Prince of Equestria - Bonds Born of Falling Snow, Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxitFUwfU48
>Turns out, it’s not just you.
>You are getting colder.
>The wind starts to bite as the blowing snow stings your eyes.
>You raise your arm to shield them, while Shining Armor turns his head away from the wind, using it to shield Twilight Sparkle.
“I told you I had a bad feeling about this!”
>You practically have to shout to be heard over the howling wind.
>”Rub my face in it later Anon, we need to get out of this storm!”
>A gust of wind nearly knocks you on your ass, your hands grabbing at your cloak to keep it from blowing away.
“Can you teleport us back to the path?”
>Armor shakes his head as Twilight draws in closer to his leg.
>”It’s too cold! I can’t concentrate enough to teleport all three of us that far! I don’t even know what direction it is!”
>Twilight whimpers. “Big Brother…I’m cold…”
>”I know you are Twily, we’ll find some shelter soon and ride this storm out. Right, Anon?”
“Right…come on. We’re near a mountainside, there must be a crevice or cave or something so we can at least get out of the wind.”
>The three of you trudge on, hampered by wind and snow.
>This is bad, you need to find shelter soon.
>By sheer luck, you find where the earth starts to rise to form a mountain.
>Armor is carrying Twilight now, using a shield spell to cut down on the wind.
>It does nothing for the cold, and the buffering winds are causing Armor no small amount of difficulty.
>”Anon…it’s getting hard to keep this up.”
“Come on Armor, just a bit further…..THERE!”
>You see it.
>Barely visible in the snow.
>However, there’s no denying it.
>A small entrance in the side of the mountain.
>Shelter!

-----------------

>”WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN’T SEARCH?!”
>The guard does not flinch under Celestia’s booming voice. He’s become well aware of her…temper when the Prince was in danger.
>”Your highness, it is simply too dangerous for the pegasi to search blindly in these conditions. Unless the Prince or his companions can get us a signal to go off of, or the Cloudsdale Weather Authority can fix the regulator, we’re grounded.”
>Celestia sighs and hangs her head with worry.
>As Princess, her duty is to the safety of all her subjects…
>She wouldn’t send out guards into certain harm to search for three p0nies if her son wasn’t among them.
>”Very well Captain…please inform me the second conditions become permissible for a search.”
>The guard salutes and leaves as Crescent Sparkle walks up next to the Princess.
>”Your majesty…do not worry.”
>Celestia shakes her head.
>”Your son and daughter are out there with him, and you ask me not to worry.”
>Sparkle nods solemnly.
>”I do. Of course I worry, but my son is cool-headed and strong, and Anon himself is no slouch himself. If anyone can make it out there, our boys can.”
>Celestia looks out the window at the snowstorm raging outside.
>”I hope you are right…”

--------------------

>The three of you find yourselves in some kind of den.
>A small crevice in the back may lead in deeper, but there’s no way any of you could fit in there.
>It may get you out of the wind, but it is still bitter cold.
>Armor’s shield is doing what it can, but the strain is taking a toll on him.
>Twilight looks up at her brother with concern, sandwiched between him and you for warmth as the three of you lie against the rocky wall.
>Twilight nuzzles her brother, notably avoiding contact with you at all.
>”Hold on Big Brother…I’m sure help will be here soon.”
>Armor chuckles. “Twily, that’s supposed to be my line.”
>”Well, I’m scared, but…I’d be more scared if anything happened to you. I’d be all alone…”
>What are you? Chopped liver?
>”Twily, if anything happened to me, I trust that Anon here would take care of you.”
>Twilight scoffs. “Him? Big Brother, I hardly trust that guy to take care of himself, much less you or me.”
“I’m right here, you know.”
>Armor chuckles. “And why is that?”
>Twilight looks down. “Well, you said he was a prince…but I KNOW what princes look like, and HE does NOT look like a prince!”
>You fold your arms and pout.
“Still right here…”
>Armor sighs. “Twily, not everything can be learned in books. Sure, he may not be the romantic storybook prince you read about…and he may look a little freaky…
>Et tu, Shining Armor?
>”…but I’ve never had a better friend, and I trust him with my life…and yours.”
>Twilight cocks a surprised eyebrow and looks up at you, while you look at your friend.
“….aww, don’t get all mushy on me now.”
>Armor laughs. “Unfortunately, our esteemed crown prince can add ‘emotionally stunted’ to his impressive list of character flaws.”
>Twilight giggles at the face you make.
“You know, I bet when I find out what ‘emotionally stunted’ means, I’m going to be really mad at you.”
>”I bet you will.”
>Armor and Twilight share a good laugh as you look to the storm raging outside, tinted pink from Armor’s shield.
>It’s starting to get dark.
“Hey, Shining…how you holding up?”
>You swear you see a shadow, lurking in the whiteout.
>”Oh, me? Yeah, it’s kinda hard, but as long as it’s just wind I’m fighting, I can keep this up until I fall asleep.”
>”I hope someone finds us by then.”
>You stand up and cautiously approach the shield, squinting to get a better view.
>Twilight huddles closer to Armor as you draw your cloak around you.
>”See something, Anon?”
“I don’t know…maybe it’s a search party, but I can’t make anything out.”
>You yelp in shock as the raging mass of fur and teeth strike the shield, nearly knocking Shining Armor for a loop.
>Twilight screams. “WHAT IS THAT?”
>You’ve seen that thing before, in Crescent’s class.
>A mythical creature that stays hidden except in the coldest snows.
“An Ice Wolf…”
>The beast, easily twice Shining Armor’s size, snarls outside of the shield, crouching low.
>As if to pounce.
“ARMOR! HOLD ON!”
>Your friend yelps in pain as the creature impacts the shield again, the pink field shattering like glass.
>The resulting magical feedback knocks Armor like a light.
>”BIG BROTHER! NO! WAKE UP!”
>Twilight shakes Armor by the shoulders as you step back, focusing on raising a shield of your own.
>A dark blue field radiates from your outstretched hands, forming the shield. The jewel in the center of your circlet glows.
>Unfortunately, Shining Armor is much better at shields than you are.
>The ice wolf roars and swipes at your shield with a paw, shattering it instantly.
>The feedback sends you flying, impacting the wall next to Twilight.
>”NO! ANON!”
>You’re out cold.

-------------------

“W…where am I?”
>You find yourself floating in darkness.
>It reminds you of a year ago…when you touched the sword hidden below Canterlot.
>A voice comes into focus…on the fringe of your hearing.
>Like an echo from beyond time.
>”…remember Anonym, humans cannot grasp magic like p0nies can…”
>That voice…it reminds you of the one from before, the one who gave you this “gift” of magic.
>Except she’s…younger. Sweeter…her voice radiates warmth and kindness, not cold fear like the other one.
>”Ok…like this?”
>Anonym…the human king’s son? He even sounds like you.
>Weird.
>”Yes…remember, p0nies base their magic on force of will, but for humans, that is not enough.”
>”I remember…I also need purpose…something to protect…”
>You cannot see what’s going on, but you recognize a sweet giggle anywhere.
>”Yes…I suppose you do…”
>You feel a hand clamp down on your shoulder.
>You spin around and see what can best be described as a ghost.
>Flaming red hair, neatly trimmed, frames a body wrapped in blue armor.
>A sword hangs from his side. It’s the one from the temple.
>”Well, kid? You just going to sit here and stew or are you going to go out there and defend your friends?”
>Is this guy serious?
“I…what can I do? That thing knocked Shining Armor out like it was nothing! It knocked me out like I was less than that! I’m just a kid! What chance do I-“
>You’re cut off by the phantasm as he slaps you across the face.
>Wow! That hurt!
>You rub your cheek and look up in surprise at the ghostly man.
>He leers down at you with a frown, his arms crossed.
>”You are not just Equestria’s crown prince, you are a human being! No human would sit back and whimper, waiting for someone to come save him!”
>You stand there in shock.
>”To be a human is to never retreat from danger if it means the lives of those he cares for!”
>What it is to be human…
>”A human…not just a human, a man will stand and fight with the strength of will and purpose!”
>Will…and purpose?
>”Now, get back out there and protect that which is precious to you, if you have the strength to do it!”
>The ghost leans down and places his hands on your shoulder, while you stand there still dumbfounded.
>The ghost grins.
>”You have the strength and the will, kid…and your friends are in danger, so I believe you have the purpose.”
>The ghost gives you a shove as existence fades to white.
>”Now…GET TO IT!”

------------------

>”AAAAAHHHHHH!”
>Twilight screams in your ear as you come to.
>Yup, ice wolf’s still there.
>Twilight winces as a paw impacts the purple shield she managed to raise.
>Wow, she can generate a shield like this at her age? She may be a better magister than her brother.
>He’s still out, by the way.
>Thanks, voice in my head.
>You groan and stir, Twilight glancing over at you.
>The wolf glares at you too.
>”A-anon, are you OK? What are we going to do?”
>You rub your head. Quick assessment.
>As soon as that shield drops, you, Twilight and Armor are dead.
>You could try to teleport all three of you out.
>No, no dice. You couldn’t teleport all three of you away far enough to lose the wolf, it’d be on you as soon as you reappeared.
>Drop the shield and try your luck running?
>No. Twilight can’t carry Armor, and you couldn’t run fast enough even if you didn’t carry him.
>You would all just die tired.
>Oh man…oh man, what to do.
>Twilight yelps as the wolf strikes the shield again.
>You figure next hit will be it.
>Mom…save me…
>….no.
>Your friends are in danger.
>Your mom isn’t here.
>You are the Crown Prince of Equestria.
>You are a human being.
>It is your duty to protect your subjects…your friends.
>Your face grows grim with resolve, rustling Twilight visibly as you get to your feet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97kClL5RRw0
>You look down at your shaking hand.
>It grows still as you form a fist.
>The wolf cautiously steps back, as if it can sense your newfound intent.
“Twilight…drop the shield, then raise it again around you and Armor after I step out.”
>”WHAT? Anon, are you cra-“
“Do it.”
>Twilight pauses, going wide-eyed as the shield drops.
>Arcane energies swirl around you, causing your cloak to flutter like a cape in the wind.
>Her eyes remain firmly on your back as you step forward.
>The wolf steps back as well, snarling as it crouches low.
>You turn your shoulder towards the beast, pointing your fist at it.
>Magic gathers in your knuckles, as a blade of pure blue energy extends from it.
>Instead of quivering weakly, it pulses strong with your resolve.
“I am Anonymous, beast! Crown Prince of Equestria! If you want my friends…”
>You draw your blade arm back, entering your combat stance.
“You have to go through me!”
>You don’t hear the audible gasp from Twilight behind you.
>She blinks and snaps her shield back up as the wolf pounces.
>You’re ready.
>With a loud cry, you thrust you free palm forward, catching the wolf in midair as you let loose a shockwave of pure magical energy, throwing the creature back into the storm outside.
>You give pursuit, your magical blade at the ready.
>Twilight just stares on wide-eyed.
>”Anon…”
>Just like in the storybooks.
>No, better…

---------------

>The wolf snarls as it lands on its paws in the snow, snapping its head around to meet you.
>You roar as you rear your sword arm back, slashing at the creature.
>No dice, it was ready for you as it jumps backwards.
>This monster has more combat experience than you, that much is certain.
>The white monstrosity snarls and lunges for you.
“EEP!”
>You hastily sidestep the charging wolf, your back hitting a tree.
>The wolf lands and starts setting up for another attack.
>Quick, what to do…
>That other tree looks close enough.
>Time to put all that practice playing tag with Armor across buildings to good use.
>You start leaping between the two trees, using your legs like springs as you shimmy your way up the trunks.
>Once you reach about twenty feet, you use your free arm to cling to one of the trunks, the wolf circling below you.
“EAT THIS!”
>You slash at the opposite tree, your blade passing through the wood like hot butter.
>There is a creak followed by a mighty crash as the rest of the tree falls to the forest floor, missing the wolf by inches.
>Well, so much for that idea.
>You slide down the remaining trunk, slashing at the wolf to keep it at bay as your feet find solid ground once again.
>Your breathing is hard and ragged, forming fog in the dusk air.
>That same fog eminates from the wolf’s snout as the two of you stare each other down.
“That’s right, beast…let’s end this…”
>The wolf leaps as a circle of magical energy forms on your free forearm.
>You raise your energy shield as the wolf pounces, the field shimmering by holding as the weight of the beast forces your back to the snow.
>The wolf’s jaws snap as it scrambles over your shield.
>You let out a desperate cry as you ram your sword arm into the wolf’s chest.
>It lets out a gurgle as blood spatters onto your face from its mouth.
>You sit there breathing heavily before you slide out from under the beast’s body.
>Dead…
>You killed it.
>You get to your feet and take a few steps back, your magical arms dissipating.
>You feel like you’re wearing lead as you slump to your knees, exhausted.
>You…you had no choice. It was it or your friends.
>But still…you killed it.
>Huh…looks like the snow’s starting to let up.
>”ANON!”
>Twilight comes running out of the den, running into your side.
>OOOH, that stings.
>”I’m so glad you’re alright! When you went off chasing that wolf, I…”
>You pat Twilight on the head as she looks up at you.
>Oh man, it hurts to smile.
“I’m proud of you Twilight. You protected your brother without a second thought. And me.”
>You grunt as you get back up.
>Man, if you could only see how this purple filly sees you right now.
>It’s like you’re sweating sparkles.
>As the two of you get back into the cave, Armor groans and looks up at you.
>”Hey…did I miss anything while I was napping?”
“Nothing much.”
>You laugh as Twilight giggles.
>Shining Armor does not.
>”Anon…look at this…”
>Armor beckons to the crevice as you peer inside.
>Two eyes twinkle in the low light as you make out its form.
>A pup.
>An ice wolf pup.
>Your mouth hangs agape.
>That wasn’t some wild beast, it was a mother wanting to protect her child.
>And you…killed her.