//------------------------------// // Tears that froze to crystal. // Story: Frozen tears of crystal // by keam //------------------------------// “Where are you going, mother? Why are you leaving us?” I remember the warmth of her little pink hoof grabbing my big blue hoof. At least they told me she was pink. Pink with a white and yellow mane. Not that I would ever know. I felt her grip tighten around my hoof, not wanting to let me go away and maybe never return. “Mom just needs to go away for a while. You just stay here with grandmother, and everything is going to be alright, I promise.” I lied to her, my voice remaining cold and emotionless. My heart was too frozen for me to feel or share her pain. Enamorada, I whisper. That was the name I gave her. It means in love. Such irony that in the end, I actually didn't love her enough. Enough to stay with her. I remember the warmth disappearing and her hoof letting go of mine as I turned to look out at the frozen field I knew was laying in front of me. I looked at the snow-covered mountain peaks I knew should be sticking up just above the horizon. And then, without further notice, I started walking. I could easily have used my wings to fly, but since there was no one to guide me and I couldn't see what lay before me, I preferred walking. The snow crunched below my hooves for every step I took, chilling me to the bones. That is, if I could feel the cold. Yes, it would be chilling me to the bones if snow, ice and bitter cold affected me like it did normal ponies. But it didn't, and never had. I know that I could stay out here forever and it would still not be the cold and snow that killed me. Though I'm sure it would try, as the snow always seemed so obssesed with killing what it cannot kill. That's why there was always small puddles of half-melted snow far into spring season. You know, there once was a princess. The night and all the dreams it contained was her kingdom. She was my friend, and she would come to me in my dreams, singing a lullaby she made for me. I can still hear the melody, ringing in my ears. I feel the tears drip down from my eyes onto my cheeks, burning for a moment before turning into crystal, just like they did that fateful day I met the princess. The melody from my memories growing louder in my ears, I start singing, retrieving the lyrics from the same memories that provide the music. Little filly bright and brave feel the morning warmth upon your face Celestia brings a new day Keep your head up Chase your doubts away Even though I know she's not there, I can feel my princess' wings wrapping around my body, warming my frozen heart. Snowdrop Filly of frozen tears Can't you see the world has so much cheer For you My little one An inner rage suddenly broke loose as I sung. I can't see. I will never be able to see. That's why I always needed others. That's why I always needed you. Despite my rage, I keep on singing, hoping the next part of the song will put out the fire in my heart before it melts. Stand tall now Keep your spirits high And listen to the stars' lullaby Facing Into the gentle breeze And make a wish to ring through the centuries It's not me who's singing any more. It's the stars, who still remember watching their mistress sing this in my dreams, that's singing. I try to block out the stars' song as they move on to the last part of the lullaby, but it's impossible. I once let the stars into my heart, oh so long ago, when I was only a filly with a wish stronger than anything else. Snowdrop Filly of frozen tears Can't you see the world has so much cheer The stars stop singing and I breathe out. The lullabies ended and memories I never should have brought up in the first place fade away. Suddenly, I feel so weak, as if the bitter cold that fills the wasteland around me finally broke my ever-lasting defence against it. But it haven't, because that is impossible. Trust me, I tried oh so many times, but it never worked. No, I'm just tired. Tired of trying to last when there is nothing to last for. I'm the last one of those the stars would speak to that's left, and the stars don't need me. I've fulfilled my purpose, bringing the joy of winter into the hearts of the ponies of our beautiful land. Laying down in the snow, my thoughts return to my daughter one last time. I really lied to her when I said everything would be alright. It will never be alright, not for me nor her. One last crystal tear drops to the ground as I close my eyes. “Mother won't come back, will she?” The older mare looked down at the filly in-between her wings. She looked into the brightest pair of blue eyes she had ever seen and solemnly shook her head. “No, she won't.” Even though expecting this answer, the filly started crying, the hot tears trickling down on her chin, burning a moment before freezing, the droplet freezing into a crystal. The elder mare embraced the filly, wrapping her wings tighter around her and starting to sing a lullaby the fillies mother once wrote down on a paper and gave to the elder mare. Snowdrop Filly of frozen tears Can't you see the world has so much cheer For you My little one Stand tall now Keep your spirits high And listen to the stars' lullaby Facing Into the gentle breeze And make a wish to ring through the centuries Snowdrop Filly of frozen tears Can't you see the world has so much cheer