One More Time

A fire crackles at the foot of Mount Lunae. Three figures sit around the fire absorbing what little warmth it provided them. It's not as though any of them needed it. The cold here was nothing more than an annoyance. Just another in a myriad of troubles they all faced. So they sat by the fire to at least pretend to feel some grain of comfort. Morale was low after so many failures. One could only come so close so many times before they cracked. Yet the trio had yet to break. They refused to back down. To let her win. At least, that's what had happened each time before now. Now none of the three could tell if their next attempt would make, or break them. After hours of sitting in cold silence the blonde mare in the trio finally stands. One more time. Surely THIS would be the attempt. This would be where she summited the mountain, and... Well, she didn't know what came after that, but she was ready to find out. As her two friends rise to stand with her they all nod. One more time. The group begins their climb as they always did. They start at the base, and follow the path they'd trodden many times before. Though it was a well traveled path the snow never seemed to lessen. There was no way to tell if they were going the right way save for memory. They know they're going the right way. They're sure of it. Familiar cliffs, and rock outcroppings dot the path up the mountain. They find patches of ice they remember from previous climbs, and navigate them cautiously. They avoid rockfalls, avalanches, hail, and unstable ground while they ascend. By now the group had grown accustomed to their roles during the climb. Armand took the lead to report any problem areas. Asuka took the middle, and The Shadow took up the rear to keep an eye on Asuka. Everything about the formation was designed to keep Asuka as safe as possible. After all, she was the only one who would loose anything should they fail. Despite all this nothing was guaranteed. The trio had a long trip ahead of them, and there was never any certainty in mountain climbing. Once again Maddy spots the forms of the three pests nearing the summit once more. It felt like it had been days since they last attempted the climb, but how could she even be sure? The sun never moved here. There was no way to tell time, and she never needed to sleep, or eat. For all she knows they could have been at this for years, months, weeks, days, or even just a few hours. Well, now wasn't the time to be pondering. She needed to stop the fools before they got through. Though she has no delusions. If they fail, they'll try again at some point. She needed to think of a way to stop them for good. Not just send them back to the start. After a few moments she has an idea. The summit was in sight once more. The sight instilled hope in Asuka each time she saw it. Even if she knew she likely wouldn't reach it. She clambers up onto the ridge leading to the summit. There was just one last obstacle. Armand floats over the gap ahead, and the shadow follows afterwards to jump the gap. Then, it's Asuka's turn. The shadow turns to assist Asuka, and waits as she backs up as far as the ledge will allow her. With a deep breath Asuka barrels forwards, and leaps as best she can. For a moment frigid air rushes past her face as she flies through the air above the gap. Then she begins to sink. Her front hooves catch the ledge, and the Shadow quickly bends down to help her up. Stone cracks, and the Shadow is knocked backwards by something. The stone underneath Asuka's hooves crumbles away from the cliffside, taking her with it. As she plummets she sees the face of Armand shouting to her, quickly followed by a torrent of snow, ice, and stone. Armand turns to face the one responsible. Just short of the summit itself with it's curious blue glow stands what could only be described as Asuka were she from a nightmare. A frizzled, long, purple mane, dull pink fur, eyes full of red hot anger, and hatred, and an expression that screamed desperation. The nightmare Asuka called 'Maddy' stared back at him with a smile slowly forming on it's lips. So. They finally lost. With nothing left to do Armand slumps to the ground to sit in quiet contemplation. He hardly notices the Shadow begin it's slow descent down the mountain. There was absolutely no way the pink brat would escape from that. Maddy was sure of it. Buried under so much snow, ice, and rock there was no way she'd make it out. For once she could finally sit back without having to worry. With the faintest hints of joyous laughter Maddy allows herself to fall to the ground to wait. It shouldn't be long now. After what felt like hours of tumbling and sliding Asuka is unceremoniously dumped out onto the foot of Mount Lunae. Despite the sheer amount of snow, ice, and stone that had swallowed her she'd managed to fight her way to the top of it all, and avoid being buried whole. Not a second after she comes to a stop Asuka slams her front right hoof into the snow, and bolts up. Without a moment of hesitation she turns, and charges back up the mountain. Rage, and frustration fuel her every movement. One more time. The Shadow wasn't sure long it had been descending the mountain, or how far down it had gotten. Everything looked so different when the snow subsided. It figured that after what had happened Maddy had calmed down, and maybe that lead to the snowstorm subsiding. It was almost certain Asuka would be buried under a pile of snow when it found her. It could only hope the snow hadn't managed to crush her spirit. Believing Asuka to be buried under a torrent of snow it came as a surprise to the Shadow when she charged right past it while it was descending. After a moment of confusion the Shadow turns to follow at top speed. Maddy had been lying in the snow for quite some time now. Armand continued to sulk in the same spot he'd slumped down in earlier. Neither of the two had moved since then. Maddy was content to lie in the snow and wait for her eventual waking. Soon she could get back to her life without all the banging, screaming, shouting, and- crunchcrunchcrunchcrunch. Maddy shoots up into a sitting position. The sound of snow rapidly crunching begins to grow nearer from below. She stands to look below. No. Way. How was the pink brat back up here already? She'd been buried by hundreds of tons of snow, ice, and rock! She shouldn't be able to move, much less climb the mountain! Asuka arrives just before the summit once more. She's greeted by the sight of Maddy standing on the other end of the chasm with her eyes wide, and mouth agape. Maddy's hooves move to her mane, and she clenches so hard she might just rip two chunks out of her mane. Then a desperate, terrified scream escapes her gaping mouth. "WHY WON'T YOU JUST GIVE UP?!" Without warning the summit is immersed in a blizzard of biblical proportions. All throughout the howling wind Asuka can hear Maddy screaming, wailing, and cursing. The snowstorm is so harsh she almost doesn't see the Shadow rush past her. A second later she follows behind. Without a moment's hesitation Asuka leaps over the chasm. This time despite not being able to see her target she manages to land safely on the other side of the chasm. She hears a grunt from Maddy followed by desperate screams. "NO! GET OFF OF ME!" Stepping forwards Asuka manages to spot the Shadow on the ground. It appears to have tackled Maddy, and wrapped her up in a sort of attack hug. Maddy's eyes dart frantically as she attempts to break free to no avail. As her eyes lock with Asuka's her cries become more desperate. "NO! DON'T! YOU'LL RUIN EVERYTHING I'VE WORKED FOR!" She pleads with her words, and her eyes. For a moment Asuka feels a tinge of remorse, but not for long. Maddy had taken everything SHE had worked for from her. She'd lost the job she loved, caused her friends and family to worry, and even put her in a psych ward. She was not about to let Maddy get away with any more. At last Asuka approaches her goal. With slow, cautions steps Asuka approaches the blue glow at the summit of Lunae. With one final, primal cry from Maddy, Asuka steps forwards into the blue glow.