Ethereal Chaos Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Rainbow Dash flew through the sky, looping around in the clouds with Stonebolt gaining fast. She'd lost Zephyroak a while back, which only made the Pegasus more confident in winning. Stonebolt finally caught up, not nearly as fatigued as Dash was trying to hide, mostly because she didn't have to deal with the burden of wings; it was still something very perplexing that a pony without wings, or a horn for that matter, could fly, let alone as fast as her.
"Y'know, you're pretty good," Stonebolt remarked.
"I'm not just good, Stone," Dash said. "I'm the best."
"We'll see about that." Stonebolt rocketed off, making full use of her Thunder powers and leaving Dash in the dust. She quickly recovered and as the two crossed in a photo finish tie, Zephyroak looked up from her own cloud.
"Oh, right," she said, "The race. I've been wondering when you guys were gonna get here." The two were completely stunned and looked back at each other, then over at the relaxing Sky Trossel.
"How did you get here before us so fast," Dash demanded. Zephyroak looked up.
"I'm a Sky Trossel," she said simply. "Who's the bigger foal here? The foal or the foal who went into a race--in the sky, might I add--against a Sky Trossel. Point: Zeph. Checkmate."
"Checkmate is only for chess," Stonebolt pointed out.
"You know what I mean," Zephyroak said, stretching out a bit more. Stonebolt saw no point in arguing with her, and lay on the cloud Zephyroak summoned up next to her. "You want one, Dash? They say Sky Trossel clouds are more comfortable than normal clouds, but I say it's about even." Dash drifted over to rest. "I heard you like Stone's brother."
"What?" Rainbow Dash glared at Stonebolt, who looked back at her with the most innocent look she could muster before Dash fell back against the cloud in bitter defeat.
"Oh c'mon," Zephyroak said, whipping her fluffy mane out of her eyes. "Nopony's judging you for it. Besides, he's kinda cute; a bit serious, kinda morbid in a Taktor XiLawyrr way, and too-big-for-his-own-mane smart, but still cute." Stonebolt's green eyes turned darkly on her. "What? You know it's true. If he wasn't your brother, wouldn't you go out with him?" Stonebolt nodded thoughtfully.
"Too big for his own mane," the Pegasus questioned. Zephyroak shrugged.
"You never heard that? Guess it's just a Trossel thing or something."
***
Frostburn had decided to help Steelmind around Twilight's, since Rarity was keeping in touch with several social connections. Steelmind froze up suddenly for a brief moment, but then shook his head clear and snapped back.
"What was that about," Twilight asked.
"I think I just had a vision," he exclaimed. "Lord Xanatos was there, and so were Infernalo and Zephyroak and Leafwind and Them. They were all facing off, then there was a flash of light, a loud screeching noise, and then it ended."
"Do Thought Trossels always have these," Twilight asked.
"It's voluntary in more advanced members," he explained. "It doesn't happen too often with me. When my little brother came back from his first vision, he got his cutie mark" Frostburn stopped paying much attention to his ramblings after he described the vision he'd had and went back to dusting the shelves. Steelmind continued his ramblings, which seemed to endlessly fascinate the unicorn. The young Ice Trossel didn't get too jealous as she had when those two mares had tried flirting with him; she didn't know Twilight that well, but she certainly didn't come off as the pony to steal somepony else's boyfriend like Aquashine. Although, Aquashine wasn't as subtle in the fact she didn't try to hide it. Frostburn quickly pushed the thought from her head as continued her work. Infernalo and Spike walked through the door, momentarily drawing everypony's attention to them.
"I know I got back later than anticipated," he said. "Sweet Apple Acres is bigger than it seemed, and I am only one Darkness Trossel." Spike coughed out a small scroll and Twilight quickly opened it.
"I'm just to assume that's normal for him, yes?" Infernalo asked, "I've never actually been around dragons, so I wouldn't know." Twilight read through it with increasing unease. "What's wrong?"
"Read this," she said. Infernalo took it with his magic and scanned the letter, Frostburn looking over his shoulder.
"What's it say, big brother?"
"'Dear Twilight Sparkle,'" Infernalo read. "'I send you this on dark tidings. The far-off black clouds that I've begun to notice in the distance are slowly starting to spread further and draw closer and closer to Canterlot, as I was warned by Lord Xanatos and Queen Paragontal from the source of the outbreak, Seldreinia.'" Infernalo paused for a moment to take in a deep breath before proceeding. "'If the cloud is not stopped, and although its intent is unknown, I do not know what I can possibly do to stop this epidemic from eventually reaching you and your friends. It is with a heavy heart that I must say that this may be my final letter, but I see no other way of denying it. Signed, her majesty Princess Celestia.'" Twilight's face was buried deep within her hooves and she was almost on the verge of tears, shaking nervously. Infernalo held her in a warm embrace, trying to keep her calm.
"What's 'tidings,'" Frostburn asked. Steelmind turned to her.
"Snowflake, now isn't really the best time," he said. Stonebolt flew into the room, seeing Twilight distraught and then reading the letter Steelmind handed to her.
"Infernalo," Stonebolt said. "What's going to happen?" Infernalo wasn't paying any mind to her question. His eyes were burning nearly white hot as he glared at Frostburn, who looked at him a bit frightened. This was beyond when they left Seldreinia, this was beyond any kind of anger she's ever seen from him in her life.
"This is all your fault," he said darkly.
"Infernalo," Steelmind interjected. Infernalo glared at him, and he knew to keep quiet.
"Big brother," Frostburn whimpered. She was too scared and sad to say anything else.
"ALL OF THIS IS YOUR FAULT," he shouted. The owl by the window hid itself within his feathers and Spike cowered behind Steelmind. "Because of you, the entire world is doomed. Everypony we've ever known and loved will be dead by the end of the week! All because you had to find that stupid puzzle box! I wish I could atone for whatever I did to deserve a sister like you." Frostburn was so deep into her emotions, so absolutely mortified by what her big brother, who she'd idolized since she could talk, that she couldn't even cry as much as she could have. "You released the single greatest evil into this world and destroyed it. I hope you never darken my doorway anymore than you already have." Frostburn finally choked out a single sentence.
"B-but, we're f-f-family," she cried, nearly breaking down at that alone. "Y-you're my...big b-b-brother." Infernalo sneered in disgust.
"I don't ever want to hear that word associated with me by you again! I have one sister, and you are nothing to me! GET OUT AND NEVER COME BACK!!!" Frostburn finally found her will to cry and sobbed harder than she ever had. She looked back at him through her tear-filled eyes.
"I hate you," she sobbed and ran away. Infernalo showed no signs of any need to pursue her or having any kind of emotion towards what had transpired. He still seemed very angry, but not as much as he had been before Frostburn's departure. He looked out at the black cloud growing closer in the distance.
"We're going to Canterlot," he ordered, the dead seriousness in his voice something nopony was willing to argue with. When Leafwind entered, she could almost feel the tension in the room. The filly looked around for the one pony she knew would be in a good mood, but looked up at Stonebolt with the same wide eyes as one would have finding out they were leaving their parents and family forever.
"Where's Frostburn," she asked, hoping that Stonebolt would reassure her.
"She's gone, Leafwind," Stonebolt said.
"W-will she be back," Leafwind asked, starting to cry.
"I don't know, sweetie," the tan Trossel answered honestly. She hugged Leafwind to keep the poor little filly calm, but it didn't stop them both from sobbing.