Flying through the air with great speed, Coltyn descended to Manehatten. Coltyn walked out of the vapors, regaining his corporeal form to see only a few ponies roaming the streets, all of whom were wearing surgical masks. Coltyn walked up to a lemon colored filly bouncing a ball off the side of a building.

"Excuse me, but what is going on here?" Coltyn inquired.

The filly turned looking up. "Oh, didn't you hear? Hay Fever has gripped the town and…"

"Lemon Drop!" A mare called out, running to the filly. "What have I told you about talking to strangers," the mare scolded. "And you," she growled, turning to Coltyn. "You must have a death wish running around unprotected and I never want to see you near my foal again," the mare exclaimed, pushing the filly with her head to get her away from him.

"That was unexpected." Coltyn stood there for a minute trying to process what had just happened.
The mention of Hay Fever let him know that he needed to head to the hospital. Coltyn headed down the streets and noticed that all the businesses had closed signs up in the middle of the day. "This Hay Fever must be bad if all the shops are closed."

***

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I have arrived in Manehatten to find the town plagued by Hay Fever. I have been working very closely with Nurse Kind Heart and hopefully we will have everypony back on their hooves soon. I have taken advantage of their archives here and have some new leads and possibly a way to kind of cheat the rules of magic. The tomes for its creation are held at the Magic Academy in Las Pegasus. I'm planning to book my train ride to have a layover in Canterlot for Hearth's Warming Eve. I have included my notes on the plague here in Manehatten and hope they help you in your studies.

Sincerely;

Coltyn Pendragon

***

Dear Coltyn Pendragon,

Thanks for the notes, they were really informative and I'm glad to hear that the plague is being handled. Life in Ponyville has been interesting as of late. My friends and I had our pets out for a play date and accidentally disturbed Rainbow Dash during her nap. She decided that she wanted a pet but wasn't sure of which one she wanted so she arranged a competition to decide. Fluttershy insisted on having a tortoise try as well much to Rainbow's disapproval. So the last challenge was a race through Ghastly Gorge and when Rainbow didn't make it to the finish line first I knew something was wrong. Turns out that the tortoise saved her from a rock that pinned her down and Rainbow finally chose her pet to be the tortoise. So it just goes to show that even against all odds if you stick with it you can come out on top. Hope to hear from you soon.

Your Friend;

Twilight Sparkle

***

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

Glad to hear you found my research helpful and thank you for the encouragement. Life in Manehatten has gotten mostly back to normal. Only the ponies who first came down with the fever are still recovering and my research is going smoothly. I think I might head to Las Pegasus early if things work out here. There is still something missing that I just can't put my hoof on. Well I'm sure I'll figure it out and I'm glad to hear your friend found a pet. I know it is a big responsibility taking care of a pet and I hope she can handle it. I can't wait to hear from you again.

Yours Truly;

Coltyn Pendragon

***

Dear Coltyn,

I have discovered that being heroic and receiving praise can be a good thing but if you let it go to your head you might need to get knocked back down to earth. Rainbow Dash recently had a massive ego attack and put a lot of lives in danger so we had to intervene. I won't bore you with details other than we successfully knocked it into her head that it's not the praise that you should work for but the safety and wellbeing of everypony. Also got to try my horn at a new repair spell I learned recently to fix objects and basically saved Ponyville from becoming a lake. I'll write you again soon.

Your Friend;

Twilight

***

Dear Twilight,

I met your friend Rarity at the train platform in Canterlot. She told me your birthday is in a couple days so Happy Early Birthday. Sorry I can't make it to your birthday party. I am currently working on making a Philosopher's or Sorcerer's Stone, depending on who you ask. This looks promising and I hope to be concluding my research soon. I have also included a copy of my perfected admixtures so that you can see how they work as a present. Have a wonderful Birthday and I'll keep you up to date on my work.

Your Friend;

Coltyn

***

Dear Coltyn,

I really wish you were here for the last few days. Spike had his birthday and with getting a bunch of presents from my friends he went around town demanding gifts. But the real shock came the next morning when he had doubled in size! After seeing some professionals I took him to Zecora and found out that dragons grow larger as they hoard more things. He was as large as the other dragons I'd seen but without wings, that was odd. But Rarity told me a good talking to snapped Spike back to his senses. Thank Celestia for Rainbow and Fluttershy who saved Rarity and Spike from becoming splatter marks on the ground. I never imagined Spike not being there for me, he's my number one assistant and friend. I'm just worried that he might change again and not come back. I'll wrap up before this becomes a dissertation and just say that I really wished you were here and could give some solid answers. Thanks for listening.

Your Friend;

Twilight

PS: Do you know anyway to fix a half destroyed home? I am not fond of having Pinkie Pie and the Cakes sleeping at my place.

***

Dear Twilight,

I will say it is odd for a dragon to grow that much but I guess it is because of his lack of experience and contact with other dragons. The best I can say to that is remind that you love and care for him and his wellbeing. I have a spell that will fix their home which is included in this letter just be sure to do the best you can at visualizing the final structure. I would read up on basic engineering so you know how to make a stable structure.

I have not found anything here relating to making the stone. There is nothing here that I don't already know so I will be packing my bags and heading back to Canterlot. The key to the stone's creation remains elusive, but I have confidence I will find it somewhere, possibly in the archives in Baltimare. It feels as though I'm overlooking something, but I just can't put my hoof on it. I will still be in Canterlot for Hearth's Warming, so I hope we can catch up then.

Your Friend;

Coltyn

***

The crisp air bit at Coltyn's nose as he appeared outside the city walls of Canterlot. He left his cart outside and cast an illusion on it to make appear to be part of the forest and wrapped himself in a hooded cloak, faded royal blue with purple lining. Coltyn walked into the city and was struck with awe as he had not seen so many lights and decorations before. All the store fronts were decorated with seasonal reds and greens as the ponies donned their best holiday outfits. Coltyn couldn't help but laugh at seeing two ponies walking down the street with their noses pointing to the sky making their breath look like the steam from the Friendship Express.

Coltyn made his way through the streets relearning the paths of his former home. Rounding a corner, his attention was caught by a light blue mare with a short cut tri-colored mane and tail waving in the gentle winter breeze. What made her stand out was the fact she was wearing just a light cloth over her wings and seemed to not be bothered by the cold. Coltyn was dazed by the beauty of her but his magic sense told him that he knew this mare. This was the filly he rescued and he couldn't believe that tiny foal had become this beautiful mare.

His mind raced. 'Should I approach her? What should I say? Why is my stomach turning?'

Coltyn stood there watching her as two pegasus guards approached her. There was a short discussion before she and the guards took to the sky. 'She works with the Royal Guard? Celestia must want to keep a close eye on her without raising suspicion.' Coltyn was mentally trying to put the pieces together when he heard a familiar voice behind him squeal, "And it's me!"

Smiling, Coltyn turned to see Twilight and her friends all walking together, heading toward the castle. He raised a hoof in greeting. "Hello everypony. What brings you all to Canterlot?"

Twilight proudly stepped forward. "We have been asked by Princess Celestia to play the lead roles in the Hearth's Warming Eve Pageant tomorrow."

"This is quite an honor. I'm sure you will all do a great job," Coltyn said, keeping pace with the six as they made their way to the castle.

The seven ponies made their way through Canterlot, Twilight and Coltyn mainly talked about magic uses and spell augmentation. The others chatted about their roles in the upcoming performance except for Fluttershy who seemed to be using every ounce of willpower she had not to run away.

When they arrived at the castle, Twilight invited Coltyn to stay with her so they could discuss the deeper workings of magic and help her practice some spells she would need to use during the pageant. Coltyn was a little hesitant but agreed and they all made their way up to the archives that Twilight used to call home before she moved to Ponyville.

They talked into the night and Coltyn finally had to tell Twilight to get some sleep and that he would continue their conversation in the morning. Coltyn left Twilight's room quietly and headed down the to the castle grounds and out into the streets of Canterlot. His mind was still shaken from earlier as he trotted aimlessly through the streets not paying attention to where his hooves were taking him.

Coltyn found himself in front of a small café and he felt the icy breeze send a chill down his spine through his cloak. He decided to get a warm drink and let his ears pick up the gossip around town. Coltyn was comfortably settled at the counter sipping tea when he noticed the blue mare he'd seen earlier enter the establishment, and sit a few cushions down from him. The bartender saw her walk in and began to mix up a frozen fruit drink, having it ready for her when she sat down. Coltyn couldn't hold back, he needed to talk to her.

"I must say I've never seen a mare of your youth with such a tangible air of authority before," Coltyn said, moving two cushions away from her.

She didn't even look at him. "I'm not interested in anything you have to offer."

"I just wish to know your name," Coltyn said, simply, unruffled by her blatant hostility.

"Why?" she asked, archly.

"Why? What do you wish to hear? That I think you're beautiful? You are. That you intrigue me? You do. That the air of mystery about you compels me to solve it? Of course. Perhaps you would prefer to hear that you carry yourself with great presence, or that your disaffected air makes you seem unapproachable, and leads one to wonder what lies beneath the surface? You know all of these things, and yet none of them matters. I only ask a name, nothing more."

She frowned. "Thunder Snow, Caption of the Pegasus Guard," Thunder Snow said, coldly.

Coltyn didn't say another word and went back to his drink as his ears scanned the conversations. The only conversation that intrigued him was that of two pegasi in the corner who were speculating about what he had said to get her to tell him her name. 'It seems she is sought after by others, although it would appear that she's cultivated a reputation for striking down offers. Interesting.' Coltyn thought, slowly drinking his tea. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her looking at him, not sure what had just happened.

Thunder Snow was known for her untouchable, unflappable strength, and had never felt the urge to tell another pony her name on the first meeting. She could string along stallions for weeks before turning them down. 'What was different about this one? How did he get to me? Why do I want to know how he did that? There is more to him then he showed, he is deep and mysterious. I must find out why.'

Coltyn lay his bits on the bar and adjusted his cloak just enough that Thunder Snow caught the royal purple lining. Coltyn slowly walked from the café and made his way back to a small motel he thought he passed on his journey.

Thunder Snow sat at the bar looking deeply into her fruit cocktail, lost in her own mind. 'He wears royal colors but still comes to places like this?' Shaking her head in irritation, she mentally chastised herself. 'Why am I still thinking about him? He's just another male. Still… I've never seen a stallion that direct and yet charming. What was that all about, really?' Thunder Snow shook her head trying to erase the thought of him from her mind. Nearly an hour passed, Thunder Snow looked intently into her drink as if it would give her answers to her questions. She laid her bits on the bar and left thinking only one thing, 'I must know his name.'

***

The six began to prepare for the pageant and Coltyn was helping by setting up the backdrops when he heard Fluttershy shriek in fear, and then a fiercely cold wind blew through the dressing room. Coltyn just listened, and as the six argued the wind raged stronger, until the young mares finally calmed down. Then, the rage of the storm abated just as suddenly as it hade developed. Coltyn couldn't quite put his hoof on it, but something felt familiar about the essence of that wind. 'Almost as if…' Coltyn shook his head. He needed to gather more information. Coltyn decided to leave the preparations and headed for a walk in the castle grounds.

***

Thunder Snow stood atop the castle tower in her blue and golden armor, looking over Canterlot. She could hear the argument between the six mares from Ponyville and she could feel something stir inside her. The air seemed to become colder while the wind picked up. She did feel the wind slow as the arguing stopped and then she saw him; the one who took her by surprise and managed to get her to tell him her name, and had the nerve to not even offer his. She leapt from the tower, the cold air racing around her form as she fell. Spreading her wings, she pulled up before hitting the ground and called out.

"You there!" Thunder Snow called.

Coltyn stopped, and turned toward the familiar voice. "Good evening, Thunder Snow, Captain of the Pegasus Guard."

Thunder Snow landed in front of him. "You have a lot of nerve. Ask a mare her name and not give yours."

"Yes. Thus, of course, you sought me out," Coltyn said, plainly.

"So, what, you tested me? That seems underhanded," Thunder Snow huffed.

"It is. But strong confident mares like you don't fall for lines and empty words. You have to play a little dirty," Coltyn informed her with a half-smile.

"I have to get back, but don't think I'm done," Thunder Snow scowled, walking by him and spreading her wings. She paused for a moment, and demanded, "Tell me your name."

"Coltyn Pendragon," he said, then stood and watched Thunder Snow fly back to the main hall.

Coltyn stood in the cold night air, his heart pounding slightly, before reason asserted itself, and he shook his head. 'What am I doing? She is HER daughter! I shouldn't get emotionally attached. Why can't I help but feel that my heart is betraying my head. This doesn't make sense; I never let my emotions get involved. What is happening to me?' Coltyn rested his head against one of his hooves.

Drawing his normal air of academic detachment around himself like armor, Coltyn made his way back to the dressing area, and settled on a bench where he could observe the pageant and the effects from backstage while he sorted through his thoughts. The play had gotten to the part where the windigos encase the leaders in the ice cave but something felt different. Coltyn reached out with his magic, extending his sense to try and find out what was making the difference.

Reaching out, he followed the strange disturbance to Thunder Snow, realizing with a shock that she had access to her magic. Coltyn reeled mentally as he realized the frightening significance of his discovery. 'Her core is still intact. That means that there is still time. But if she caused the weather to change that means that her magic is wild and uncontrolled. This is bad… the seal I placed on her must be fading. The time I had to fix this just got a lot shorter.'

Coltyn made his way to the dressing rooms and quickly scribed a note to Twilight, leaving it on her vanity. He penned another to Thunder Snow and asked one of the Pegasus Guards to deliver it to her. Coltyn trotted down the hall and, when he didn't see anypony, quickly teleported to his cart and took off.

***

After the pageant, Thunder Snow was keeping watch from the top of the castle tower when one of her guards flew up, delivering a message. She dismissed the guard and opened the letter.

'Dear Thunder Snow;

I have urgent matters to attend to so I won't be in Canterlot. This isn't the last you will hear from me though, I will return.

Sincerely,

Coltyn Pendragon'

Thunder Snow looked the short letter over and over, thinking 'He left. He just… LEFT!' Her mix of anger and loneliness burned deep in her heart as she bellowed from the roof.

***

Twilight and her friends were arguing over who should shut the window when the unholy, ear-piercing howl of what they thought must be a windigo made them cringe.

"You know what, I got it," Rainbow Dash said, flying over to shut the window.

Twilight looked at her dressing table and noticed a note. She opened it and began reading.

'Dear Twilight;

My time for research has been reduced and I must continue my work. I will keep you up to date when I can but I have a feeling that won't be often. Write you later.

Your friend,

Coltyn'

Twilight thought about the note on her way back to her room. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Coltyn's sudden departure than he told her, and she was concerned. She had become so lost in thought that she didn't notice Princess Celestia approach her.

"You seem preoccupied. A bit for your thoughts," Princess Celestia said, playfully.

"Oh, Princess! Sorry, I got a note from Coltyn – he just took off. No reason or real explanation, just a brief 'I have to go, I'll write later'," Twilight explained, frowning.

"He has always been reclusive, and even before the war with my sister when she was calling herself Nightmare Moon, he was an enigma even to me," Princess Celestia admitted.

"He doesn't seem the kind of pony to do things without reason," Twilight pondered. "But why the sudden need to leave? It's like a puzzle I feel compelled to solve."

"I know how you feel, my faithful student. I tried to chase him for what I thought was his natural life, but he always managed to remain a step ahead of me. However, if your instincts are telling you there is something wrong, I trust them. Please keep me informed of what transpires, and of course, if you need my aid in any way, you have only to send a letter," Celestia said, heading for her chambers.

"Of course, Princess," Twilight acknowledged, bowing and waiting for the Princess to turn into another corridor before letting herself into her room.

That night, Twilight lay on her bed, thinking about the unexpected mystery of the evening. The note, Coltyn suddenly disappearing, nothing was adding up. She desperately wanted to solve the riddle, but her body let itself be wrapped in the warmth of the bed, and gradually she drifted off to sleep.