//------------------------------// // Sad news and a decision // Story: The Ice Heart Thawed // by Applefai //------------------------------// Silverstream awoke and got ready for class, along they way she overheard students talking. "I can't believe Sombra took over the kingdom." A voice said "Me to, I thought they had an advantage, hopefully our others allies won't suffer the same fate, I heard that he put them all in slavery." Another said Silverstream had a uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she didn't know why. Surly Mount Aris and Seaquestria hadn't fallen, they have the best navy and air force around. Silverstream made her way to class where even her friends seemed to be walking around eggshells around her. She would ask them what's up only to get respiratory beat around the bush. "Alright! What's wrong?" Silverstream snapped at her friends with Ocellus hanging her head in sadness and walked up to Silverstream. "We didn't want to tell you, because we were afraid of how you would react, but Mount Arius and Seaquestria has fallen under control of king Sombra." Ocellus told her friend in a saddened voice and continued, "we heard the news late last night, after the poker game to be honest, we were heading back to our rooms when headmare Twilight stopped us and told us this news, she told us not to tell you unless we really needed to, and judging by the aura in the air, we needed to." Silverstream just hung her head in silence, and then spoke up, "What of my family? Are they safe?" She asked with tears in her eyes fearing the worst. Ocellus put her hoof on Silverstream's shoulder "they're safe, but injured. They could only fly here to Ponyville before collapsing, they were admitted to the hospital your were in." Silverstream got some good in her eyes thinking that Novo escaped until Ocellus continued. "Your mother, father, and brother will be alright, but the queen couldn't escape, Novo is now a resident in a Sombra territory." Silverstream's heart sank to the pit of her stomach as she felt light headed and started breathing heavily without realizing that she was, all her friends could do was put their hands on her back and rub trying to calm her down. Silverstream was unusually quite for the school day, but that was to be expected, it had to be eating at her, gnawing at her very soul that the only free hippogriffs were her, her mother, her father, and her brother, but her aunt, he cousins, and the rest of her family and friends were now living in a Sombra ruled land. Silverstream quietly did her work, ate lunch, and turned in her work at the end of the day. It was like she had lost her spark, her bubbly personality had gone flat like an open can of soda. Worrying about their friend Gallus, Ocellus, Smolder, Yona, and Sandbar visited her in her dorm. Ocellus gently opened the door and peered in, "um, Silverstream, may we come in?" Ocellus asked in a ginger tone only to have Silverstream motion them in with her claw. The friends stepped in only for the last on to close the door behind them as Silverstream motioned for them to get comfortable. There they all say in silence, not sure on how to break the ice, but that was probably the best thing to do for now, hours passed until Silverstream spoke up. "I think I understand why headmare Twilight wanted you all to keep the information from me, it'll be like if it was one of your homes then she'd want me to keep the info from you, I'm not mad just a bit hurt and at a loss for words." Silverstream said in an understanding voice. The friends continued to say nothing until it was late and they had to return to their respective dorms, they all hugged Silverstream and left, but Silverstream stopped one of them. "Gallus? Could you stay a little longer?" Silverstream asked with a few tears in her eyes. Gallus looked back and closed the door in front of him "sure, anything you need Silverstream." He said. Silverstream just threw her arms around Gallus and wept "Thank you, Gallus, I just can't deal with the thought of my homes being ruled by Sombra." All Gallus could do was embrace her in a hug as he stroked her hair "it'll be ok, Silverstream, we'll win your home back; It's just a set back." He wiped the tears from her eyes like she had done for Yona and her brother. "We're all here for you, Silverstream." Silverstream looked up at Gallus and planted a kiss on his cheek which made him blush a bit. He placed his claw on the cheek she kissed unsure what to say. "Could you possibly stay in her with me, Gallus? I really don't want to be alone tonight and could really use a friend." Silverstream said in a sincere tone. Gallus just looked at her and smiled. "Sure, Silverstream. Anything for you." Silverstream just thanked him and nuzzled into his chest enjoying the warm embrace, probably for the last time. Silverstream and Gallus knew they could get in trouble, but Gallus was will to take tge risk to help a friend and Silverstream really needed the company. Silverstream and Gallus retired to bed and sank into the quicksand mattress, they covered each other with the cotton covers and nuzzled each other while they slept. During the night Silverstream woke up and went to her desk, she lit a candle and took out a pen and piece of paper, she began to write and did so, so quietly, she then went to her closet and took out a spare cotton blanket and took a locket with the same picture of her family that was on her desk, she extinguished the candle and quietly flew out her window into the night sky. She flew to a hill overlooking Ponyville and the school of friendship as tears started to swell in her eyes. "Goodbye school, goodbye friends, goodbye family, and goodbye freedom." Silverstream said aloud, but only she heard as she started flying again into the night sky with only the moon and stars for company.