The time was 8:17 AM, the day was Sunday, 21st of December. It was a brisk winter morning, the sky could be seen. Equestria was covered in blankets of snow, it was also snowing, and the glacial blue Snowdrop flowers were blooming, and chiming with the blow of the wind. Nyx was sitting in a room in Ponyville hospital being looked at by Nurse Redheart. Twilight was sitting on a chair beside the reclining hospital chair Nyx was sitting on. Nurse Redheart was checking Nyx's horn again just like the day before, smiling afterwards.

"It looks okay to me." The mare checked the horns strength and how Nyx would react to something hitting her horn. She took a spoon off of the table behind her and lightly tapped the area where the break had happened. Nyx reacted by flinching and shaking her head. Nurse Redheart held the spoon to her ear to listen to the sound of the vibrating metal. Depending on how loud the vibrating spoon rung depended on how much healed and healthy the horn was, or how much magic that flowed around the horn. The spoon that was tapped on Nyx's horn rung quite loud even Twilight could hear it. Nurse Redheart put the spoon on the table and watched it jump and bounce on the table until it stopped.

"I've never seen that happen before.." The nurse looked at Nyx whom looked quite annoyed that she had done that. "Sorry Nyx it had to happen... hospital discharge standard procedure, we have to check you over before we can release you."

Nyx looked down at the spoon and smiled. "Does that mean I'm good enough to go home?"

The nurse nodded. "Yes it does. The amount of vibration also indicates you have a lot of magic built up in that area, too much for even a common unicorn I'd wager. But you are mended and healthy, in that case... you may go home and enjoy your hearths warming."

"I'll go pack my things right away." Nyx turned and ran out the door and down the hall, through the reception area and into the children's ward returning to her room where she started packing.

"Going already Nyx?" Asked Tootzy Roll, putting her game down just to see what Nyx was doing.

"You're lucky like Hinata Nyx. You can go home and enjoy hearths warming.... but me and Tootzy can't."

Nyx smiled at them. "No matter where you both are, whether it be at home or in here. Hearths Warming is a special day for ponies all over Equestria, as long as your family is there to celebrate it with you then there's really nothing to worry about right?"

Tootzy and Stardust blinked at Nyx then looked at each and smiled. They looked back at Nyx and nodded.

Nyx smiled at her friends and continued to pack her books, her glasses, her headband, the card her classmates made for her, and a kazoo she keeps around. She put on a scarf and jacket to keep warm when Twilight called out.

"I'm ready Mommy." Nyx zipped up the saddle bags and levitated them on her back then looked at her friends again. "I'll see you two in school."

"You betcha." Tootzy and Stardust said in unison. "Bye Nyx." The filly's waved to the mini Nightmare Moon whom waved back, and soon ran out the room to catch up to Twilight in the reception area.

Twilight had just signed some papers to have Nyx officially discharged. "There you are, ready to head home?"

Twilight and Nyx headed to the exit, walking side by side. Twilight opened the door and looked at Nyx whom had turned around to say her thanks and goodbye to Nurse Redheart. The filly also wished the nurse a good Hearths Warming to which the nurse responded in kind. The black filly then turned around and ran to Twilight, exiting the Hospital with her. Once outside Nyx was greeted by her friends, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. The three filly's jumped on Nyx all of them saying hello. Twilight watched and laughed in amusement before looking up at Celestia whom had just arrived and was now standing beside Twilight.

"Good morning Twilight, and good morning Nyx, I see your horn has healed up splendidly."

The c.m.c hopped off of Nyx and stood beside her, looking up at the princess then at Nyx when she got back up. She brushed off some snow and went quiet, she didn't even look at the princess when she spoke.

"...Ye-yeah..." She was almost as quiet as Fluttershy was when she was shy. Celestia and Twilight and the c.m.c could still hear Nyx speak though. It was not shyness that made Nyx so quiet when Celestia was around, she simply did not like Celestia like everypony else does thanks to a certain event in her life that happened two years ago before.

"I wanted to check up on Nyx. Since Luna and I did our best to mend her horn.. I haven't stopped worrying."

Nyx was busy talking to her friends while Twilight and the princess conversed. The four filly's saw some pony's ice skating on the frozen river and went over to the river bank to watch.

Nyx continued watching the skaters, even catching sight of Diamond Tiara skating all fancy-like. That was until Nyx glimpsed Snowdrop on the other side of the river for a second, Nyx blinked in surprised and looked back to where Snowdrop was standing before, only to find that she was gone. Nyx looked around hoping to see the blind filly to no avail. Snowdrop had vanished again.

Celestia and Twilight finished their conversation nearby. The princess said her goodbye to Twilight and walked over to Nyx. The filly's turned and looked up at the princess.

The princess smiled. "Well then, happy hearths warming Nyx Nightguard Sparkle. I hope to see you this spring sunrise."

Princess Celestia boarded a chariot that was waiting out at the front of the hospital and was taken back to Canterlot by the pegasi that pulled it. Nyx sighed while she watched the princess leave. Twilight walked up beside the filly and sat down watching Celestia go. She then turned her head and looked down at Nyx.

"We're fine mommy... Princess Celestia makes us so mad... Whenever she's around we remember how mean she was..."

Nyx blinked and shook her head looking up at Twilight. "H-huh? y-yes I'm okay.. did something happen?" Her ears folded on her head.

Twilight smiled. "No everything's fine." Twilight nuzzled Nyx and licked her cheek.

"So shall we get back to the library? I hear Spike has some hot coco waiting for you."

Nyx smiled almost like a crazed Twilight. The c.m.c smiled and danced around Twilight and Nyx chanting "Coco Coco we like Coco! Coco Coco get our cutie mark!"

The c.m.c giggled, so did Nyx and Twilight. After that the five of them headed to the bridge and crossed it and the frozen river, entering the main part of the town. On the center of the bridge stood Snowdrop. She was feeling what was ahead of her before her hoof phased through the bridge.

"Oh... I remember..." Snowdrop pulled her hoof out from the bridge slowly. She sighed and with voice full of sadness she finished her words slowly. "I'm not... really here.... Am I mother..."

The wind began to pick up bringing with it more and more snow. Snowdrop closed her pale eyes and started to walk forward, focusing only on Nyx's voice to follow her only to turn into a blue glowing orb of light and then vanish.

The snow was blowing so much it started to look like one of those early winter blizzards from before the first snow stars fell. Twilight had cast a dome shield spell over herself and the four filly's as they made their way to the library. Twilight held the door open for the filly's, one by one they walked inside and were embraced by the warmth of a fire. Twilight entered not long after, shivering with her mane and tail frozen in place. The lavender unicorn and the filly's removed their snow cloths then huddled by the fire while Twilight went upstairs to get the little ones some hot coco, specially prepared by Spike. The purple dragon used his dragon fire to heat up the hot chocolate making it extremely hot. Twilight could see the steam coming off of the coco and used a cooling spell to make the temperature just right.

"Sorry for making it too hot Twilight. It's a lot harder to control my flame temperature then I thought..."

"Don't worry about it Spike. You did a great job in preparing them for the young ones."

Spike put Sweetie Belle and Scootaloos cups of coco on a tray and carried them down to them whilst Twilight did the same with Nyx and Apple Blooms cups. The unicorn and the dragon both came down stairs and placed the cups on the table. The cups had names written on them so that the filly's knew which was theirs. Each one took their cups and started to drink. Nyx used her magic to levitate her cup just like Sweetie Belle. It felt good to be releasing some pent up magicka even if it was to hold a simple cup. It made her feel very giggly and made it difficult to sip her warm coco. Twilight looked at Nyx and smiled.

"Using my magic is making me very giggly for some reason." The filly giggled loudly.

Nyx started to sip her coco, the warmth of the fire washed away all the feelings of cold and made the room glow with a warm comforting light, but despite the warmness of the hearth, Nyx felt a cold chill rush past her and circle around her, following this a white orb floated by her eyes and slowly floated toward the stairs, climbing the stairs and stopping in place for a few moments before moving up a step or two. Nyx realized who it was and watched as the orb climbed the steps, turning into Snowdrop with a flash of light upon reaching the final step; of course only Nyx could see her. the black filly smiled warmly and took a sip of her coco. Twilight and Spike made some coco of their own, however Spike had a gem or two floating in his cup. Twilight looked in Spikes cup and rolled her eyes.

Apple Bloom had finished her coco and was now looking at all the books. She happened upon the F section where she found a copy of a 30 year old book titled; The Adventures of Firefly: Rescue at Midnight Castle. The books cover depicted the lead pony Firefly, a pink pegasus with two blue lightning bolts on her flank, a human girl riding on her back. And in the corner was a baby purple dragon and a filly in a dungeon, some other ponies of earth, horn and wing. In another corner, also on the cover was a jagged castle, sea-ponies in a river, a castle in a peaceful valley, and towering over these characters was the shaped of the books villain, a Baphomet with a centaurian body, yellow eyes, red skin, large horns that emerged from the sides of his head, and around his neck was a sack that contained within it the terrible Rainbow of Darkness. It was Nyx's favorite story, it was also Twilights favorite as one of the unicorns in the story was also called Twilight. Apple Bloom saw the ponies designed and cringed.

Apple Bloom showed Twilight the book. "Did ponies really look like that back then?"

Everypony and Spike looked at the books cover and laughed. All except Nyx and Twilight who both argued that over the generations the ponies of the world have gone through many changes and regardless should be appreciated. It was one of their biggest pet peeves that everypony today has no interest or disliked old things without giving them a chance or comparing it to new things. Both of them thought it was best to see it for what it is and not how it should be to ponies whom have never seen it before. Nyx took the book from Apple Bloom and put it back on the shelf silently.

"I know you are all making a joke out of the book, but... if you read it you'll see it's actually really good."

Apple Bloom looked back at the book and then at Twilight. "Could ah borrow this book Ms. Twilight?"

"Certainly Apple Bloom." Twilight took the book out from the shelf with her magic and went downstairs to the round table and stamped the return date on a card on the front page then put it into a bag for Apple Bloom to carry.

Twilight returned upstairs with the book and gave it to Apple Bloom. "Here you go Apple Bloom, be careful it's Nyx's favorite book."

Sweetie Belle looked around the room for Nyx but could not find her. She was there mere moments ago, and for her to suddenly up and vanish was quite odd.

Sweetie Belle looked at Scootaloo hoping she had seen where Nyx went only for the orange pegasus filly to shrug in reply. Nyx had gone upstairs following Snowdrop to her room where the filly stood frozen in front of the mannequin which has Nightmare Moons armor mounted on it.

"N-Nyx...?" Snowdrop sounded afraid. She was standing in front of the armor of Nightmare Moon and had feelings of dread just from standing near it.

Nyx walked over and stood beside Snowdrop. She looked at the blind filly then up at the mannequin, right into the polished and unnaturally clean armor of the alicorn of darkness. The armor has never gathered dust and no cobweb has ever been spun on/in/or near it. Upon looking at it Nyx felt the same dread Snowdrop did only a hundred times amplified and intense, as though something hiding within the armor was harboring a grudge against her. The black filly could feel her magicka becoming unsettled.

"I-It's okay Snowdrop. It's nothing." Nyx said, ignoring the awful feeling and trying her best to reassure Snowdrop.

"It doesn't feel like nothing... there's something there..." The filly shook her had and back away from the armor slowly.

Nyx frowned watching Snowdrop then turned and looked at the armor, the alicorn could see her own reflection. As she was looking at her reflection in the armor she started to notice something odd, standing behind her in the reflection were four long black legs with special armor around the hooves. Nyx squinted and looked closer only to be startled by Twilight as she entered the room to see if Nyx was in there. The fright caused Nyx to jump and quickly turn around. But as she turned around her legs got crossed which caused her to fall over.

"Whoops..." Twilight hurried over to Nyx and got down to her height. She un-crossed her legs and helped her get back on her hooves afterwards. "I'm so sorry Nyx I didn't mean to frighten you."

Twilight smiled and nuzzled the filly. "You disappeared, we were all wondering where you had gone."

Twilight kissed Nyx's forehead. "Well, would you like to come back down. It's like the Frozen North in here, brrr." She shivered.

Twilight stood up, looking down at Nyx who smiled up at her happily. Twilight smiled back the same way and headed to the door. Nyx followed closely behind but stopped upon hearing somepony whisper her name in her ear, the filly turned around and looked at the armor of Nightmare Moon which sent a shiver down Nyx's spine.

"Alright!" Nyx exited the room with Twilight following behind. Twilight closed the door and walked down stairs with the filly, returning to her friends whom were sitting by the fire.

"There you are Nyx. We were wondering where you disappeared." Said Sweetie Belle.

Nyx nodded. "Sure!" She smiled and sat down at the table. She got out some pencils and used her magic to hold one. The filly then used her magic to pull a piece of paper to her and started to draw something.

Snowdrop sat beside Nyx while she drew, the blind filly was silent while Nyx was silent, it made Snowdrop feel disconnected. She didn't like it when things were silent and seemed to perk up when Twilight started talking to customers who came in every now and then. Nyx knew Snowdrop was there and acknowledged her by whispering a happy hello.

Scootaloo held up her drawing with her hooves. "I drew Ms. Cherilee ice skating."

Spike looked at Sweetie Belle in an instant when she said she drew him and Rarity.

Twilight looked at the drawings and smiled. "These look really well done. What did you draw Nyx?" Twilight looked at Nyx, so did her friends.

Nyx looked down the lifted her drawing up and turned it around for her friends and mother to see. Twilight, Spike, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo all gasped in splendor at Nyx's drawing. The drawing could be considered a work of art. It was a drawing of Princess Luna and Snowdrop. Luna was laying on a picnic mat with Snowdrop sitting beside her. Snowdrops mother was behind them, smiling. They were underneath a tree on a grassy hill, there was a blue sky in the back ground, the sun shining through the leaves, it looked like the time of day in the picture was around nine o'clock to ten o'clock.

Nyx nodded. "I watched Toola-Roola paint the library one day and I guess I learned..."

Twilight noticed two other ponies in the picture she isn't familiar with. She could recognize the filly from somewhere but not the mother.

Before Twilight could inquire further about it Spike opened his mouth and breathed some green flames which sizzled and became a letter, followed by another. One had the crest of the Princess of the Crystal Empire, and the other had one of Twilight Velvet's silk ribbons tied to it. Twilight Sparkle instantly noticed both the crest and the silk and opened the one from her mother first.

"To my beloved daughter, I am sending this letter to tell you that we will be arriving in Ponyville tomorrow. Your father and I decided that it'd be best to leave tonight, that way we can spend more time with you and Nyx. I do hope that is okay with you. We will see you tomorrow dear. Signed your loving mother, with love from dad, Twilight Velvet and Night Light. xoxo"

Twilight looked at Nyx. "They'll be arriving tomorrow sweetie. I guess they couldn't wait to see us."

Nyx started jumping up and down happily chanting the word yay in a childish tone. Twilight giggled and turned to Spike.

Twilight took the letter with her magic and opened it. She started reading what Cadence and Shining Armor had written.

"Heya Twily, hope you haven't forgotten about the get together being held at your home, holding it in Ponyville saves Nyx the trouble of being swarmed by the paparazzi. Anyway can't wait to see you three again. Signed~ Shining Armor."

"Okay now that your brother has stopped hogging the quill I can have some say. Hello Twilight it's Cadance and Skyla, looks like Shining Armor has already written what I wanted to say but that doesn't matter, what matters is we'll be coming down soon at least a day before hearths warming, Skyla has been looking forward to seeing Nyx again after she made us all laugh with that magic trick last year. Speaking of Nyx... how is she? I got Spikes letter about the horn break. It's horrible when somepony breaks their horn, I just hope Nyx is alright. Hope to see you soon Twilight. Signed~ Princess Cadance."

Twilight rolled her eyes at the mention of Shining Armor hogging the quill but smiled when she read that Skyla was looking forward to seeing Nyx.

"She does." Twilight replied. She rolled up the letters and put them somewhere upstairs where she could easily find them.

Twilight looked at Apple Bloom and the Cutie Mark Crusaders and sighed. "We went to the Crystal Empire to celebrate hearths warming... you see a year before, we went to Canterlot for hearths warming to spend it with my brother Shining Armor... but... Nyx was hounded by ponies with cameras.. journalists.. paparazzi and all so last year when we went to the Crystal Empire I thought Nyx wouldn't be a target but again the same thing happened. So this year we're going to have it here in the library. The paparazzi see no grounds for a story here in Ponyville unless Rarity is hosting a fashion show, or Vinyl releases a new album, or Octavia is performing on stage here, other then that there really isn't any reason for the paparazzi to be here."

The c.m.c were listening closely when Rainbow Dash came flying through the window and crashed into a book case.

"Whoa! oof..." Rainbow Dash fell onto the floor and onto her flank and shook her head.

"I really don't like winter winds." The blue pegasus rubbed her forehead and looked over at Twilight, Spike, the c.m.c and Nyx. "Uh.. hey everyprony, sorry to drop in so suddenly." she laughed nervously.

"Why were you flying in the storm in the first place?" Twilight lifted an eyebrow.

Rainbow Dash stood up and stretched. "I was trying to change the weather so that I could take Scootaloo home without us both getting battered by the blizzard. Speaking of which, I'm here to take Scootaloo home, it's late and I have an apple sandwich waiting for her at home."

Rainbow Dash got up in Spikes face looking un-amused. "And what's wrong with making dinner for myself and my sister?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing!" Spike stiffened and became as still as a statue so he didn't get hurt.

Rainbow Dash stepped back and walked over to Scootaloo. "Ready to head home kiddo?"

"Couldn't I sleep over tonight Rainbow Dash? Sweetie belle and Apple Bloom are sleeping over as well."

Rainbow smiled. "Sure. You don't mind if Scootaloo hangs here tonight do you Twilight?"

Rainbow smiled and opened the door, the blizzard outside blew really really hard causing Rainbow's scarf to flutter in the wind, and the force of the wind almost caused the filly's to fall over.

"Careful is my middle name Twilight!" The rainbow maned pegasus smiled and took two steps outside and then took flight. She flew up above the clouds and all the way to her cloud home.

Twilight closed the door and sighed loudly, she laid against the door and shivered. She looked at the books in the library and sighed.

"I should get back into reading. Looking after a filly is hard, that's not the first time I've said that either." Twilight stood up and stretched. She walked over to the fire and warmed her hooves.

Nyx was frowning, she looked at Twilight again and said what she wanted to say. "Could... could we all have apple pie with ice cream and custard for desert?"

Twilight smiled and nodded. "Of course we can. Lucky I sent Spike to buy an apple pie yesterday, we have a fresh apple pie in the refrigerator."

Snowdrop listened to everything from the steps where she lay. She smiled and laughed to herself over how extremely happy Nyx could get.

"She's just like Luna when she was happy," Snowdrop snickered. "actually I think Nyx gets even more excited then Luna when she's happy."

Snowdrop closed her eyes and giggled. She continued to listen to Nyx jumping around and running around the room playfully with her friends playing as well. Twilight watched on from near the fire place. Spike sat on the top step holding a gem which had a bite taken out of it.

"Hey girls ah have an idea, why don't we help make supper and desert with Spike and Twilight?" Said Apple Bloom.

Twilight chuckled. "I don't know Apple Bloom you made an awful mess with those cupcakes a while back. Can I trust you." Twilight winked.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle suppressed their laughter while Nyx had her eyes closed, her head lowered and a grin on her face, she apparently found this funny. Apple Bloom was red in the face from embarrassment, she looked at Nyx, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle all of which stood behind her.

There is an awkward silence. Then everypony in the room, Apple Bloom included started to laugh for no particular reason, Spike laughed as well. Snowdrop was also laughing but she quickly regained her composure and smiled sweetly, her eyes still closed.

"I think I'm going to like being stuck to Nyx." Snowdrop said without changing her smile.

Tears in the Snow

by Chaos Phantasm

07: Home Again.