EPISODE 9: SNOWSTORM OF THE CENTURY

Slow songs and dances carried along the Hearts and Hooves ball, but Twilight felt stuck in time. Crowds around her complied with the musicians' efforts to put aside Princess Luna's strange declaration, but Twilight wanted no more than to think on the announcement. Partners returned to their pirouetting, on-lookers back to their observing. Twilight, however, abandoned her position as a spectator, and instead shied away from the edge of the dance floor to ponder.

Her mind occupied itself with far deeper things than shallow notes of clothing or vanishing impressions of couples. The headmare's every word rolled through Twilight’s mind, time and time again, as though she were inspecting an album through and through in search of some inconsistency.

What was Princess Luna talking about? What danger could she be worried about?

Ideas popped into her head, one by one, none waiting their turn in line. More monsters, intensifying storms, mysterious forces affecting the island, anything and everything underwent at least a second of consideration. Twilight had planned on the island acting as a new home away from home for the winter season; leaving it suddenly for Canterlot felt not simply unusual, but unnerving.

Of course, Canterlot had been Twilight's home for some time. She had spent plenty of years on the castle grounds and knew the establishment like the back of her hoof. Its access to old archives and to the grand city below were conveniences that the island could not offer. Canterlot’s mountainous location and wonderful view – especially of the night sky from the castle’s telescope high-up telescope – were also second to none in Twilight's mind.

Crescent Island, meanwhile, was a place no pony would visit more than once in a lifetime; at least, that was how Twilight understood it. With no city or surrounding landmarks, the island was a get-away all by itself, and most likely had little to most as a brief vacation spot with its out-of-the-way location and few things available for entertainment.

To Twilight, however, the island was a carnival. She knew there was more than just the establishment to enjoy. The island's mysterious history had contributed an unexpected thrill through the winter, though at times its intensity had grown beyond her liking. In addition, its unique setting and climate were something else to witness as well. What topped all of these things, though, was the opportunity to study under the newly-returned Princess Luna.

Twilight felt her spirits drop at the thought of this. She had spent most of her time focusing on her studies, however challenging or easy they had been. On occasion she had run into the headmare in the evening or at night in the observatory, but their discussions had not gone as deep as she had hoped. It was a strange contrast, Luna and Celestia; since Twilight had spent a fair amount of time with both, it was interesting to see – though tough to adjust to - the sisters' distinct polarities.

One of these significant contrasts was Princess Luna's seeming aloofness.

The shocking announcement only backed the impression. Twilight felt that if she been in Canterlot and such news came up, she would have been one of the first to hear from Celestia. With Princess Luna, not a word was said to Twilight, nor anypony in particular – except for maybe the professors – until the time to spread word to all came.

Twilight wondered if there was a hint of mistrust; after all, she had shared all about her encounters and mishaps on the island, yet had not heard clarification or information in return. Princess Luna had come off a quiet character before, yes, but Twilight saw a fine line between silence and secrecy.

“Twilight, Equestria to Twilight, come in, over,” came a muffled voice, which tugged the mare from her profound pondering.

Twilight turned her head to see Vinyl covering her mouth. With a clicking motion of her hoof the DJ laughed and shook her head.

“You're really spacin' out there, Twi,” Vinyl remarked. “What's up?”

“She's probably dreaming about dancing,” Lyra answered instead. “I know that's what I'm thinking about.”

“Except you actually are... 'dancing',” Vinyl said as she watched Lyra twirl about. She chuckled and shook her head as she returned her attention to her friend deep in thought. “Seriously though, Twi, what's got your head in the clouds?”

Mind still occupied with an ocean of notions, Twilight could only stare into space. “I just... I don't know what to say about having to leave the Winter Magic Academy like this.”

“Oh come on, it's probably just for a few days,” Vinyl tried to say comfortingly, but the lightheartedness sounded more carefree. “We'll be chillin' like villains back in this joint soon enough. Don't you worry that bookworm brain of yours.”

“I guess it's not the coming and going that bothers me,” Twilight noted truthfully. “I'm more concerned about why we have to leave. Princess Luna wasn't being very specific when she was addressing us.”

“That's because she doesn't want hyper-active minds like yours overreactin',” Vinyl retorted. “I think it's safe for me – heck, try anypony from Ponyville – to say that you can go bonkers over the small stuff.”

“I know, but still-”

Vinyl stuck a hoof in Twilight's mouth. “Can it. Remember the last time you freaked out? Week one? Pretty sure that's how most of us got in trouble.”

Twilight held her tongue despite a myriad of rejoinders jumping into her head. She recalled the embarrassment from her first real encounter with the headmare in the infirmary after the cave-in. All of her worrying had been for nothing, though in the end it had ultimately brought something important to light. Twilight suddenly wondered if that misadventure – along with the other concerning the Western Woods – had anything to do with the Princess Luna's consternation.

“Twi, don't do it,” Vinyl cautioned. “I see that look in your eye again...”

“What look?” Lyra popped back into the chat. “Did she find somepony?”

Vinyl shoved their minty friend away. “Don't worry about it, Harpie, there's no love or any of that mush involved here.”

Lyra stumbled back and, regaining her balance, stomped. “Well! Excuse me for being a little bit curious.”

“That's not being curious, that's being nosy,” Vinyl snorted.

“Well! Look who's brought quite an attitude to the ball tonight,” Lyra remarked as she brushed her mane. “What's the matter, Vinyl? Mad that you couldn't find a date?”

“Psh, like I'd want one. Who'd want to dance to this trash anyways?”

Lyra choked. “Wh-What!? ‘Trash’? Last I checked it was you had that foul taste in mus-”

“ENOUGH!” Twilight shouted, jumping between the two before their heads could butt.

A number of ponies standing around them stopped and stared, to which Twilight could only lower her outstretched limbs – with hopes that the two arguing had finished – and back out of the spotlight as though nothing at all had occurred. Vinyl and Lyra said nothing more, but parted ways with an unpleasant glare. Twilight, numb, was taken aback.

Where did that come from?

Standing alone once more, Twilight settled in an empty space near the wall behind her. She surveyed the room as though a guard in a watchtower, though a rather lazy one at that. Ever so slowly her mind drifted off once more into thought about the mystery of Princess Luna's announcement. She wondered if in fact it was affecting the others as much as it was her. Recalling Vinyl's heedless remarks, though, she figured she may very well have been alone.

Without even thinking her violet eyes wandered up onto the stage where the headmare sat watching the activity on the floor. Something about her expression was off, but Twilight could not pinpoint the peculiarity. Princess Luna’s straight face was accompanied by the typical keen pair of eyes and emotionless frown. From time to time she seemed to smile, but her lips never seemed to want to stay in such a position.

As badly as Twilight wanted to speak with her, or even outright confront the princess about her message, she knew the time was not appropriate. What time seemed right, though, was a mystery. She feared that during the festivities there would be no chance, but similarly afterwards there wouldn't be one, either.

The worry and overload of thinking began to put Twilight into walking. She paced along the walls, avoiding any contact with her peers, and found herself headed straight for the door to the entrance hall outside. Her conscience drove her to leave the formal earlier than she had expected. There was little to enjoy when her mind could only think on other things, and so if all she wanted was to think, Twilight figured it was better to do so in a more quiet environment.

This quietness and a cooler air greeted Twilight as she entered into the main hall foyer. Its cold was refreshing compared to the heat from the dance and the lights within the converted ballroom, and the tasteless air was a preferable alternative to the heavy-scented atmosphere she had escaped. Music continued to leak from the doors, even echo through the foyer, but its reach diminished with every step Twilight took toward the study at the opposite side of the ground floor.

“Leaving already, Twilight?” came a voice from the doorway she had just exited.

The mare's ears perked up in response as she turned to face her follower.

The light lavender coat and silvery white hair standing in the fading light of the hall belonged to none other than Quirky. Her mane and tail seemed to have received far more attention with their long, graceful curls, and the strange dress she wore made her shape look more like a cut-out of a house. Twilight could at least recognize the voice.

“You certainly didn't look like you were having fun,” the actress added as she approached her speechless friend.

Twilight half-heartedly replied, “Oh, you saw me leave?”

“Yes, but I saw more than that,” Quirky noted with a worrying tone. “Your face changed after Princess Luna's announcement. I had a feeling you'd do something, but leaving the party so soon? Don't tell me you're planning another expedition for tonight-”

“I'm game!” blurted a mare from behind as Quirky was shoved out of the way.

The dark-coated newcomer moved toward Twilight with an excited step – more like a dance on the tips of her hooves – until Twilight could recognize the spark of interest on Colgate's nearing face.

“I'm not planning on going anywhere tonight,” Twilight clarified with a shake of her head. “And I think that's probably for the best. I don't want any of us to get into any more trouble-”

“Why? Doesn't matter anymore,” Colgate said. “We're leaving tomorrow, aren't we? Why not take a shot and go check out some more of the island? No pony will notice...”

“They will if word spreads,” Quirky snapped.

Colgate turned to face the stubborn actress, whose eyes narrowed.

“What, are you gonna tattle or something?” Colgate jeered. “That's being a good friend, now, isn't it?”

“I'd prefer you and Twilight not get kicked out rather than have you leave but with an hour's worth of thrills,” Quirky retorted. “That's what it means to be a friend, Colgate.”

“Caring, shmaring,” Colgate mocked with a roll of her eyes, “I just wanna be free for a while. My little air ride was cut short this week, after all. I was hoping to get a sweet view of the northern part of the island. Speaking of which, Twilight, weren't you telling me about possibly exploring all that again?”

“Exploring?” Quirky asked as she drew near. “Twilight, are you serious? You were planning on taking off tonight before we head out tomorrow?”

Twilight tried to shake her head and explain, but Colgate jumped forward with vigour.

“You bet she was,” Colgate gushed, “and I was gonna help lead. There's some cool stuff we could check out in the woods, Quirky-”

“I actually did see it all myself, thank you very much,” the actress cut in, “and I happen to remember a series of unfortunate events roll out after that. Isn't that right, Twilight?”

Twilight's head swayed in uncertainty. “Actually, Quirky, I think that monster is gone, but even so I wasn’t planning on-”

“Monster?” Colgate asked. “Wait wait wait, there's a monster involved?”

Twilight held her breath.

No! She wasn't supposed to know!

“A metaphorical one, obviously,” Quirky quipped. “Getting lost is a beast no pony can tame.”

Twilight let out a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Colgate faced her with a new fire burning in her soul; the passionate flames were visible even in her cobalt eyes.

“Well I can tame that,” Colgate proclaimed with a proud look toward the sky. “Just get me Windchaser to fly up and tell me if we're headed where I think we're headed, we'll be okie dokie.”

“Present,” said a stallion.

The group turned and watched as Starlight and Pokey Pierce – the former of which pushed the latter along in a wheelchair – joined the Ponyville string at the far side of the foyer. Pokey had a contented look on his face despite the cast around his neck while Starlight, pushing the vehicle, panted as he wheeled his friend along with a magic force.

“I said 'okie dokie', not 'Pokey',” Colgate remarked.

“Oh. Well, what's okie dokie?” asked the stallion in return.

Quirky stomped. “Nothing of importance, that's what. Isn't that right, Colgate?”

The blue mare stuck out her tongue. “No. In fact, you're very wrong. Twilight and I were planning on checking out some of the island before we have to leave tomorrow.”

“But... there's... no time to... is there?” Starlight got out between breaths.

“Horseapples!” Colgate exclaimed. “If we leave tomorrow around noon, and we start our adventure at midnight tonight, that's twelve hours to hit the trails, or blaze new ones!”

Starlight groaned, “What about packing?”

“There's no need to worry about it, Starlight,” Twilight said, “because this adventure is not going to happen.”

Colgate nearly jumped out of her skin. “What!? But... didn't you want to explore before we took off? Maybe those ruins you were telling me about have something to do with Luna's sending us to Canterlot!”

“It's too risky and it's against the rules,” Quirky stated firmly. “I'm telling you it's a bad idea!”

“I'm with Quirky on this one,” Starlight murmured. “Safety first.”

Colgate clicked her tongue. “Come on, don't be a bunch of fillies. I'll bet some others are up for a little something tonight besides sitting around at a boring dance party.”

“I'm sorry, Colgate, but I'm just not sure I want to go,” Twilight said. “I mean, I do want to see if there's anything strange going on out there, but I can't just go and deliberately break the rules.”

“Why not? You did it before,” Colgate remarked, to which Twilight felt her gut sink.

But her insides did a complete stop, drop and roll when a louder voice chimed in like thunderous bells.

“Did what before, my student?” came the familiar voice of Princess Luna.

The tiny crowd of five fell dead silent. Even the dark could not hide the white of their eyes as the colors inside them shrank. One by one their sights made their way over to the headmare who stood outside the dining hall entry. She promptly closed the doors and, with a wave of her horn, lit every candelabra hanging on the walls of the main floor.

Colgate gulped. “Oh, you know, uh... going to bed early! Yeah, Twilight's trying to ditch the party. She always does.”

Princess Luna remained silent for a while as she examined the five present. Her students’ faces no longer hid beneath the thin veil of darkness. Her powerful eyes shifted in Twilight's direction as she asked, “Is there something you wish to tell me, Twilight Sparkle?”

Twilight could barely feel her pulse as her veins went icy cold. A following heat of a blush warmed up her face, but the rest of her body quivered like an undressed filly’s in a snowstorm.

“Well, Princess Luna, I was just thinking... regarding that announcement you made-”

“Yes, it is disturbing news indeed,” the headmare stated. “It is most unfortunate that I have come to resort to such actions.”

Twilight could sense an intentional skipping of details. Though unwilling to leave the grounds, she dared to try and explore the outskirts of the Princess Luna's mind while she could.

“What made you come to this decision, princess? What danger could possibly be on this island?”

“It is a danger I fear may not be easily kept under surveillance,” Princess Luna stated.

Princess Luna, afraid?

Twilight found it harder and harder to develop new questions without asking outright what the danger was. She felt that the headmare were hiding something, a significant detail she did in fact know, but the mare feared that directly addressing the subject would possibly bring about more mistrust between Princess Luna and her.

“Do you think maybe we could help out with anything?” Twilight asked, hoping to find a new avenue which to explore.

But Princess Luna shook her head. “I could not in good conscience allow for my students to become involved in this matter. Enough has happened thus far where luck has been on our side; thou knowest this most of all, Twilight Sparkle. I dare not roll the dice of fate once more to see if we shall come out favorable in the midst of this storm.”

“So it is a storm we're worried about, then?” Twilight inquired.

Princess Luna made no signs. Her face went completely still, and thus the foyer went silent as the group watched their headmare observe them quietly.

“I do not wish to worry you,” Princess Luna stated, “and so I shall say no more. Know that in time you all shall become aware of what the situation is, and so let not thy curiosities get the best of thee. I trust that you all shall not seek to repeat the happenings of your first week at this school.”

As Luna looked over the bunch each one nodded vigorously, unable to express their absolute compliance in words.

“Princess Luna,” Twilight pleaded upon receiving the stare, “would it be at all possible for us to-?”

The headmare narrowed her gaze as her eyes began flashing white. “This matter is not up for discussion, Twilight Sparkle. I do not dare stray from my duty as princess and headmare in protecting those under my watch. What evil is at bay is my concern. Understand that I take this mindset most seriously having been raised upon them and having obeyed them since my first days ruling Equestria.”

But Celestia asks for help!

Twilight dared not say the thought aloud. All she could do was watch as the headmare turned and headed back into the ballroom.

“Please understand that I do not mean to act so abrasively,” Princess Luna stated. “I am merely concerned for thy well-being and prefer to handle important matters such as this danger myself. My sister may have asked favors, but that is because she rarely can leave her throne. I, on the other hoof, am capable of seeking out and dealing with present issues as the one which is upon us.” She paused and stared at the stained-glass window sitting over the main hall doors on the north end. She struck a pose similar to that in which she was pictured gazing up at the stars. “Know that I value your lives more than my own, and if that means that I must make decisions that are not favorable in thine eyes, then so be it. I can only hope that each of thou shalt come to understand why I do what I have done in due time.”

With that, the princess’s eyes slowly dimmed to their usual color. Lighting her horn, she opened the doors to the ballroom again and entered in, leaving it open for those in the dark foyer to witness and consider returning through.

“I guess that settles it,” Starlight spoke up, voice shaking.

Twilight nodded, but headed for the glass corridor rather than the dining room.

“No adventuring tonight,” she uttered. “I'm going to bed before I do anything else I regret. Good night, everypony.”

---

The sounds of the beach were more soothing than anything Twilight had ever heard. Wave after wave crashed upon the shore, its sands void of layers of snow or drifts of ice as they had been in previous weeks. The blanket of blue reflecting the clear morning sky extended past the inner bay of the island and out onto the horizon, its surface flat and even like distant plains plastered onto the backdrop of the baby blue sky. Sparkles lit the undulations as the sun lent its light to the scene. As Twilight stared out, though, the clarity slowly dimmed as the sun's strength gave way.

The mare paused; there hadn't been a cloud in the sky up until then. She stared upward and suddenly noticed a giant, dark cloud swirling directly overhead. The twisting puffs were like an airy whirlpool, absorbing the light and leaving the land below void of the sun's light and warmth. The sands went cold as snow and the air as bitter as a winter storm's winds.

The seas began to rage as more clouds gathered from every direction. A thick layer approached from the east over the flat horizon, which no longer had shades of blue but rather tints of gray. Lightning struck in clusters across the sky, dashing against the sea and spurting up waves that flowed out like undulations from a rock being tossed in the water; only, the farther the waves out at sea traveled, the taller and thicker they got.

One was headed straight for the island's bay.

Twilight tried to turn and run, but her hooves felt glued where she sat. The sand held her down as she struggled to try and get away, pinning her down as if being forced to witness the oncoming tsunami. It stretched high and wide like the monstrous wave a few weeks ago, but this time there was not a soul in sight to save her.

“Somepony! Help!”

But her cries for help went unanswered as they were drowned out by howling winds.

Rain began to pour down, but its drops were not liquid, but ice. The pellets spread across the beach until layers of frost hid the grains of light brown sands, burying Twilight in the process. The mare felt as though she were suffering being buried alive and being sucked down by quicksand.

The towering wave drew nearer until its wall crashed against the ends of the island's moon-like shape, the gap in between allowing a significant portion of the roller to push through. Its size grew proportionally as it drove into the shallow waters. Its peak began to break. The deafening charge of the waters straight for Twilight began hurting her ears, until suddenly she couldn't hear anything at all.

“Twilight Sparkle? Is that thy voice? I heard a cry for help...”

Suddenly, everything twisted into a tunnel of white as the mare felt her senses begin to fade.

… Princess Luna?

“Twilight!”

A sudden slam threw Twilight up and out of her bed. She tumbled out of the sheets and found herself scrambling on the floor. Her breaths were short like those from seconds ago when the wave had swarmed her. But there was no water surrounding her, nor any sand holding her down anymore. With the frightening image fading from her eyes a vision of reality set in.

Thank Celestia... it was all just a dream.

She had a quick look around her room, its space lit by the dim morning light, and suddenly realized that her name had been called by the familiar figure standing in her bedroom doorway. It was Lyra, and her face displayed a most horrendous form of fear.

“What's wrong?” Twilight asked she got up and walked over to her.

Lyra stuttered, “S-Sorry to wake you, Twilight, b-but the school... it's f-frozen over!”

Twilight suddenly realized the cold that swarmed over her coat; the night sweats had protected her from its touch only for a minute. The mare suddenly caught herself shivering uncontrollably.

“W-What do you mean 'f-frozen in'?” Twilight asked, her own teeth chattering. “O-Obviously it's just a b-bit chilly-”

Lyra ran over to the bedroom window and pushed with all her might against the panels, but the partitions did not budge in the least. Twilight inspected the glass panels closer and noticed that the view through the glass was completely distorted by a thick layer of ice.

“W-Were we hit by a s-snowstorm?” Twilight wondered aloud.

“W-We don’t know... b-but that's n-not the w-worst of it!” Lyra exclaimed. “P-Princess Luna... s-she's gone!”

Next Chapter: Chapter 32 (Episode 9): Snowy Snare Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 59 Minutes