A Musician's Guide To: "Whatever this is"
Chapter 21: Chapter 20: A Snowy Day In Canterlot
Previous Chapter Next Chapter"I still don't see why you're buying all this stuff..." The old man huffed as I took the kinda heavy bag. "It's making me a fortune though. So I know better than to question it." He smiled at me as I handed over the hefty sack of coins over to him. I had managed to blag even more money from Celestia. Seems to be a talent of mine. My parents used to get so mad at me when I did it to them, somehow I always ended up spending more of their money than my own.
It had been a couple weeks since I first made Steve his guitar. I was just picking up the parts I ordered shortly afterwards, parts for an acoustic this time. I was always better with those, since I prefer the little, simple riffs. I thanked the smithy-owner and pushed open the door. A blast of cold hit me, carrying with it razor-sharp, shrapnel-like flakes of frozen liquid.
It was mere days away from this world's version of Christmas, so it only made sense for it to be snowing. It couldn't be a holiday episode if it didn't snow. I doubt this world is literally the one from back on the TV, I would look rather out of place, but the same rules apply here. Every season was a plethora of cliche activities and gags.
Even as I write this, I can here some foal outside yelling about his 'fwozen tou-ge'. Poor guy must'a licked something. Anyway, back on topic...
I quickly made my way back to the palace, where the snow could no longer pester me with it's suppressing field of miniature, icy torpedoes. I silently thanked the heavens that I had eventually picked up that jacket I ordered from Hazel. And since she gave me a scarf as an 'early present', getting through the weather was a lot easier than it would have been without it. The jacket was not water-proof, but it deflected enough of the cold for me to remain comfortable for a reasonable amount of time, out in the falling snow.
Visibility was low, but I had a pretty good mental-map of Canterlot at this point, so I made it back to the palace after a couple minutes of fighting the oncoming winds. It truly was winter now. Short days, long nights, cold everything. And I was loving every moment of it.
Some people weren't though...
"Sup Chrome?" I said as I entered his room. He was headed for the door as I walked in, but turned back when I came in.
He was covered head to... hoof in thick waterproof coats, boots and scarves. He looked rather ridiculous, but he had spend the last two or three days like that, so it had lost its effect on me over time.
"Dan, you took forever!" Chrome said, once he was sat back down in his spot by the 'safe' magical (talk about an oxymoron) fire in the center of the room, lovingly cast by one of our resident alicorns. Steve, Dawn and Ebony encompassed the rest of the way around the fire. Dawn and Steve were snuggled into each other in a very feathery show of affection, Chrome just sat, staring at the fire as if it were his life-line. Ebony, not fazed by the cold at all, just kind of sat there, looking as huggable as ever.
The other three in the room gave agreeing statements to what Chrome had said, I snapped to my senses and placed the guitar parts down against the wall. No way those are going near the fire that's for damn sure. I- Celestia paid good bits for those!
"Sorry guys," I said as I sat by Ebony, he hugged into my side as I did so, already warming my cold jacket. "The snow's really falling out there now, it slowed me somewhat." They all gave sympathetic looks at my still slightly snow covered clothes. And by all, I mean all but Steve, with his feather/fur combo he was almost as resistant to the cold as Ebony was.
"Ah, stop being a wimp, this is nothing compared to what I have been through. Have you ever heard of Gr-"
Dawn stuffed a hoof into his beak. "Yes! We all have! Twelve times! Shut up about your damn country." She released him. "We all know: 'it's cold'." She said, imitating his slight accent. Steve chuckled while Chrome flinched at her use of language. Ebony was completely habituated to basically any bad language at this point, having spent so much time with me.
It was nice seeing those two back together, they had a strange relationship, but it was tender all the same. Their wedding had been delayed until next spring, to let them both settle back down, after such an emotional time.
"So, Dan." Ebony said, turning to me and also getting everyone's attention. "What's in the bag?" He nodded his head towards the bag of parts sitting by the door.
"Oh that? That's just some supplies for something I am working on, nothing for you to worry about." They all gave me suspicious glances. "Now, who's for some snow stuff?"
They all looked to each other. Dawn, being by-far the most forward of the group, responded first.
"Snow... stuff?" She said, tilting her head. A very serious look on her face.
"Erm, you know... fun snow stuff..." She blinked. "Your going to make me say it aren't you?" None of them responded. I groaned "Uhg, fine." I took in a breath and stood. "Let's go..." I exhaled. "...play... in the snow." I said, through gritted teeth.
Steve smirked. "Was that so hard?"
I got up and walked to the door. "I am leaving. Now. Anyone who wants in on fun snow stuff, come with. Boring people, stay here." And with that I left, taking the bag and closing the door behind me. I put the bag into my room and turned around. Finding everyone who wasn't boring.
Meaning everyone was there. Except for Chrome, who was presumably still huddling beside the fire.
They all beamed at me. I laughed slightly at the unusual crowd. A griffin, a retired military specialist and a changeling-turned-guard-turned-changeling.
"Come on then you lot." I said as I walked to the palace's front gates. They followed close behind me and we made conversation on the way there. I could feel the temperature drop immensely upon the last turn of our trip, exposing us to the bitter wind.
We all walked outside with some trouble, the snow was half-way up my shins, meaning it was almost up to the knees of the ponies. Steve however simply powered through it. The snow was still falling but a lot slower, same with the wind, it was a lot more tame. Foals and adults alike trotted outside, taking in the sights. The foals were being a lot more playful than the full grown ponies, but I could see some of them playing, when they thought no one was looking.
We walked until we found our battle-ground. A intersection leading in four different directions. We all looked at each other. We all knew what was about to happen. Dawn's determined look actually scared me. I see what Feather meant now...
Without warning we all took a street and hunkered down. I shifted snow as last as I could, digging out a trench while using the moved snow to make a protective wall in front of me, the other's had similar ideas.
I finished my wall and prepared my first batch of weapons. Five very well-packed snowballs. I stacked them ornately on the floor of my trench and peaked over my wall. A war was already raging, Dawn and Steve had finished first and had began their cross-fire. Ebony was peaking over his wall, just like I was. I narrowed my eyes, looking for a weak spot on his wall. There was none, it was immaculate. Unlike mine, that bulged slightly at certain points.
I decided to take a pot-shot. I threw one of my pre-made balls over towards Ebony, attempting to arc it over his wall and hit him.
It hit the top of his wall and skimmed over him. He raised his head from his shelter, glared at me and raised a hoof. I saw something I was not expecting. He had a snow-ball lodged in one of his leg-holes. He smirked and flicked his hoof towards me, sending the ball straight for me. I ducked and it whizzed by overhead.
His damn entire body is made out of catapults!
I heard an avian squawk. Steve's been hit! Knowing that Dawn would be distracted by her victory, I picked up a ball and hurled it towards her base, using the action of standing up to add more momentum to my shot. After the ball left my hand I looked at Dawn's wall, it was very battered, but was still holding strong. Dawn peaked over the wall at just the wrong moment and caught my projectile in her ear. She yelped and fell over backwards. As soon as it made contact I looked to the other two bases.
Only to see two snowballs, already in flight, flying towards me. I did not have time to duck. But, to my amazement (and luck) the two pieces of snow hit each other mid-flight, deflecting off of each other and showing me in a spray of tiny ice-crystals. Still better than the alternative. The two throwers glared at each other.
I ducked down and covered the top of my head as the sounds of war played out from behind my wall.
***
About an hour later, we where heading back to Chrome's room. We were all soaked, freezing and exhausted. Ebony still didn't care about the cold. But even Steve was cold. He would never admit it, but I could see it in his face and the way his beak was held shut tight, that he was secretly yearning for the fire's warmth.
Steve and Dawn were leading our pack as we approached the door. When Steve put his claws over the handle, a thought occurred to me.
"Steve wait!" It was too late, the door was open.
"Oh, care to join us?" Luna said from inside. Oh god Luna was in there and we jus- wait what did she just say?
I peaked past the two in the doorway and into the room. Luna and Chrome were by the fire, each with a steaming cup in the hoofs.
"We are making chocolate beverages!" Luna shouted triumphantly while extending a hoof.
I stifled laughter as I walked in, bringing the other three with me.
We all sat around the fire, dried off a bit and enjoyed some hot chocolate. A marshmallow almost the width of the cup itself in every drink. We all just sat in silence for a bit, it was nice, just three pairs sitting together, appreciating the fire, the drinks, each other...
It was a little awkward for Ebony, since he couldn't exactly have any of the drinks, that right was reserved for alcohol for whatever reason. But after snuggling into me a little harder, he felt comfortable.
Comfortable enough to fall asleep on me.
The two other pairs smiled at us. I could not help but smile too. Dawn chuckled slightly, "If you told me, fifteen years ago, that I would ever see that... I'd call you crazy..." She quietly said.
I looked down at the sleeping changeling. "Ha... yeah...I should get this guy to the bed. And..." I yawned, "I think I'll join him too."
They all silently waved, as not to wake him. I picked him up gently. Due to all those times I picked him up before, it was an easy task. He did stir slightly as I walked, but he curled up tighter and remained asleep. I genuinely would have fell to my knees if I was not carrying him, it was so cute. Right then, just like when Chrome looked back at me, on that first day... something inside me exploded a little.
I quietly pushed the door open with my back. Walked him over to the bed and laid him down, placing the sheet over him. I closed the front door then joined him. Today, though it had reasonably uneventful, had been exhausting. I quickly fell asleep that night, unlike most nights where I actually have trouble getting to sleep. I must have been completely drained. And Ebony must have as well, as much as he is more comfortable around ponies than before, he would never let his guard down like that on purpose.
Or maybe her turned a new leaf. Maybe the games we played with the others taught him something, or maybe I am just tired and looking too deep into things, yet again. I failed to mention this before, but that is something I do. Over-analyse. It has caused me many issues in the past, but here? In Equestria? Everything is unpredictable, there is no point even trying to understand this place. So I kinda left that behind on Earth. Most of it at least.
I chuckled quietly. "Crazy horses..."