Chapter 9

Infernalo re-entered his temporary home by appearing through a large black void that disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. Twilight was reorganizing the shelves of books and turned, startled upon seeing the Darkness Trossel.

"Infernalo," she said, a bit relieved. "I didn't hear you come in."

"Hope I didn't scare you," he said. "I tend to have that effect around everypony else here, it seems."

"I'm sure they just need time to adjust to you," she assured him. "I know that a zebra friend of mine, Zecora, went through the same thing. I even went through some of it myself when I first arrived in Ponyville. Just about everypony has never seen a Trossel their entire lives." Infernalo smiled, Twilight managing to put his mind at ease for the moment. "This may seem like a strange question..."

"I believe that it's my place to judge that," Infernalo said.

"You haven't seen Spike around, have you," she asked. "I haven't seen him since this morning." Infernalo shrugged, using his magic to finish reorganizing the shelves. Twilight glanced over and saw his workmanship. "Thanks for helping me this."

"It's the smallest thing I could think of to do for you letting us take up temporary residence in your home." Twilight turned her gaze to the floor quickly before clearing her throat and uttering a short mumbled jumble of words she herself didn't hear coherently. "I noticed how he was gazing at my baby sister, so that might be some indication as to where he might be." Twilight smiled and went out to look for him, only for Spike to appear right behind the Darkness Trossel, causing him to jump.

"I'll give you a warning," Infernalo said testily. "Make it count."

"Infernalo," Spike said. "You know Frostburn, right?"

"I should say I'm unfortunate enough to, yes," Infernalo said dismissively. "Why?"

"Well," the baby dragon asked, trying to assemble together the right words in his head. "Do you know what she likes in a guy? Just curious." Infernalo levitated over his book and continued reading where he left off from last time.

"She seems to have something for ponies with intelligence," he said, recalling her relationship with Steelmind. Spike smiled and left, Infernalo sighed in frustration before chuckling a bit at his book. "Ah, Mr. Morose, you seem to have a way with characters like no other of your time."

The four fillies sat down to rest in a state of defeat. Scootaloo led them to Rainbow Dash, but no such luck in finding Infernalo. Finally, Steelmind walked by and looked down at them.

"Why are you four so depressed," he asked.

"We can't find Infernalo and we had a really really important question for him," Leafwind said. Steelmind pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, growing increasingly resentful towards them for their repeatedly irritating habit.

"It isn't about," he asked, as they looked up. "Never mind, you wouldn't understand anyway, at least I hope not; don't exactly know how I'd explain that. What were you going to ask him anyway?" Leafwind whispered in his ear about the question and he scoffed.

"That's it," he said confused. "I thought it was something else. Trossels are simply ponies that have adapted to become more inclined and adept in the ways and control of Raw magic, which was broken up and divided into several tribes focused on a singular element: Earth, Air, Light, Metal, and so on. That's why Trossels have the spikes on our hooves, for drawing the magic from the planet's core to harness it. Though, the tribes have since broken down their walls and that's why Trossels such as myself tend to be able to control two powers; the connection between a Trossel foal getting their cutie mark and powers is still unclear, though. Does that about answer your question, Leafwind? Girls?" they nodded, except Sweetie Belle, whose mind was racing with a million questions at once, but Steelmind had already left.

"That was Frostburn's boyfriend Steelmind," Leafwind said. "He brought me and my cousin here 'cause he's psychic and stuff." they all looked on in amazement, much to Leafwind's confusion. Being from Seldreinia, Steelmind's Thought powers weren't really anything too unique or special, especially around other equally and greater powered Thought Trossels alike.

"What did he think we were going to ask," Sweetie asked. Leafwind shrugged.

"I don't know," she said. "I think he thought we meant something having to do with the stuff guys are always talking about with my cousin."

"What's your cousin like, Leafwind," Scootaloo asked. Leafwind lit up, as though almost waiting for somepony to ask that.

"She's one of the greatest ponies you could ever meet ever," Leafwind said. "She's really, really smart, boys like her, and she's the closest thing I've ever had to a real big sister." the orange Pegasus almost seemed somewhat moved by this-though, Leafwind being Leafwind, it was only the prelude of a much longer rambling. Apple Bloom looked at her friend curiously.

"Are you crying," Apple Bloom asked. Scootaloo bitterly wiped her tears away, and glared at her.

"No," Scootaloo said strongly. "I just got something in my eye."

Stonebolt walked around town with Frostburn bouncing next to her while other ponies were muttering things to each other.

"They don't exactly seem all too welcoming around here, do they Frosty," Stonebolt asked. Frostburn stopped bouncing when a pink earth pony walking the other way stopped in front of them. Her big blue eyes looked back at Frostburn's large yellow eyes, as the two began to circle each other curiously, scanning their manes, tails, cutie marks, down to the last detail before returning to staring at each other face to face. "Will one of you just say something? You're freaking me out!"

"Hi," they said in unison. "I'm...no, you first. No, you first. No, really. I insist."

"Stop that," Stonebolt snapped.

"Okay," Frostburn said. "I'm Frostburn, and this is my sister Stonebolt. We're twins."

"I'm Pinkie Pie," the earth pony said. "I don't remember seeing you two around. I thought I knew everypony in Ponyville."

"Well," Stonebolt said. "We are kinda new. We really do have somewhere to be right now anyway."

"No we don't," Frostburn said with her typical naivety. "Besides, we could really make some friends here and everypony wouldn't try and keep their distance from us like this." Pinkie lit up.

"That is a great idea, Frostburn," she said. "I gotta go plan the party right now." with that, she zipped off.

"She seems very random," Stonebolt said finally.

"I think she's funny," Frostburn said. The two looked up at the sunset, and Stonebolt sighed.

"C'mon Frosty," Stonebolt said. "The sun's going down, and Infernalo is probably wondering where we are." the two flew off to the library, finding Infernalo sitting in a chair with Leafwind curled up asleep at his feet.

"She showed up a few hours ago waiting for you, but got tired and fell asleep," he said. Leafwind yawned and looked up at Frostburn.

"Hey kiddo," Frostburn said. "You have fun with your new friends?" Leafwind nodded.

"Frostburn," she said weakly. "This is the bestest place ever." She started drifting off and Frostburn lifted the little filly onto her back and carried her upstairs, Stonebolt following.

"You going to bed too, big brother," she asked.

"I'll be up in another twenty minutes or so," he said. "Good night."

"Night, Infernalo," she said, trotting upstairs.

Rarity looked out at the moon beginning to come out; it seemed like this day would never end. She heard a knock at her door and saw Zephyroak and Steelmind outside.

"I hope you don't mind but we need a place to stay for the night," Steelmind said. "We promise not to be a burden."

"Oh no, of course," Rarity said. "It's no burden at all, Steelmind. Please, do come in." they entered and Rarity led the two to a guest bedroom she'd set up. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." as she left, Steelmind flopped down on the bed, taking off his glasses and setting them on the nearby end table. Zephyroak took the bed across from him and started drifting off.

"Night, Zeph," Steelmind mumbled, already starting to succumb to his exhaustion.

"Night, Steel," Zephyroak responded, yawning and finally following him into a deep sleep.