Part 30 - Way Out
Days had passed in Paradise Estate, the ice showing no signs of thawing. Winter Night-Sky had approached the windows, lowered her head and lit up her horn. The ice remained and she shook her head.
"They have changed my magic," she said. "I can't remove the icccceee."
Genie moved to her side and nuzzled Winter Night-Sky's neck. "It was worth a try."
Winter Night-Sky blinked and gave her an awkward pat.
The ponies in Paradise Estate continued to stay in the living area, blankets and fires being their constant companion. The baby ponies, Baby Moondancer especially, stayed out of the way and well away from the windows. The First Tooth baby ponies sat nearby, Baby North Star acting as their personal guardian.
Raspberry Jam made herself busy with tea every so often. She looked around, looking for something to do, checking cups, taking plates away. She seemed to be at a loose end, unsure what she could do to help, if anything.
Winter Night-Sky on the other hand, patrolled the building, unbothered by the cold that seemed to penetrate the very walls of the building. Genie accompanied her, eager to learn as much as she could, whether it was in regards to magic or otherwise. Bright Eyes followed too, ensuring Genie could not slip away.
They went up the stairs, checking through the bedrooms and the play room. At the play room adjoining the nursery, Winter Night-Sky stopped then.
"Ssssomething issss wrong," she told them.
Genie went to open the door, both Bright Eyes and Winter Night-Sky stopped her.
"Allow me to deal with thissss, little one," Winter Night-Sky said.
Genie pouted. "I'm not little."
Winter Night-Sky held the ghost of a smile briefly. "You're little compared to me."
Bright Eyes stifled a laugh. "She's got you there," she added.
Genie stuck her tongue out at them both.
Winter Night-Sky opened the door, lit up her horn and walked into the room. Genie and Bright Eyes waited outside, listening to the other unicorn while she walked around the room. After a few moments, they heard Winter Night-Sky hiss before she galloped out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
"Weee musssst sssseal thissss door," she said. She took a few seconds to catch her breath. "There isss ssssomething in there. It'ssss coming."
Genie nodded then ran back down the stairs.
Bright Eyes looked to Winter Night-Sky. "Are you all right?" she asked, giving her a nudge gently. "You look shaken up."
Winter Night-Sky nodded. "I am...fine." She swallowed. "I heard about the sssssmall onessss. Their encounter before coming here."
Bright Eyes tilted her head. "You know what that thing was?"
"It wassss one of the more powerful creaturessss. Only the unicorn Dazzlllegloow can disssspell it."
Winter Night-Sky stood at the top of the stairs, Genie galloping up the stairs, leaping up them two at a time. Raspberry Jam was also in tow, though at a significantly slower pace than Genie. She looked to the door in question, opened it and poked her head around it. Raspberry Jam took a few steps back then shut the door once more.
"Yes, that's definitely what was in the nursery," she said.
Between them, the door was locked and barricaded as much as they were able before returning to the rest of the ponies. Baby North Star was the first to chance going up the stairs, however was caught at the door and ushered back to her friends.
The hours passed, some of the ponies falling asleep,, the baby ponies getting tucked in for the night. Baby North Star patrolled the room, regularly going to the windows, yet did not have the courage to open the curtains. She shrank back when she took the end of one, about to pull it back, then lost her nerve and returned to Baby Moondancer and Baby Glory.
A knock came at the door.
Genie stood up from the floor where she had settled for the night. Bright Eyes stood up too. Together they went to the door, Genie checking the window.
"It's a Flutter Pony!" she exclaimed, immediately going to the door. She opened it and a disheveled looking Peach Blossom stood at the other side.
"Greetings, little ponies," she said.
Bright Eyes shook herself, then pulled the Flutter Pony inside before anything else could get in. Peach Blossom and Genie followed her to the kitchen, where they found tea and cakes left over as well as extra dinner. Peach Blossom gratefully accepted the plates then sat at the table.
"Has anyone been able to send communications to Queen Rosedust?" Peach Blossom asked.
Genie shook her head. "I got to Flutter Valley before I came here. Things were only just starting to affect everyone, the darkness and the cold."
"From what I could ascertain from the cult itself, we need the Utter Flutter and great amounts of it."
Winter Night-Sky appeared behind Bright Eyes, causing her to jump. On seeing her, Peach Blossom immediately flew into the air and began to beat her wings faster. Genie stood in front of Winter Night-Sky.
"She's our friend," Genie told Peach Blossom. "She's been helping us, and telling us what this magic is."
Peach Blossom landed on the ground. "My sincerest apologies. I did not realise the pale ones possessed some fragment of their former selves."
Winter Night-Sky nodded. "You have sssseeeen why the pale onessss are like thissss."
Peach Blossom nodded. "Indeed." She looked between the ponies. "We need to gather the Flutter Ponies while I alert Dazzleglow."
"I'll go," Genie offered. "I want to see my friends, Tropical Breeze, Wing Song. I want to make sure they're all right."
Peach Blossom smiled. "Your concern is touching, I'm certain they'll be glad to see you again."
Within a few hours, Genie, Bright Eyes and Winter Night-Sky were on their way to Flutter Valley.