//------------------------------//
// Finally Found Him 
// Story: The Warmth of Winter 
// by Lunar Flarion 
//------------------------------//

Silver’s wings had carried her for many miles, yet she never tired. Each flap of her wings got her closer and closer to the pony she was trying to catch. The pony she loved, Frost Bite. This has happened before, many other times. She was slower than him, but with the new boost in confidence from Twilight and Spike, and with the book in her grasp. Her speed had doubled, near tripled with this, the adrenaline helped a lot to catch him. Though, at random intervals, Frost Bite would speed up or slow down out of nowhere, like he was contemplating finding out who the figure that chased him was. Though she knew he most likely wouldn’t, he didn’t like being watched by an unknown figure.

*CRACK!*

The storm roared to life once more and it surged forward, lightning and thunder echoed around it as it sped forward. Silver, no longer surprised, felt the warmth around her soar in heat as she burst forward, leaving a fiery trail behind her. The wind roared around her as she sped straight towards the storm, she couldn’t lose him now! She didn’t flap her wings, she soared through the air without any restrictions, her mind focused on gaining speed at the ever escaping storm. Each passing second, the storm grew large and quick then slowly started to shrink in size. Silver turned a sharp left to go around to the side of the storm, looking for a way in. She knew, for a fact that Frost was in the center of it, yet no eye for her to enter without being thrown far away from the winds. She turned her head, no longer focusing on the storm’s walls of cloud and ice, but instead, ahead. Her eyes narrowed for a bit, she saw an outline of something big and tall in the distance, though, her squint did not help in the expanding darkness. She forced another left to escape the ever-expanding storm once more. She wondered what it was in the distance when a large crack of lightning illuminated it brightly, revealing a large mountain. 

“What is he doing?” Silver wondered aloud as she slowed down to fall behind the storm. The storm started to grow faster and faster, soon, she had to fly under it to not get hit or entangled in the clouds, once under, she was hit by hail and snow, yet no winds. Well... none strong enough to force her to go through the storm or all the way around it. She felt something echo from the storm, from Frost Bite, it was hatred, fear, and anger, that controlled the storm’s size. The ferocity of the storm started to increase, hail fell harder and was bigger, she had to dodge some of the hail. Even though she was a spirit, one that has little bearing in this world, the storm's power and rage wasn’t either, it was like the storm was on the same plane as her, but also trying to enter the world itself, for some hail and snow did not hit her, but merely pass through her body. This worried her, if this storm escaped from the spirit plane, it would wreak havoc across Equestria, a winter storm that would make the ones of the windigos seem tiny and powerless. She had to get to him before the storm broke.

Now, it was no longer a race to save him before he escaped, but of one to protect the lands from his anger and sadness. The air heated once more, melting the hail before it touched her and evaporating the snow, the mountain was closing in. Then... it hit her, he wasn’t running away from her again, he wasn’t fleeing from something he did not understand, this anger, sadness... he was leading her to the mountain tops, but for what reason... well... that worried her most. 

*CRACK!*

Just shy of her wing, a large bolt of lightning shot out, hitting the now growing amount of trees. The hail started to spread out and the snow came in few, she looked up and the storm rose far above her, heading where the mountain touched the sky. 

*CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!*

The amount of lightning grew in size, some growing bigger, she weaved in and out of the powerful electrically charged plasma. The wind picked up as they moved into a cold front near the mountain tops. She rose with the storm, back into the harsh hail and snow. Another low rumble came and she prepared to dodge the lightning once more. Yet none came, she looked up and saw the black clouds light up with a light blue tint, it looked to reach from the far edges of the clouds, then it slowly closed in on her position, her eyes widened as she turned to dodge, but she wasn’t fast enough as the full blast of lightning shot down and hit her wing.

A spirit feeling pain isn’t unheard of, this was the situation here. She felt the pain shot through her wing and down her back, she lost control and dive-bombed towards a cliff of the mountain. She slammed into the ground, her body getting covered in snow. She rolled for a few feet and slammed into the trunk of a tree, her stomach groaned in pain as she roared in it. She slowly and painfully got herself up, giving slight trembles from the pain in her stomach and wing. She glowed brightly and felt the pain ease, the fire in her heart burning bright as her wing slowly healed, the burnt stump growing back in length, it developed its feathers all the way to the final ones, tipped with gold.

“T-that hurt more than when the filly kicked...” Silver groaned as she grabbed her stomach, trying to make light of her situation, hearing that laughing was the best medicine. 

She looked up and hoped the storm wasn’t too far away. Yet it was both a chilling and pleasant surprise to see it hovering over her. She looked up, right into the blackness as the abundance of lightning and thunder lit up the ground around her. She looked around her surroundings. Around her were small groups of trees between a large gap in the mountain, where the two heads of the mighty rock split and raised in a race for the moon. She walked forward and groaned as she grabbed her stomach, the pain in her wing was mostly gone, but her stomach still hurt. The wind roared in her ears as she forced herself to take a step, then another, and another. Soon, the pain faded from her stomach, she stood up tall and glared at the storm. She felt like something else was going to shoot out of it and hit her, she was on the tips of her hooves. A low rumble and something dark blue caught her attention, it sat there, watching her and she watched it, she spread out her wings and lowered her body, signaling that either she was going to charge or dodge. She felt the figure glare at her, and in a flash of dark blue, it flew towards her at high speeds. She had anticipated this and dodged to the right. She rolled on her side and turned to face the figure. 

There he was, Frost Bite, his wings spread out in a protective stance, a glare in his eye sockets, a frown covering his face. He looked ready to rip her to pieces.

“Who. Are. You.” He growled as he started to circle her.

“Somepony you know!” Silver said as she kept her eye on him,” Somepony you love! Your wife!”

“LIES!” He growled once more,” My wife died in a fire, I saw her soul lift into the next place over! You! You are an impostor, an evil entity pretending to be her!”

Silver was taken aback at the accusation, yet he continued,” I know of you, demons! You feed off of my hatred, my RAGE! MY SADNESS AND GUILT!”

With a sudden crack of wind, a sharp piece of ice was thrown at her. She dodged quickly, but not quick enough, for the ice sickle slashed the top of her ear. She looked in right in the eyes, her heart’s flame died down a little, why did he feel guilt?

“Why?” She asked calmly,” Why do you feel guilty?”

The stallion growled once more and slammed his hooves into the ground, unleashing a shockwave of ice sickles to emerge from the ground. With a thunderous voice, he exclaimed,” BECAUSE I COULD’VE STOPPED IT! I COULD’VE PREVENTED IT ALL FROM HAPPENING!”

The air dropped below zero, the trees’ trunks start to turn blue as he roared,” HER DEATH! NOT JUST MY WIFE’S BUT MY DAUGHTER’S AS WELL!”

She flew upwards, her flame igniting as she heard his voice, her sadness fueled her desire to help him, make him happy. Her aura collided with his own, the trees went back and forth between brown and blue. 

“WHAT ARE YOU!?” He demanded once more as he launched himself at her.

“I told you! Your wife!” Silver cried as she dodged the stallion once more.

He caught himself as his hind hooves slammed into the trunk of a large pine tree. He said in a low and dangerous tone,” I do not like-”

“Liars,” Silver finished,” You told me when we started dating, you didn’t like ponies spinning tales of their importance, you wanted them to be themselves!”

Frost was silent as he charged again, this time clipping her wing with his. The two fell, and Frost slid on his side up against a tree. Silver was the first to get up, and continued,” You believed that the pony they were born as was the best part, that they were special in the fact that they are themselves...”

Silver forced back a tear,” That’s why you chose me because I was different, I remember what you said when you asked me out!”

Frost stood there, a scowl covering his facial features. Silver took this as an opening to continue, she said with a small,” You said, your differences make you beautiful. I thought it was one of the cutest things I have ever heard! You weren’t the only stallion to ask, but you were different as well!”

“I still don’t believe you,” Frost said,” Demons can remember most of the pony they copy!”

She felt the wind pick up quickly, then ducked as a large branch was thrown at her. She looked back at the branch, which was a mistake.

“HAAAAAA!” Frost roared as he slammed his hoof into her chest, which sent her flying backward.

Silver slammed into a tree. The echoing crack was barely audible above the howling winds of the storm. She felt a few splinters in her back, she slumped down, yet this didn’t stop her. She got up once more and burnt the splinters to ashes, getting rid of them easily.

“You are rather persistent, much like her,” Frost said as the wind increased, its howl turned near deafening.

“Well,” Silver said,” You know what they say, love is a powerful drug~!”

“And what, pray tell, demon, do you love?” Frost asked,” What thing do you love most? The pain you are causing me? The guilt you make run through me? WHAT!?”

Silver shook her head,” The thing I love most, is our daughter and you.”

“DON’T YOU DARE SAY THAT SHE WAS YOUR DAUGHTER DEMON!” Frost roared as a large tree flew over his head and right towards her.

Silver stood her ground and stared at the tree. She raised her hoof and engulfed it in fire. She reeled back and slammed her hoof as the tree got close enough, breaking the tree into flaming chips as it was cut in two. Frost flinched as the burning chips hit his body and face. Silver heart skipped a beat as Frost groaned in pain from the burning chips, her awesome moment cut short by worry.

“Sorry!” Silver said as her hooves covered her mouth.

Frost grunted in surprise at her apology, a thought ran through his mind as the seed of doubt rooted deeper into his mind and heart, why did she apologize?

“Are you okay? Nothing to burned?” Silver quickly trotted to his side but was stopped by an ice sickle shooting up from the ground.

“Why are you apologizing? A demon wouldn’t when their cover is blown,” Frost hissed.

“Exactly,” Silver said as she touched the ice sickle, which gave off a hissing scream as it melted,” I’m no demon, I’m the pony you love, please... believe me.”

“GET BACK!” He roared as a force filled and cold wind slammed into her, pushing her back.

She thought for a second and figured out that she needed to try a different approach. With a new idea, she asked calmly,” What can I do to prove I am who I say I am?”

Frost glared at her, yet his face looked more of thought. Silver sat there, patiently waiting for what he was going to say. She did not have to wait long. Frost clicked his tongue, a glare still pointed at her, calmly, yet with a low undertone of danger, he said,” Tell me... everything about our daughter, what she looked like... how she acted... then I’ll consider trusting you...”

Silver looked him dead in the eyes and said,” Our daughter’s name is Aurum Breeze, a name you chose. She had a red mane with a blue stripe to the side of it, she had a cool grey coat and bright, yellow eyes that always seemed to be filled with wonder, she had cool grey wings with a gold tip and blue highlights. Whenever she was happy or excited, she would do a little dance and sing a happy little song...”

Silver choked softly at the memory,” W-when you came home, she would yell “Daddy’s home!” and run towards you and give you the biggest hug she could offer. She always wanted to fly. Whenever you were down she would flap her little wings and hug your hoof, trying to make you feel better... She loved you so much, you were her world... she missed you when she... when she... p-p-passed...”

Frost looked at her, and she could see his heart shatter at the last part. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The wind started to die... but... she felt something, something boiling to the point of boiling over. Frost looked down at the ground and shook, she swore she saw a tear slide down his face. She heard a low growl, then jumped back as he roared. He rose up on his hind legs and slammed them into the ground. The shockwave shook the mountain itself to the very foundation. She heard the sound of hundreds of pounds of snow falling towards them. Cracks started to form in the rock around them. Silver acted quickly, as she saw the nearing avalanche of snow. She raced forward and picked him up and flew out of the falling snows’ reach. Right to another part of the mountain.

When she landed, Frost jumped back and growled at her. He still did not trust her, what must she do to convince him?

‘He was a dense stallion,’ Silver said to herself,’ But not in the ego way, he was just... not use to affection or love like yours...’

‘THATS IT!’ Silver thought as her eyes lit up,’Love! That’s what he is missing! The feeling of love!’

Silver gave off a goofy smile,’ Thank you cheesy romance novels~!’

Silver looked at Frost, who, looked back at her, but this time, the glare was softer, calmer. She knew EXACTLY how to help him. With a sweet voice, she said,” Well... if that didn’t convince you... THIS WILL!”

With a sudden pounce, Silver pinned him to the ground, her weight sinking him into the cold snow. Frost struggled as he glared at her, the air grew colder. Yet, Silver knew what she was doing. She leaned down and gave him a soft kiss on the tip of his muzzle before giving him a soft nuzzle.

“I remember the night of the wedding, you were worried, yet for the life of me, I never knew why,” She said as she got off of him. Sitting next to him,” So I did what I do best, cheered you up!” 

“I-I... y-you are...?” Frost said.

Silver gently laid her wing over him and said softly,” Would I ever lie to you?”

Frost laid his head back down and starred up into the night sky, the distant roar of the storm finally died down. It didn’t help that he remembered his daughter and his wife, but the real icing on this cake of confusion was that he attacked and almost killed his wife a second time.

“I’m... sorry... so very, very sorry...” Frost said,” I’m an idiot...”

“Uh uh uh~!” Silver chirped as she placed a hoof on his mouth,” You know what I say, mister!”

Frost smiled softly and moved her hoof away,” No sadness around me, less I can help?”

“Yup!” Silver chirped as she laid down on her side,” No sadness!”

“Alright, alright,” Frost said as he felt the mare hug him,” So... how long was it you following me?”

“Hm... thirty... forty years?” Silver said as she tapped her chin.

“Oh, Celestia’s cake vault-” Frost almost face-hoofed but a certain mare’s wing stopped it.

“Listen, if you continue to be a sad boy, I’m gonna need to use my secret weapon!” Silver said as she lifted her upper body to look down at him.

“No! Not the tickles!” Frost exclaimed as he tried to run.

“Nope! No more running from me big guy!” Silver said as her wings pulled him in. She wrapped her hooves tightly around him.

“I give I give!” Frost said as the mare squeezed him.

Silver giggled softly and loosened her grip. She got up and offered him her hoof, saying gently,” I didn’t even start~.”

Frost accepted her hoof and got up, he replied with a snort,” Cause your tickles are dangerous!”

Silver shook her head with a smile. She looked over him for a moment, then realized that she had been asking ponies questions, but none of them were him. She gave a shy smile and asked,” So... why did you do what you did... as a spirit?”

Frost’s smile faded slightly, he looked at her with a slight frown, his answer came in a low and sorry tone,” Anger... grief.. sadness... I don’t know why truly... all I know is that I acted like a stereotypical ghost with a less than happy demise... filled with the negatives and never looking at the positive...”

Silver took a minute to process what he had said, in truth, she wasn’t exactly happy with some of the things he had done. Yet, he did have a valid reason... kinda...

“I would like to ask a question...” Frost said suddenly.

“Oh, sure!” Silver’s smile glowed... literally.

“What now?” he asked,” What do we do now that you have found me?”

“Well,” Silver smiled and walked over to his side and placed a wing over his back, with a tone filled with love,” We move on... right to where we belong.”

“That’s it? Just move on?” Frost asked as he moved his wing to go around her as well.

“Well,” Silver gave off another goofy grin,” I know a small filly that would love to see her father again~.”

“What!?” Frost said as he looked at her.

“Yup!” Silver replied as she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek,” Though you need to close your eyes to see her!”

Frost looked at her with a confused look, he opened his mouth to ask why he had to but decided not to question her. He closed his eyes, the world started to go silent, he felt warmth all around him, as he felt the mare’s hooves wrap around him. It felt like an eternity, as he kept his eyes closed, he felt the warmth, a lot of it, then it cooled slightly. Then he felt a breeze, a gentle, warm breeze. The smell of pine and forest of the mountains disappeared and the smell of fresh grass and the warmth of not only his wife but the sun made him shudder in delight.

“Alright,” came Silver’s voice sweetly,” You can open your eyes.”

He opened them and his heart skipped a beat. In front of him was a grass field, behind him was a forest and both he and his wife sat at the entrance. He spied in the corner of his eye was a big wooden house, smoke coming from the chimney. He and his wife got up, he couldn’t help but smile as he looked around. Silver saw the look on his face and smiled as well, she bumped his side with hers and walked forward, in which he followed her. The walked through the grass field, right to their house, the house he grew up in. Silver stood at the door and waited for him to catch up. When he did, she opened the door and called out,” Honey! I’m home! And I brought a special guest!”

“MOMMY!” Screamed a little filly’s voice and the sound of thundering hooves echoed, coming from a room around the corner. In a few seconds, a small filly with a red and blue mane and tail, with a cool grey coat and cool grey wings with gold tipped wings that held a hint of blue stopped a few feet away from the door. She looked at the stallion, her eyes sparkling with wonder and joy, a large smile formed on the filly’s face as she screamed and jumped to hug her father,” DADDY!!!”

The stallion hugged the filly tightly, the filly exclaimed over and over again,”DADDYS HOME DADDYS HOME!”

The filly nuzzled him and wrapped her hooves around his neck in a fit of glee and overwhelming happiness.

“D’aw, I wished I had a camera!” Silver said with a smile as she nuzzled the two.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Breeze exclaimed.

“Hm?” Frost asked as he held her out, just before giving her a quick, loving nuzzle of his own.

“I learned how to fly!” she exclaimed happily,” I can finally go flying with you and mommy!”

“Good job, my lil princess!” Frost chuckled,” May I see it?”

“Yeah!” the filly exclaimed happily. She wiggled out of his grasp and prepared herself for flight. She stuck out her tongue and flapped her wings hard. Within a few seconds, she took off and smiled big for her father and mother. Frost was so proud of his little princess, and Silver, she couldn’t help but smile and pull the two in for a hug. 

“Frost,” Silver said,” Finally, we can all be together again... as one big, happy family~.”

Frost kissed her cheek, his heart giving a soft thud, he said softly,” That is what I wish most.”

The father, mother, and daughter all enjoyed the day when he finally came back home. Frost showed the young filly some ice magic while Silver showed off her own fire magic. The young filly later surprised the two by controlling water. Silver then revealed the book that she had taken from Twilight’s house, both Frost and Aurum looked excited to see it again, and soon the family was having a family reading night... though the two parents decided to skip Frost Bite’s section, for their daughter’s sake. The family was finally complete, and they were all content.


~The End~