Part 27 - Cold
"You did what?"
Genie dipped her head, scuffing the ground with her hoof. "I helped Baby Bouncy go back," she muttered.
Raspberry Jam sighed. "Oh Genie, why would you do such a thing?"
"She said she'd get Pearly and Baby Rainribbon out."
Bright Eyes pushed her way to the front of the group and stood with Genie. Despite seeming mature for her age, the expression Genie held betrayed her age. Two large tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, though she quickly wiped these away.
"And you believed her?"
Genie raised her head once more, the tears now free flowing. "I-I thought she'd be able to get back here…"
Bright Eyes nuzzled Genie's neck then pulled her into a hug. "Raspberry Jam, I think you're being a bit hard on her."
Raspberry Jam shook her head. "No, no I am not. We're trying to get the baby ponies out, not put them back in!"
Bright Eyes frowned. "And what if Baby Bouncy can get Pearly? Baby Rainribbon? She's more resourceful than you give her credit for."
Raspberry Jam frowned too. "She's a baby pony! She's not supposed to be resourceful! I'm sure her mother will take great comfort in knowing that!"
Bright Eyes marched forward to face Raspberry Jam. "Now you're just being cruel."
It took a moment for Raspberry Jam to answer, a look of dawning realisation on her face. She walked toward Genie, nudged her, then hugged her. She whispered an apology to the younger pony, to which Genie nodded in return.
"I'm sorry, Bright Eyes," she said, "I think we're all starting to feel the stress of everything."
The three ponies went into the living area, Raspberry Jam busying herself with making tea. Genie sat on one of the chairs, wiping her eyes and sniffling the odd time. Bright Eyes sat with her, stroking Genie's mane with her hoof. Raspberry Jam returned with a tray, filled with cups, steam billowing from above them. She set them down on the table, handing out biscuits.
All of the lights were switched on in an attempt to dispel the darkness. Still the strange shapes lingered at the edge of the grounds, growing closer and closer each day. Bright Eyes stood up and closed the curtains.
The three ponies sat in the living area, listening to the rest of the comings and goings of the building. In the bedrooms, the baby ponies played, occasionally running around. Some of the ponies spoke quietly amongst themselves, passing by the living area to go to other rooms. Inside, it was almost back to normality. On the outside, it was anything but.
Bright Eyes shivered suddenly, her breath coming out in small puffs. Genie noticed it too.
Genie stood up from the chair, setting her plate and cup down, and lit up her horn. She went to the window, peeked out between the curtains and cried out in surprise. Bright Eyes rushed to her side, opening the curtains once more. On the other side, pressed against the window, a long, gangly looking pony stared in. Its face was pale, dark hair draped over its face, both hooves against the window on either side of its face.
It saw Genie and drew back. The window filled with ice, now not simply frost, growing in a thick layer. The temperature in the room dropped, all of the ponies noticing their breath. From the other rooms and upstairs, other ponies arrived in the living area, all of them having noticed it.
Fires were lit in wherever possible, Raspberry Jam, Bright Eyes and Streaky handing out blankets to all the ponies. The baby ponies were retrieved from the play room and returned to the living area where the rest of the ponies were. Blankets were draped over them, toys handed to them as a distraction.
Genie looked to the hall and doorway.
Bright Eyes noticed her heading toward the hall and galloped in front of her, blocking the way. "Don't you dare."
"I can get rid of it," Genie answered, "You know my magic works against them."
"Not thissss one, little one," Winter Night-Sky answered, appearing from the shadows.
Both ponies jumped. "We didn't see you, Winter," Genie said.
"Thissss one hassss power, much power." Winter Night-Sky went to the window in the hallway, pulling back the curtain. "Sssseee them danccccee. They dance to enticcce you in. There isss only sssso much magic that will work."
Genie tilted her head to the side. "What magic does work?"
"Flutter Pony, little one. Not yourssss." Winter Night-Sky glanced away. "I do not mean to ssssound harsssshhh, little one. Only to dissssuade you from going out there."
Winter Night-Sky turned to leave when Bright Eyes stopped her. "Do you know what magic is causing the cold? The ice that's forming in Paradise Estate?"
Winter Night-Sky nodded. "Mine."