but nothing can save them from their icy prison. It’s . . . magnificent. Almost . . . wonderful.

Twilight trots through the snow looking for the tent with the sick sister. She can’t shake the image of Fluttershy frozen solid out of her head. The way she stood as she merely tried to guide the animals to safety, and neither she nor any of them survived.

“Miss Sparkle there you are!” Says Adarrell meeting up with Twilight. “Everypony should be ready to go momentarily. But I must say that I do not think that they are ready to go so soon.”

“Why not?”

“Well they barely got any sleep last night, and we still have to take into consideration the condition of the sick.”

“If we stay then we risk everypony’s safety if something comes out of those woods.”

“Understood, but I think that if we had the rest and time to recover then we would be able to travel a greater distance with a well rested team instead of a team with barely any energy.”

At this point Twilight is growing impatient with Adarrell and his constant judgment of her decision.

“Would you rather move a little at a time or risk more ponies going missing?” She asks sternly.

“Now listen Miss Sparkle you are not here to be giving me orders. I am having everypony move because I think it’s for the best. But I don’t want you to push my team to the point to where they can’t go on any longer.” Adarrell says beginning to become heated.

“It’s either we push them or we lose them.”

“But you are not here to command and tell us what we should do. I am the one that makes decisions. I’m trying to be nice here Miss Sparkle but your attitude is making it difficult. I know that pony in the woods was one of your friends, and I understand how awful it must’ve been to see that. I understand that you want to leave and get back at the things or whatever has caused this to happen, but don’t you take it out on these poor folk you hear? They’ve done nothing to deserve harsh treatment. We are going to go maybe a mile or so, and then we are going to give them a break. Understand?”

“. . . Yes.”

“Good, we are a team and we’re here to help on another. Not get carried away, we still need to be cautious.”

Adarrell leaves and Twilight continues through the groups of ponies angrily muttering words to herself.

“Pfft what does he know? Everypony will be just fine-they can move a few miles. We can’t just waste precious time sitting out in the open. I’ve lost my friends to this cold and I’m going to find out who or what is responsible. And when I do . . . they are going to pay.”

Pushing past a few ponies Twilight finds the tent. It’s still set up and nopony is taking it down. The two sisters must still be inside. Twilight opens the door flaps and sure enough inside are the two sisters. One sitting beside the other staring at each other in amazement. Once Twilight enters they both turn to her.

“Oh it’s you! Miss uhh . . . Sprinkle?” One of the sisters cheerfully asks.

“Sparkle.”

“Oh right! Well I have amazing news! My sister she’s feeling so much better!”

“I do, I haven’t felt this good in days.” Says the other sister.

“We should go tell Adarrell the news!” Says the cheery sister.

“Yeah, you should.” Says Twilight as she looks around the tent for the bag she left.

“Come on sis let’s go!” Says the sister guiding her to the exit. “Oh and Miss Sparkle?” Says the cheery sister turning back.

“Hmm?” She mumbles annoyed.

“Thank you for the kind words you said last night.”

Immediately Twilight is struck with the memory of what she had told these poor sisters the night she hid the stone. Twilight tried to be discrete and quiet as the both of them were already sleeping. Just as she started to hide the bag the healthy sister woke up. Twilight jolted as she stretched and opened her eyes. At first the sister was scared, but once she knew it was just Twilight she was able to calm down. Twilight didn’t know what to do or say so she just stood there frozen. The sister asked what she had been doing in her tent. Twilight said she just came to visit and see how they were doing and if her sister had been feeling any better. She said no and that Adarrell had told her not to be so close to her all the time or else she’d probably catch the same illness. But she said that she didn’t care about that, she told him she wanted to lay next to her sister no matter what. She wanted to give her sister as much comfort as possible. Twilight was amazed by her statement. She found it to be truly wonderful that she cares that much for her sister that she’d risk getting herself sick if it meant being by her side. It was then that Twilight could feel water building behind her eyes, but she tried to hide it. Twilight told her that their bond was just too strong to be broken. The bond between family is unlike any other, and she promised that by morning she would be feeling better.

Twilight took a chance, she felt that what she had told them was a lie, but if the stone really does possess such power then maybe it could cure her. Twilight was going off of hope, and after she said that the sister’s face lit up. She whispered the words ‘thank you’ as to not wake her sister, and Twilight immediately felt a burst of guilt. Without wanting to tell any more possibly harmful lies Twilight gave her a goodnight as she then began to peacefully close her eyes. Twilight fumbled a bit with the tent bag trying to lay it down without making a single sound. She set it down near their empty tent bag and quietly left the tent on the verge of sweating from the anxiety. As she walked away from their tent the guilt still hung heavily in her heart. She kept repeating a certain phrase over and over in her head, and she just felt compelled to say it aloud once she was a safe distance from the tent to not be heard. ‘I promise she’ll be okay. I promise.’ She repeated. Now struck with the memory of that night she tries to muster up a response.

“Don’t worry about it.” She says.

“No, I mean it. If it wasn’t for you I . . . I don’t think I would’ve been able to sleep last night.”

“Well I’m glad I could help.” She says as she tries to steer away from the subject by picking up one of the two tent bags on the floor.

“Umm are you looking for something?”

“Oh! I left my bag here last night. I just came to get it back.”

“Oh, I see. . . Well before you go I need to thank you.”

“You already have.” Says Twilight trying to avoid any more of her words that sit heavily upon her heart.

“Not for this. Thank you for keeping your promise.”

“Well I . . . you’re very welcome.” Says Twilight. “Why don’t you go on and tell Adarrell the good news, I’m sure he’d love to hear it.”

“You’re right, come on sis let’s go!” The sister says as she urges her sister out of the tent.

With thoughts circling in Twilight’s mind of just about everything she leaves the tent back towards hers. Twilight still can’t really believe it; the stone really did work after all. It couldn’t just be a coincidence that perhaps she had already gotten over her illness because they said it was only getting progressively worse with every passing day. Twilight now knows that this stone’s power is something great and just may be the key to fixing everything, and more importantly, possibly saving the lives of her friends. Twilight’s last words before she left the sister’s tent was just so that she could avoid any further conversation and finally leave the tent. She knows that they all have a long journey to make before they all arrive at this train station. They can’t waste their time on conversation. Every second spent without progression is a second closer they come to falling prey to the things that live in the woods. As Twilight walks through the snow she stops and ponders for a moment. Reflecting on how she’s been acting almost callously. She feels wrong, but she shakes this thought out of her mind before it can grow as she remembers the statues that were once her friends. Seeing them in her mind angers her as she grinds her hoof into the grass under the snow.

“Okay! I found an extra one; I think it might actually be yours.” Says Wick Flame as he trots back towards me.

I rub my eyes to force myself to stay awake. I wonder how long I’ve just been standing here lost in my own mind. I do not even remember what I had been thinking about if I was at all. He pulls out a crinkly tent bag and hands it over to me. Gripping the tough cloth in my hands I realize that Twilight must have been away for quite some time now. I hope she found the stone, and I hope that it did at least something to that ill sister. Now, with my thoughts back in order, I suddenly wonder what it means to have a family. To have what Wick Flame has. Did I ever have something like that at one time? Maybe . . . Trixie and I had something like that. Not exactly ‘family’ per say, but something close. I feel like crying at the thought of it since I’ll probably never get an answer. I know I miss her, but at the same time how can I miss her? It feels like she’s a complete stranger, but I know we were something at one point in time. I wish I could remember; I wish I could. All of these memories that I claim to have feel empty. Just shadows of who I am. Why, why must these thoughts torment me now?

“So I’m curious, how long have you known Miss Sparkle?” He asks.

“Huh?” I say breaking free from my perturbing thoughts. “Not long.”

“You two get along well?”

“I . . . I don’t know.”

“Well, do you know why she’s been acting so strangely? I mean she hasn’t said a word since last night, and the way she just looks concerns me. How about you?”

“Yeah, something isn’t right.”

“Do you think she’s hiding something from us?”

“M-Maybe.”

“We should try to find out, are you with me?”

“I-I’m not sure. I mean she’s—”

“Don’t worry about how she’s acting right now, just let me do the talking. But uhh, just promise that you’ll help me out in case she gets a little . . . you know.”

“Okay, I promise.”

“Alright . . . oh here she comes!”

I watch as Twilight stomps closer to us with her still angry expression as she clenches the tent bag between her teeth. She stops before us without even giving us a glance and drops the tent bag in the snow. As she begins to fumble with the pieces of the tent Wick Flame tries to get her attention.

“Umm Twilight-or uh Miss Sparkle?” He asks almost fearfully, and after a long pause without an answer he continues. “I found an extra tent bag lying around. It doesn’t seem to be anypony’s so I figured—”

Before Wick Flame can usher out another word Twilight angrily stomps over and yanks the bag right out of my hands with her teeth. She didn’t even take one look at either of us. As she now starts to put the pieces of the tent in the new bag Wick Flame found he tries to get her attention yet again after a nervous glance towards me.

“M-Miss Sparkle?”

“Twilight.” She says.

“Huh?”

“Call me Twilight. Not ‘Miss Sparkle’.”

“Right of course, well umm . . . we’re concerned.”

“Concerned about what? There’s no reason to be concerned.” She says still without looking our way.

“W-Well we’ve, and not only us, but we’ve noticed you’re sudden change in attitude lately and we just wanted to know if—”

A strong sudden breeze sweeps past us as I hold my hand to block the passing snow and Wick Flame his hoof. I try to peek over my hand to see if Twilight is okay, but she is more than okay. It doesn’t seem that the wind is even fazing her. Her eyes are staring straight at us without even a blink as her eyebrows express anger. Her mane is swaying crazily about, but she doesn’t show the slightest care. The ponies behind us are struggling to keep their tents from blowing away while also trying to hide their faces from the snow rising up from the ground and being carried up by the wind. Just as the burst of wind starts to calm Twilight begins shouting exchanging glares between him and I.

“Now I want the both of you to listen very carefully, because I am not going to say it again-there is nothing wrong with me and my attitude!”

“Twilight I understand you’re upset about what happened last night, and I think we should talk just to get your mind off it.”

“I don’t want to talk about it! I don’t want it off my mind! I’m never going to forget about it, so don’t try to convince me otherwise!”

“Twilight please stop shouting! You’re going to attract attention.”

“Stop shouting?! I think I ‘have’ to keep shouting just to get it through your skulls that I don’t need you or you to counsel me about my ‘change in attitude’!”

Twilight is now shouting straight in our faces, and the further we try to back away out of fear the closer she gets. I notice that all of the ponies behind us have stopped packing their things and are instead staring at us.

“Well, since I’m getting everypony’s attention why don’t I let them know as well? That I do not want to talk anymore about the subject, and that I don’t need any of your help! Understand?”

I look over at Wick Flame and can see that he is too afraid to say another word. I begin to think ‘not again, not again’ somehow this side of Twilight has pushed away the one I had longed would come back. She’s getting a bit out of control just shouting at the top of her lungs at Wick Flame like that. He warned me, but I didn’t think it would’ve been this bad. Feeling like she is mainly attacking Wick Flame I decide to speak up despite my trembling heart. I made him a promise, and I intend to keep it. Like the sudden burst of wind I force the words to leave my mouth.

“. . . We’re just trying to help.”

It was then that I felt I had made a horrible mistake.

“Help?!” She snaps. “Well listen, I don’t want your help! Now go! Both of you! Just leave me alone!”

After that she turns away and continues to shove the pieces of the tent in the bag she swiped from my hands. Wick Flame and I take a quick look at each other. His face is filled with a combination of confusion, fright, and concern; the same as mine. He turns his back to her and beckons me to follow. I refuse to move, I can’t just leave her alone. I take a few steps to her and instantly she forces me to stop.

“Aireal, just go.”

Without paying attention to her warning I choose to walk even closer.

“Go!” She shouts.

I jolt and immediately start to back away from her. Wick Flame, still waiting for me, beckons me once again to follow. I thought that the least I could’ve done was to help Twilight put the tent away instead of by herself, but it doesn’t look like that’s a possibility without her shoving me away. I walk with Wick Flame into the group of ponies whose tents are still being disassembled and put into their bags.

“Thanks for helping me out back there. I appreciate it, but it doesn’t look like we’re going to get through to her. Maybe it’s best we just leave her be, give her some time.” Says Wick Flame.

Perhaps he’s right; maybe all she needs is some time to calm down. But there’s also the possibility that she’ll remain like this for the rest of the way. I hope she recovers soon, or else she just might act this way from now and on.

“Do you think she’ll be okay?” I ask.

“Yeah . . . yeah she should be fine. Trust me.”

As we continue walking we come across Adarrell whose face seems to be unusually bright and happy. I haven’t seen that before on him, it’s a nice change.

“Flame!” He calls. “Flame you won’t believe this!”

“Woah calm down sir! What’s got you so happy?” Wick Flame asks.

“Remember last night when that ill mare’s sister came by our tent?”

“Yes, why?”

“Well when I stopped by her tent I was so afraid. Her fever was getting worse and she could barely move.”

“Right. . .”

“And I could swear to you she would not have made it much longer!”

“I don’t see how this is ‘good’ news sir.” He says confusedly.

“No that’s not it! Just now, all of sudden, I saw the both of them trotting to me!”

“Wait what?”

“It was incredible! Her sister was smiling and jumping-as if she had never been sick in the first place!”

“Sounds like a miracle.”

“I’m telling you Flame, from here on out things are gonna start leaning in our favor. I can feel it.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I know I am! Come on I’ll show you, it’s just amazing.”

The both of us follow behind Adarrell as I hold in my breath. I feel so jittery at the sound of those words. She really was cured, and I know that stone is the reason. It makes me wonder what other kind of properties it may possess. With that stone we could heal every other sick pony in the group! I think Adarrell is right, maybe things are going to finally turn our way.

The beams that seem to be light pierce through the frosty window as it shines the colors of the stained glass across the floor and against Valiari’s face. The light causes him to stir around the icy floor until finally prying open his eyes expecting to see the one who was keeping watch of him all last night, but she is no longer there. Her image, however, is still embedded in his mind. It’s so cold in the room frost has been starting to grow on his tattered jacket and hat. Across the room he can faintly see the long icicles that encage little Candle Light and her Mother as she is embracing her to keep her warm.

“Awake Mister Valiari?” The Mother asks. “I couldn’t get any sleep last night, not with my daughter like this.”

“How is she?” He asks.

“Getting worse, oh every time I look at her it feels like she’s slipping away.” She then holds Candle Light closer as she presses her head against hers.

“Don’t say that, she’ll be just fine. It’s just a matter of time until we find a way out of here.”

“W-What about that friend of yours? Is it going to save us?” Valiari turns away without a response. “Hello? Well is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean? You said—”

“I know what I said, but at this rate I feel like time is running out. I only hope that. . .”

“Hope that what?”

“N-Nevermind, look we can’t stay here any longer or else the cold will be too much for our bodies to handle . . . especially for your daughter. Now listen, maybe. . .”

Valiari stops at the sound of the wind outside. It grows louder and stronger outside the walls. The chandelier hanging from the ceiling begins to shake and rattle as scraps of ice drift down from the ceiling. Flakes of snow dance behind the stained glass before fazing through it. All the hundreds of flakes come together to form the shape of a mare. The body is tall, the coat is becoming a soft powder blue, and a short curly mane of a lighter color droops over her rich crystal eyes darkened by mascara. Around her an elegant white mist trickles in the air to form a graceful white dress around her waist. The mare’s body ends at the waist leaving only a wisp of snow. Now finally able to see the owner of the haunting voice a mixture of fear and hatred fills his heart. Candle Light’s Mother guards her daughter by pulling her away from the misty being and against the intertwining icicles.

“Hello again, I’m sorry to have taken so long. I hope my friend has been keeping a close eye on you.”

“. . . What are you?” Valiari asks angrily.

“I’ve already told you my dear Valiari, but you need not worry any longer. The end is drawing nearer with every passing day. Now, it is time to put this little game to an end I’m afraid.”

“What do you mean? You leave them alone!”

“I am not referring to the Mother and her little one; I mean your pet and his friends.”

“He—! Wait, what friends?”

“It appears he’s found a little group of his own. I never would have thought that such a number of ponies would have survived my paradise. Funny, out of all of them only two give him trust. One a quite strong, and intelligible mare of a purple coat.”

“Miss Sparkle. . .” Valiari mutters.

“And a rather interesting stallion who bears quite a . . . sorrowful loss. Separated from his family, a stallion who misses his wife and daughter.”

“My husband!” Candle Light’s Mother exclaims.

“Ah so ‘he’s’ the one that’s been crowding your thoughts is he? I’ll have to be sure I treat him with the same luxury.”

“Please no! Don’t hurt him!” She begs.

“Hmm . . . why?”

“W-What?”

“Why should I show mercy to your husband? Why must I?”

“B-Because he is everything to me and our daughter. . . My poor baby, don’t worry, Mommy’s still here.” She whispers to her daughter.

As she cradles and rocks Candle Light back and forth in her hooves Valiari is frightened by how motionless she is as one of her front legs hangs off the side. Valiari hopes that she is simply asleep and the worst hasn’t set in just yet. ‘More time’ he repeats in his mind, ‘We need just more time’. As she continues to rock her daughter the misty mare glides through the air leaving trails of snow to linger. She peers through the openings between the icicles and tilts her head. Her eyes show sadness, but Valiari feels the need to just break through the ice that encages him no matter how many times it may take. He hadn’t noticed before, but Candle Light’s Mother has been crying all this time, and the ghostly mare tries to calm her.

“Shhh . . . do not fret. I promise that no harm will come of your husband. No pain, no misery.”

“. . . R. . . Really?” She asks sniffling.

“Of course, why would I lie to you?” Says the mare.

She reaches her hoof into her cage as her leg passes through the ice. She caresses and wipes the tears off of the Mother’s face. At first she tries to pull away, but she cannot lean back any further as the wall forbids her. Wiping the tears away the Mother finally gives in and let’s her continue. Valiari grips the icicles in front of him tightly as he watches just waiting for the mare to strike. He can feel it.

“Will you tell me something?” The mare asks.

“W-What?”

“That story your Mother always told you at night as you laid your sleepy little head against your pillow. It always made your eyes close as you envisioned every single word on those pages happening in the world you imagined. It made you smile, and cry, but you always loved to hear your Mother’s voice speak to you that story. You would become excited and snuggle under your blanket as she opened the cover of the book. It made you eager for bedtime, how lovely. Do you remember that story?”

“Y-Yes, yes I-I do.” She stutters.

“Such a beautiful story, wouldn’t you say?” She then nods her head. “Tell me, how did this story end?”

“I-I don’t remember. It was s-so long ago I. . .”

“Well tell me, was it a happy ending?”

“Yes, yes it was.”

“Now do you remember ‘how’ your Mother always told the ending?”

“How. . . What do you mean?”

“The way she told the ending, it was a bit. . . odd, wasn’t it?”

“. . . I’m sorry I. . .” She says as she drifts off into thought. “Wait, I. . . She. . . She always told the ending . . . without looking down at the book. She never looked down once.”

“Really now? What does that tell you? If she looked down at the words every other time except for the ending, what does that mean to you?”

“She. . .”

Valiari watches as Candle Light’s Mother’s voice drifts off. She says not another word as the mare waits. Valiari sits confused, but listening attentively to their conversation. This story that they are talking about, she talked about it before. But what could it have anything to do with what’s happening? He continues to ask himself, but cannot think of any logical answer. He tries to see if he can remember this story for perhaps he’s heard it before, alas, nothing comes to him. However he knows that this story they speak of has some significance, he just cannot figure out why. After a while still without an answer the mare smiles, as she already must know the answer.

“It makes sense to you now doesn’t it? Your Mother made that ending you know all on her own. It wasn’t what was written on those pages. Why do you suppose she would change the ending? Perhaps, it wasn’t a happy ending after all.”

The mare floats away from her icy cage and by the window as the light fazes through her body.

“The truth is a frightening thing isn’t it? So dangerous and terrifying. It’s murky and distorted, just like this light. But lies, they hide you from the danger of the truth, and in my eyes, lies will save one from harm. Unfortunately, Mister Valiari, your pet and his companion are not protected from the truth any longer. I can feel their minds already slipping. From here, they will only deteriorate until all that remains is a hollow shell of who they once were. Then, they will become friends of mine.”

Valiari’s hatred and need to shout are growing, but he tries to hold it back as he knows it will not solve anything. It will only give this monster pleasure. Instead he repeats his words on and on within his own thoughts. He feels the need to stomp his hoof into the ice as she smiles at him.

“Do not worry Mister Valiari, I know your hatred for me is only heightening; but I hope that soon you’ll understand. I cannot have them disrupt the peace that has been brought upon this land by us; ‘we’ will not let them. Besides, two against many isn’t very fair. I think it’s time we even it out a bit, wouldn’t you say my friend?”

“Yes, I agree.” Says a voice beyond in the dark that the light cannot reach.

“Now, we shall we return momentarily. Maybe during this time you, Mister Valiari, can set aside your foolish retaliations and join us. We would love to have you as a part of our little friendship. Goodbye for now. Come my friend; let us play a little game with the travelers.”

The mare dissipates into a cloud of snow and fazes through the stained glass along with another misty cloud emerging from the dark. Never has Valiari felt so helpless, for he knows there is nothing he can do to save his friend and the others. The bars of ice forbid him, and the cold disheartens him. He never would have imagined this being the end of what used to be a bright and lively land. He thought that after what he, Aireal and Trixie had been through before; the evil they silenced then would have been the end of it all. Instead, because of the awful truth a new evil has been created. For a moment Valiari thinks about what the mysterious mare had said. How the truth is a dangerous thing, and for what had happened back then, yes, the truth was dangerous. He knew the truth, but he hid it by keeping the knowledge all to himself. It was able to save so much, but in the end the truth came back to strike. Perhaps, she is right. At the very thought of that statement Valiari throws his head against the icy wall behind him and tries to snap himself out of his train of thought. He feels filthy for even thinking the very words.

“. . . Aria, I wish you were here; I wish you could hear me. I need you, please. . .” He mutters.

Both Adarrell and Twilight made sure that everyone packed up quickly. The both of them appear to have taken the role as leader of the group. However, Adarrell would give her a dirty look here and there for the things she would say, or more shout, to the ponies. I helped Wick Flame carry his bagged tent. I felt a bit useless as Twilight decided to carry our tent all on her own along with the bag that had the stone in it and all I had was my little bag to carry. I stuck around Wick Flame most of the time as I feared being yelled at again by Twilight. Whenever a pony would just give a glance in Twilight’s general direction she would just explode with anger. We trailed through the long thick forest without any disruption in the silence except for Twilight’s voice. Not once did I ever see or hear something beyond the trees. For once I felt safe, especially while being surrounded by others. The cold was taking its toll on all of us. Wick Flame and the others were showing signs of fatigue, so Adarrell said that we should all stop and take a break. But Twilight suggested that we keep moving. She said that according to the map the train station isn’t that far away and that we should instead take a rest there where we could definitely find refuge opposed to out in the open. Adarrell hesitated, but after some thought he gave in to Twilight’s idea. He reassured everyone that we would have our chance to rest once we reached our destination.

“Alright everypony let’s get moving. Our destination is just down that way. We should see a building where we can all stay. I’m sorry but the faster we get there the faster we can be sure that we are all safe. I don’t think we can risk staying out here another night.” He says.

All the ponies let out a saddening groan that makes me feel sorrowful. I don’t see why we just can’t let them rest just for a little while. Well, if Adarrell thinks it’s best then it surely must be. I don’t think he would agree to Twilight’s idea if he didn’t think it was for the best. I hope their right about this; my cheeks are turning cold and my hands are turning numb as the wind is growing stronger. Then, something odd happens. The light, despite how little there is, is suddenly leaving. The snow is falling in bundles as all of us stare up at the sky in wonder, and fear. I can hear something rumbling in the clouds. It sounds nothing like thunder, but then again, how would I know what thunder sounds like?

“Alright everypony it looks like a blizzard is on its way! Come on! Get yourselves together and let’s get moving!” Twilight shouts.

“. . . Come on everypony, let’s hurry.” Says Adarrell delicately as opposed to Twilight’s commanding yell.

All the ponies gloomily get themselves prepared fastening their bags around their waists or atop their backs and stand up after they were trying to sit and rest. We all start moving again as we finally make our way out of the woods and to a wide open area sheeted in snow. The rumbling in the sky continues, and why does it seem that something is watching us. Eyes are peering at us; I just can’t shake the feeling. The wind becomes stronger and louder the further we walk. I’m holding my hand in front of my face to at least block some of the snow that hasn’t found its way behind my collar as all the ponies try to move their heads to the side to avoid the snow. Except for Twilight who is keeping her head facing forward and resisting the urge to turn away.

“I can barely see a thing!” Wick Flame shouts.

“Hello?! Who said that?! Where is everypony?!” Another pony shouts from the group.

“Everypony group together! The storm is just going to get worse and I don’t want anypony wandering off from the group!” Adarrell shouts.

At his command all of us assemble to form a tighter group. Around me are Wick Flame and a few other ponies who are complete strangers to me. We continue down the land of snow as more of it piles and cakes on top of the already thick coating of snow. I can barely see Adarrell or Twilight, whom are leading the group, ahead. Nothing but snow and grey can I see before me.

“I-I don’t feel good about this.” A pony near me says.

“Yeah me too this storm just keeps getting worse and worse.” Says another.

“I don’t know about you guys but, something feels . . . off. You know?” Another asks.

“What do you mean?” Wick Flame asks.

“I-I don’t know it’s just . . . a weird feeling. Like something . . . something bad is going to happen.”

“Nuts-n-Bolts don’t talk like that alright? I’m afraid you might be right.” Says one of the ponies.

The mention of the pony’s name rings in my head. I think either Adarrell or Wick Flame spoke of that name before. The one that was supposed to get the train working. Out of curiosity I try to get a better look at what this pony looks like. He has a messy black mane, and wears glasses. His bag is more cloth-like than the tent bags, and has several pockets filled with metal tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers. His coat is grey as the other ponies’ are a dull green and pink.

“Umm . . . hello?” He asks as he catches me staring at him.

Without a response I turn away pretending I had never stared at him at all. His stare lingers on me for a while as he is still anticipating an answer from me. Still I keep my attention forward until the snow forces me to turn away. After a while of me not responding to him he turns to Wick Flame.

“Hey Wick.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“That thing was just starin’ at me. . . Should I be worried?”

“Oh no not at all. He’s not dangerous, so there’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“Are-Are you sure?”

“Bolts trust me, he’s not what you’re thinking. Once you get to know him you’ll find he’s actually very kind on the inside. He’s helped me before in the past, and I’d like to call him a friend of mine.”

Hearing Wick Flame say those things about me just makes me feel wonderful. It feels good to know that I can say for sure that I have at least one pony’s definite trust.

“If you say so. . .” Nuts-n-Bolts says nervously.

“I know so Bolts.”

Afterwards we continue trekking through the snow as the rumbling in the sky and snow proceeds to build. We’ve been walking for quite some time, and all of us are growing impatient on finding this train station as the ponies start to complain. About the cold, the storm, the distance and just about everything else.

“Everypony stop!” Adarrell shouts.

At his order all of us halt waiting for Adarrell’s next command. Instead he says nothing as the rest of us lend our ears to the wind. Then a new sound breaks through the constant wind and roaring of the sky. A sharp screech behind the clouds echoes and rings in my ears. All the ponies begin to mutter amongst each other asking about the noise. Before another question can be uttered the sharp call breaks through the air yet again. This time much louder and closer as more of them erupt from the clouds. I can feel my ears almost deafening as all the ponies start to cry out in panic and scramble around no longer as a group.

“Everypony stay calm! Get out your lanterns!” Adarrell shouts.

Just as all the ponies try to pull out their lanterns from their tent bags I hear something large swoop through the air and it is followed by dreadful calls of help.

“What was that?!” A pony asks.

“I don’t know! Did you see anything?!” Another pony asks frantically.

Again and again something huge swoops down and more chilling yells fill the air. I do not know what to do or where to go. I stay still just out of fear glancing all around me at the grey emptiness. I move closer to Wick Flame who appears to be just as entranced as I was. Just when I try to make myself feel safe when I’m near him something breaks through the grey and snow towards us. It’s big and dark. It has a big black beak and wide bat-like wings that stretch out extremely far and are pointed at the ends. Its belly is flat and its rib cage can be seen easily from behind its bare black skin. At first it appears to be some kind of bird, except its entire body has no feathers only bare skin. Around its long thin neck white fur forms a thick collar. Its feet bear long sharp talons that are aiming to grab onto either me or Wick Flame. It lets out its ear-splitting screech that forces me to cover my ears with my numb hands. The next thing I know something grabs and shoves me down into the snow. I feel the wind of the horrifying creature pass over my head. As I dig my already numb hands into the snow and push myself up I find that Wick Flame had been the one who pushed me down into the snow. He . . . He saved me. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if he hadn’t.

“Are you alright?” He asks, and I, still in a state of shock, nod my head in response.

After a bit of all the ponies fumbling around with their bags and lighting their lanterns the screeching sounds come to a sudden halt. All the other orbs of light gather in a group as I follow Wick Flame and his lantern to the group with Adarrell, Twilight, the two sisters, Nuts-n-Bolts and a few other ponies.

“What happened? Is anypony hurt?” Adarrell asks worriedly.

“No, we’re all fine I think.” Says one of the ponies.

“Alright, good. Whatever was out there must have been driven off now. Let me do a head count to make sure everyone is accounted for.”

As Adarrell counts all of us he stops and stares confusedly at all of us. He starts to count again for some reason, and at the end he again stares at us all confused.

“. . . We’re missing three-no . . . four ponies are missing? Miss Sparkle do you see any other lanterns out there?”

“No, no I . . . I don’t see anything out there.” She says.

“Does anyone see any stray lanterns out there?!” He asks nervously.

As we all glance around the area we can find not one lantern glowing at all. Without any luck we turn back to Adarrell as he begins to quiver.

“No, no, no, no! Not again!”

Adarrell starts trotting around the snow searching for any other pony that may have gotten lost, but he finds nothing. Not a single trace of life except for us. Soon out of a fit of anger he stomps and kicks around at the snow shouting up at the sky.

“You blasted freaks ‘a nature! Why don’t you come on and take me why don’t-cha?! Huh?! Come on I dare ya! I—”

Before he can finish his shout the ground suddenly starts to shake. It continues to rumble violently throwing us all off balance.

“What’s happening?!” One of the ponies cries out.

“I think it’s an earthquake!” Twilight shouts.

The ground proceeds to shake and shiver, and eventually the sounds of cracking and rumbling erupts from the ground. Between my legs the ground starts to split apart revealing the blackness beneath. I hop over to the side closest to Twilight and the rest as I am almost shaken off balance. I see Adarrell is struggling to stay standing as the ground before him starts to break apart.

“Adarrell come on! We have to go this way!” Twilight shouts.

Just as Adarrell trots toward us that dreadful screech fills the air yet again. Before I can even blink one of the bird-like creatures swoops down and captures Adarrell carrying him up to into the sky. All the ponies hopelessly call out his name and reach out to him, but they can only watch as he is carried up and hidden by the grey mist of the storm.

“Everypony! Run! We’re almost there!” Twilight shouts.

At first all of us are reluctant to follow as we are all still frozen in fear watching the skies, but after she urges us once more we all turn and follow Twilight. We jump and sprint through the snow as the creatures’ screams follow us, and the earth shakes beneath us. I can hear more of those creatures snatch and carry away the ponies around me as they cry for help. Twilight glances up with her face finally showing signs of fear. But then she notices something back behind us and halts. Wick Flame and the couple of ponies that are left stop and look back as well. I see that far behind us the two sisters are still frozen in fear as they are shivering and holding onto each other.

“What are you two doing?! Come on!” Twilight calls.

“You girls can’t just sit out in the open like that let’s go!” Wick Flame shouts.

I can hear the sounds of the creature’s screams, and two of the winged beasts swoop towards the two sisters. Just when I thought they were going to become their next victims I find that the two monsters fly right past them. I don’t understand, how could they have missed? They seemed to be right on course how could . . . ? Without any clue as to how they could still remain unharmed I turn to Twilight expecting an answer of some sort, but her face is full of . . . enlightenment.

“Girls! Come on this way!” Wick Flame urges.

Suddenly Twilight gallops through the snow towards them hopping over the wide cracks in the ground. She stands near them and for some reason checks their bag. Twilight then beckons Wick, the others, and I to follow. Confused we all turn our bodies and hurry towards them as the ground continues to vibrate and break apart. With all the creatures’ screams it urges me to move faster in the hopes that I may not be the next one taken, I can only hope that neither Wick nor anyone else for that matter suffers the same fate. Nuts-n-Bolts swiftly trots over the cracks and makes it safely to Twilight’s side. The plates of the ground all begin to tilt sending the rest of us sliding in different directions. The couple of ponies slide so far that they end up falling over the edge, but manage to hold onto the edge of the plate of frozen land before falling into the darkness below. The cracks become wider as the plates of land move farther away from each other. The two ponies call out for help, and it looks like Wick Flame and I are the only ones that can save them. Twilight tries to trot and jump over the crack that separates us, but she stops as she realizes it is too great a distance for her to jump. The two sisters stand petrified still holding onto each other for dear life. Strangely, the plate of land they are standing on appears to be undisturbed and very still.

“Aireal come on! We have to help them!” Wick Flame urges.

I stand back up carefully trying to keep balance on the tilted slippery land as I try to make my way to one of the hanging ponies. Wick Flame grabs onto a mare’s hooves who’s been holding onto the edge, and I try to help up a stallion who almost lost his grip. But he’s just so heavy I can barely lift him up; all I can do is hold onto his hooves. Then I feel something tug at the back of my jacket. Wick Flame has his teeth latched onto my clothing and is pulling to help me lift up the stallion. Even the mare he rescued is trying to pull back on his body to help. With our combined strength we manage to hoist up the stallion as we all fall back onto the ground due to the force. Twilight lets out a sigh of relief as she watches us.

“Come on hurry! The gaps are getting wider!” Twilight shouts.

“Right! We’re on our way! Come on you two first!” Wick Flame urges the two ponies.

The both of them leap over to the other side without a problem, and now it’s our turn. Just as Wick Flame and I take a few steps back before jumping the ground starts to swivel and tilt crazily. Our plate of land separates even farther from Twilight’s as she and the others stare in horror. Wick Flame and I are thrown off balance and he slides off the edge of the plate of land to the far left, and I slip up and nearly fall off the far right side. Thankfully I am able to hold on to the edge as well as Wick Flame, but my hands are still so numb and my arms are weak from helping up that heavy stallion. I won’t be able to hold on for very long, and I fear Wick Flame is in the same situation as me. I look down and all I can see is pure darkness. My heart is beating crazily, and my arms are weakening as Wick Flame and I both cry out for help. I hear the ponies all gasp on the other side and Twilight shouts:

“Hold on you two!” She then turns to the other ponies. “I have to go save them!”

“There’s no way! That jump is just too far!” The mare shouts.

“You’ll fall!” Shouts the stallion worriedly.

“I can’t just leave them there!”

Twilight takes several steps back as the ponies move out of her way to give her as much space as she needs. Twilight’s face is lined with focus and concentration, and her body is poised and ready to sprint. In a burst of speed she is sent galloping to the fissure between our plates of land, and from what I could see it doesn’t look like she’s going to make it. I watch her leap up and am in shock as she gracefully soars through the air. The snow is pushed out of her way as her mane and tail sway with the wind. Her eyes are shut tight as she tries to block out any fear that may overtake her. I am in such disbelief; she just emanates such an aura of an elegant heroine that I cannot turn away from. Her hooves stomp onto the ground as she releases her eyes to see that she has made it across. She herself appears surprised as well.

Now there she is, between Wick Flame and I, and I can feel my grip loosening as I’m sure Wick Flame’s is as well. We both call out to her, and she glances left and right at us taunted with the decision of who to go for, as only one of us might be saved. Twilight faces forward and shuts her eyes once again. She turns and trots to Wick Flame hurriedly lifting him up. I can hold on no longer my hands give up and I begin my plummet down. It feels like my mind needs a moment to realize that my journey into the blackness has begun. I see Twilight peak over the edge reaching down to me with her hoof, but she is too high. Wick Flame peers over as well, but he already knows it’s too late. The two of them watch as I plunge down into the darkness. Even though they are too high for me to reach, I still hold out my hands to them in vain. They and the light around them get smaller and smaller as the dark envelops my body. Eventually they become completely invisible and I am left in the dark still descending downward.

My back slams against a slippery slope of ice as it descends downward. I slide down it as a quick burst of pain shoots through my spine and the air becomes still and yet even colder than up above. I cannot see where I am descending to as my body bounces about on the curves and bumps on the icy slope. I can feel my body following the twists and turns of the ice. Then, something appears around the darkness. Rows of small yellow lights form around the apparent walls of the tunnel I have found myself in as I swiftly slide right past them with more ahead.

“Fillies and gentlecolts! I welcome you to the greatest and most spectacular show you will ever see! That, I can guarantee!” A very cheerful voice announces as cheers and stomps follow. “Now just settle down; settle down. Why don’t we get the show started then why don’t we?!” The cheering then grows even louder.

As I continue to slide down streaks of many colors rise up and explode in wondrous splashes of color in the form of sparkles and orbs of light.

“For my first trick, something simple. Something I know we’ve all seen before!”

Before my eyes wooden crates and barrels appear out of nowhere and hover around the tunnel. Hypnotized by their motion as they levitate around the roof of the tunnel they all shoot swiftly towards me. I try to maneuver my body around as they all miss and slam against the ice. They all break apart and shatter into smaller shards and planks of wood. I can feel intense fear building inside me, and it only gets worse at the voice’s next announcement.

“Now, on to my next trick! I’m sure the Pegasi didn’t tell you all about a storm did they?”

Up above the rows of passing lights reveal the formation of thick misty clouds joining together to form one big mass. I can hear them thundering and glimpses of light flashing beneath them. Just then several small streaks of lightning strike towards me. Without any time to react I watch hopelessly as they zap the ice near and around my body. My whole body tenses up as I slide over some more curves and bumps in the slope of ice.

“Next! A classic!”

Up above five cards appear in a straight row with their backs facing me.

“I simple card trick it would seem! But I will show you all something new and amazing!”

Before my eyes the cards grow to giant proportions and flip side ways on top of each other. They throw themselves spinning and twirling in my direction. I try to cover my head with my hands afraid they might sever it from my body. The cards collide into the ice above my head one at a time.

“For my next trick I will need a few volunteers! Come on up to the stage! I think you all could use a bit of a makeover wouldn’t you agree?!”

Up above an image of Wick Flame appears. He happily glances around awaiting whatever is about to take place.

“Are you ready sir?!” The voice asks, and he nods his head. “Then here we go!”

Wick Flame instantly is sheeted in a thick coating of ice as his face changes from happy to horrified.

“No!” I shout.

Wick Flame’s frozen image then explodes and all the shards of ice fly at me. None of them are big enough to cause damage, but the image will forever be imbedded in my mind.

“Next! You ma’am!”

Up above an image of Twilight appears. Just like Wick Flame she too happily glances around impatiently bouncing about. Her image is sheeted in ice as her expression is now full of anguish. It too shatters, and then the next image appears.

“It is now your turn sir!”

The next image is Valiari, and he too appears happy and cheerful. I can already feel what’s going to happen and I do not want to look, but somehow I cannot resist.

“Valiari!” I shout.

He doesn’t respond, but instead he’s looking straight at me with a smile as I watch him endure the torture of being coated in ice. His image shatters, and so does a part of my heart.

“And finally! You young filly! Would you please step closer!”

“No. . .” I mutter.

An image of Candle Light jumping about with her big innocent eyes and joyous smile comes into view.

“No. . .” I mutter again.

“Are you ready?”

“Mhmm!” She agrees.

“No!” I yell.

I then endure the torturous wait as I already know what will happen; it’s just the dreadful time I have to watch her until it happens. Her body is slowly enveloped by a coating of ice as her suffering and pain looks to be the worst of all. My heart completely shatters along with Candle Light’s image. More cheers and stomps erupt from the invisible crowd.

“Thank you! Thank you! Before we continue I would just like to thank our lovely volunteers! Now, for something that I am sure all of you have never, and probably may never, see again in your lives! Only tonight may you set your eyes upon something as ‘other-worldly’ as this!”

All around me clouds of pink smoke start to fill the tunnel as the rows of lights are just barely visible behind them. They become so thick that the smoke makes it slightly harder for me to breathe.

“And now, fillies and gentlecolts! Prepare yourselves! For I am about to reach out to another realm, and show you all something you have never seen before!”

There is something very familiar about this voice. Everything about the way it sounds is just so . . . wait, Trixie, this is Trixie’s voice. It just has to be I know it!

“A creature that is unknown to our world!”

I can feel my speed picking up as the slope of ice suddenly declines even farther downward. Then it loops back upwards guiding my body off the ice and now into mid-air.

“Behold!”

My body flies through the dark and collides into something cold and solid. Without any momentum I plummet down into a pile of snow. Everything hurts my back, my arms, head, and especially my heart. I can feel myself drifting away as my eyes slowly shut themselves. Now, the silence and cold are somewhat soothing. Slowly, ever so slowly I drift away. To probably dream, but however, I feel that I may already be dreaming. At least I hope.