[TFE] November 2023 Event: Encroaching Winter

Snow fell in blankets over the Crystal Empire. What was normally a light dusting this time of year covered everything in its cold embrace, glittering white covering everything as far as the eye could see, reflecting the glow of lantern light. Rime stared out the window with a cup of hot chocolate gently held in his hooves, his coloration was still muted, but was significantly lighter than the previous months.

 

Recovery was.. Slow. The changeling still had sudden bouts of anger whenever he would catch a glance of the castle - the Umbrum would return.. He knew this in his bones, a cold feeling that seeped to the marrow, causing his muzzle to twist into a quiet snarl before he returned to nursing his cup. It was a nagging fear at the back of everypony’s mind, but one they pushed back with the celebration that there had been a breakthrough. Those infected saw their crystals recede to small flecks or even just markings.

 

The celebrations and lift in mood had done wonders for Rime’s psyche, he forced himself to go out amongst the others — even if he was a bit of a damper on the mood, he was trying and (slowly) succeeding in reverting back to his normal self. The changeling shuddered out a sigh as he finished his drink, setting the mug down and tugging his cloak closer to his frame.. There was something wrong about this early Winter. 

 

Cleaning his mug, he turned to the door and made his way to the crystalline streets of the empire. His hooves didn’t click, instead crunching the fresh snow under him as he frowned. A gust of wind caused him to shiver, the cold penetrating his cloak with ease and he felt himself pinning his wings flat against his frame to keep them from freezing. His teeth chattered as he started to trot in an attempt to warm himself, nodding a greeting to those he met along the way.

 

What in Equestria was going on..?

 

—

 

Things in Canterlot and Ponyville weren’t much better. Rivers had frozen solid and the waterfalls from Canterlot’s canals had also frozen over - giving everything an otherworldly feel as the very air glittered with ice. Some ponies had reveled in the early winter, having snowball fights, building forts and snowponies. Others used it as an excuse to make their favorite hot comforting meals and drinks.

 

Mint Chip had rolled out his winter stock early, while keeping fall specials in his cases as well. His new wings buzzed nervously against the back of his shell as he greeted customers with a small smile and a wave of a hoof. While he was slowly getting used to his new features, what really helped were his friends and regular customers who, after their initial reactions, treated him as if he had been this way all along. He had even been getting flying lessons from Velvet Wing and Konpeito - though the two had very different ways of teaching and while Velvet understood insectoid anatomy - neither were very helpful when it came to his wings (though he appreciated the effort all the same).

 

“‘Ey!” A voice pulled him out of his head as he looked over to see the colorful pegasus waving a hoof in front of his face. “Y’ok?”

 

“M’fine.” Mint mumbled, slowly moving a hoof to rub his eyes then drag down his face.

 

“If y’say so.” Kon replied, eyeing him for a moment before scooping up a thermos with a wing and heading to the tables to refill hot drinks. Mint watched the stallion go, humming with a breath quietly as he plucked a rag from a nearby cleaning bucket with his magic and went out to wipe some tables. He chatted with some of the regulars while Konpeito cracked a joke or two.

 

“I heard some folks have been iced up inside of their homes..” Brave commented, gently swirling a hoof around the cup of her peppermint cocoa, her small frown didn’t fit the strong mare at all - Mint was always used to her being upbeat and chipper.. Especially after a sparring session.

 

“Mnn..” Pas noised, resting his cheek against the knuckle of his front hoof. The expression the unicorn stallion wore was a tired one, but also one of mild annoyance at the situation in general. Soft magic circled his mug as he took a long sip of his coffee, eyes drifting closed as he savored it for a moment before setting the mug back down. “Any word from  Canterlot?” He asked, looking over to Gold Standard who thought he was trying to be sneaky by placing a couple more marshmallows in Brave’s drink, only to sit up suddenly at the question and drop them with a splash.. 

 

Mint couldn’t help but chuckle as he wiped up the mess and continued to the next table.

 

“W-well,” Gold cleared his throat before continuing, “word is that this peculiar weather is coming from the North.” His snout scrunched lightly as he continued. “Most of the upper class are blaming the Crystal Empire again for this mess..” Brave and Pas both looked over at him before blurting out their responses-

 

“That’s ridiculous-”

 

“They were victims too-”

 

“There was nothing to blame them for in the first place-”

 

“Aren’t they also getting the brunt of this weather?”

 

Gold blinked several times as the two spoke over each other and he waved a hoof before he sipped his own drink.

 

“With Flurry Heart still not recovered, many of the nobles are wondering if this is more Umbrum nonsense-” Pas shuddered, gritting his teeth as he pulled his mug closer. Great. Gold sighed at the Unicorn’s response, his ears flicking back. “It’s hard to not believe the rumors.. We all experienced horrible things there.” He glanced over at Brave who had sullenly sunk in her seat and leaned over to rest his head against hers. “A lot of which we overcame.. Together.” The mare smiled, a soft pink flushed her cheeks as she nodded then looked over to Mint who was returning to the counter, Konpeito quickly in tow to grab another carafe of drinks.

 

“Hey Mint?” Her voice was quiet over the murmuring of the other two, but the stallion perked an ear and turned on his hooves to come over.

 

“What’s up?” He asked, glancing between the three before his eyes settled on Brave’s again. He couldn’t help but listen in on their conversation - but he felt that he had no right to say what was and wasn’t true regarding their trip.. He had stayed in Ponyville during that time fixing up his bakery from the raid.

 

“What do you think of all of this?” For having such an imposing frame, the mare’s gaze was soft and kind.. Mint found himself spacing out for a moment as he tried to find the answer to her question.. What DID he think of this? Sure, the weather sucked and doors were beginning to freeze shut, causing constant picking and chipping to get them open.

 

At his silence, Brave stole a look at Gold Standard who had quieted to hear his answer, but his brow furrowed with slight worry. Pas took another long draw from his mug before looking at Mint again.. He and Brave had been coming to his bakery for a while now and they had noticed how spacy he had become since drinking that potion. Konpeito came over with his carafes, refilling their cocoa and coffee before he glanced over at Mint and gave a loud sigh.

 

“Is he alright..?” Brave asked, causing the other two to nod as Kon shook his head softly.

 

“He’s havin’ a bit of trouble adjustin’ is all..” He looked at the three and gave a reassuring if toothy smile. “Bein’ part changelin’ now.. He’s not used t’bein’ able ta feel other peeps.. Well.. feelin’s y’know?” Brave nodded with a soft “ohhh..”, she hadn’t thought of that. She had been more concerned with his phobia of bugs and now being one. After another moment Konpeito sighed again, bumping his hip against Mint’s which caused him to snap to attention, looking at everyone’s worried faces before his face flushed as he looked away.

 

“U-um..” He took a moment to remember the question, his tail lashing gently behind him as he nervously tapped the floor with a hoof. “I.. Don’t know what to answer that with, honestly..” He slowly glanced up to meet their gazes. “You were all there, I wasn’t..”

 

“That’s why I’m asking, Mint.” Brave reassured quietly, cupping her mug with her hooves to keep her legs warm. “Because you weren’t there. What do you think is causing this?” She gestured towards the frost coated windows and door and the changeling hybrid frowned softly.

 

“I don’t think it’s the Umbrum.” He hummed softly, looking to Pas especially who seemed to relax ever so slightly at his statement. “While it might be, because of what happened - this has never happened ever since I can remember and.. I mean no offense.. The princess was crystallized long before I was born.” Gold nodded, mulling it over.

 

“You think this doesn’t have anything to do with the Empire?” He looked up at Mint who thought about it before shaking his head.

 

“No. While I think it is coming from around the Empire, I don’t think the Empire is involved at all.” The three relaxed a bit, enjoying their drinks before Brave tensed, causing the other two to look at her with concern.

 

“Their kingdom is already surrounded by snow.. If things are this bad here-” She stopped, looking at all of them. “How.. How are they faring there?” Pas and Gold frowned deeply glancing at each other. They hadn’t thought about it.. Truthfully they were more concerned about keeping their own homes ice free. “Excuse us.. We need to check with the guard.” She got up as Gold looked over at Mint who smiled, waving a hoof.

 

“It’s on your tab, don’t worry about it~” He waved, watching the three of them go out into the cold before his smile faltered and he began to clean off the table.

 

“I’m glad y’have good friends.” Mint glanced back to see Kon coming over with a dish tub, scooping the dishes into it with a wing and he looked at him. “Though somethin’ tells me you’d like ta do more.”

 

Mint’s frown deepened as he slowly made his way back to the counter, dropping the rag back into the bucket with a sigh.

 

“They went through so much the last time they went to the Empire, Kon..” He rested his face against the knuckles of his front legs, his wings nervously buzzing again as his tail curled around a leg. Kon sighed, setting the dish tub down as he looked at him.

 

“You’re not a soldier, Mint.. Not all of us can be.”

 

“Mnn..” Mint buried his face deeper into his sulking. It was taking everything he had to hold it together. Between hearing his friends going through literal nightmares and horror in the Crystal Empire and his new abilities.. He was feeling more than overwhelmed.. His colors flickered slightly, causing Konpeito to frown and come closer, resting his head on Mint’s.

 

“‘Eyy…” He noised quietly, draping a wing over him. “What do y’wanna do?” Mint stared into his hooves for a moment before slowly looking up at him.. His eyes were glossy. “Come on..” Kon coaxed quietly with a nudge. “What do y’wanna do?”

 

Mint’s eyes broke away from Kon’s as he stared forward at the door and window - barely able to make out the heavy snowfall outside.

 

“I want to help them.” He sniffed, clearing his throat and sitting up, causing Kon to stand as well.

 

“And how do y’wanna go about that?” Mint just shrugged in response, clearly frustrated with himself.

 

“I.. I don’t know, Kon.” He sighed hard, his tail lashing again as he left the counter to flip the open sign to closed.. The weather was bad enough now he knew that everyone was either holed up at home, or at work. 

 

“What’s eatin’ at ya..?” The question caught Mint off guard as he looked over.. The pegasus just shrugged with a concerned look. “You’re takin’ this pretty damn hard.. And.. And I know you’ve been overwhelmed with everythin’ goin’ on, but… It..” He sighed, “It feels like it’s more than that.”

 

Because it was.

 

He felt awful for staying outside and having Moonstone and Velvet Wing fight the Moonwidow. He felt awful for not helping more during the raid. He felt awful for staying behind when his friends went to the Crystal Empire.. Mint hug his head, staring at the floor as his head swarmed with negative thoughts about everything that had happened.. He was surprised that Velvet was even his friend or willing to help him out after he had initially refused to go into the summit caves.. His colors began to flicker again as he trembled. A wave of worry washed over him as he glanced over, seeing Kon’s face.

 

Without a word, the pegasus came over and wrapped his wings around him in a hug.

 

“‘Ey.” He gently shook Mint with a frown, pressing his forehead to his, looking him in the eyes. “I know what you’re doin’. Stop it.” Mint frowned, glancing away again which caused Konpeito to shake him again. “Stop it, alright?” Kon sighed, closing his eyes as he gently nuzzled Mint’s forehead. “Y’know none of ‘em blame ya for doin’ what y’did..”

 

“I know, but-”

 

“No buts.” He pulled back slightly, booping Mint’s nose with a hoof. “The real question is.. What’re ya goin’ t’do t’change how y’feel about this?” Mint’s lip quivered, but he spoke up without hesitation this time.

 

“I’m going to help.”

 

“Even if that means goin’ back ta t’Empire?”

 

“Even if it means going to the Empire.” He repeated, nodding.

 

“Then we better start packin’ just in case, yeah?” Kon eyed him, wanting him to be sure of his choice and Mint cracked a small smile, nodding in response. “M’kay, then let’s go..~”

 

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