//------------------------------// // Arctic Fox // Story: Frozen Friendship // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Fleetfoot had been flying for hours, but she finally grew too tired to keep going. Fleetfoot slowed to a halt and looked around. "I'm in the Yaket Mountain Range. No wonder I'm tho tired." Fleetfoot sighed, then collapsed in a snow bank, surprisingly not feeling cold. "I guethth my magic keepth me from getting cold." she murmured, closing her eyes with fatigue. An hour later, Fleetfoot sat up and yawned. To her, the was like a nice warm blanket, she was hardly cold at all. Dusk had come, and as Fleetfoot looked up, she smiled at all the stars above her. "I don't know why, but I've always loved the stars." Fleetfoot thought. But seeing them reminded her of Dark Shooter. When they had been little, they would sneak out and stargaze for hours. Whenever Fleetfoot missed him, she would look up at the night sky. "Thith ith the perfect place to practice my magic without hurting anypony." Fleetfoot murmured to herself. She waved her wings, to see what would happen. The snow lifted into the air. "Thith will be fun." Fleetfoot grinned, then began to sing. "The snow glows white in the mountains tonight Not a hoofprint to be found The wind howls like a swirling storm Couldn't hold my true self in Even though the consequence was sure Be a good girl, or you'll pay the price But I don't have to hold it back, anymore I can break free!" Fleetfoot took off and spun high up into the air, making the snow follow her momentarily. "It's like an Arctic Fox prowls within! But there's no need to hide The magic inside Anymore! Be swift Be strong Be silent Be bold Be as brave as an Arctic Fox And let the storm come on! The cold never seems to bother me anyway!" Fleetfoot flew up the mountain, sending snow flurries all around her. She spun in the air and landed near a cliff on the mountain, still singing. "It's funny how this distance Makes all the controlling things so small! The fears of what's to come Can't get to me at all!" Fleetfoot would normally fly straight across the ravine to the other side, but there was some powerful wind, so she raised her wings and sent a blast of ice forward, making icy steps. She stepped on the stairs and held out her wings, making railings. Fleetfoot raced up the stairs, making more as she went. Fleetfoot was still laughing and singing. "Time to see what I can do Test my limits and push through! There's no right or wrong No more rules for me! I'm finally free!" She jumped off her bridge and twirled. Fleetfoot's mane fell out of the sleek style and framed her face in delicate white strands. "It's like an Arctic Fox prowls within! But there's no need to hide! The magic inside Anymore! Be swift Be strong Be silent Be bold Be as brave as an Arctic Fox And let the storm come on! The cold never seems to bother me anyway!" Fleetfoot stomped a hoof and made a snowflake appear, made of ice. It grew around her to form a small shelter from the wind. She went back outside and made another snowflake. "My power goes from the air into my sound! Soul spiraling in snowflakes all around! Every thought crystallizes With an icy blast! Maybe I'll go back, But not until I'm good and ready! My past is in the past It's time to break free! It's like an Arctic Fox prowls within! But there's no need to hide The magic inside Anymore! Be swift Be strong Be silent Be bold Be as brave as an Arctic Fox And let the storm come on! The cold never seems to bother me anyway!" Fleetfoot raised her wings and the snow swirled around her, forming an outfit. The dress was made of permafrost, covering her body and reaching down to her back legs. It left wingholes and a space where her cutie mark showed through her dress. The sleeves on her front hooves hardly looked like sleeves, they wound around her forelegs like frost did on a windowsill. The patterns on the dress were shaped like snowflakes, stars, and wings, reminding her of the life and ponies she'd left behind. "Here in these mountains tall I'm one with the snow and stars! I'm a whole new mare Here to stay! And you won't see me cry again! For I'll stand tall! You'll find that Your 'perfect' girl is gone! Here I stand In the moonlight's dawn! So let the storms rage o~n! The cold never seemed to bother me anyway." Fleetfoot finished, smiling. She turned and went inside her little shelter, trying to practice more with her magic. Fleetfoot had been gone for hours, it was night now. Spitfire had been forced by Rainbow and Soarin to give up searching so the team could sleep. Spitfire rolled over in bed and looked out at the silver moon against the purple night sky. Spitfire began to sing under her breath, the way Fleetfoot had during the rain that started all this. "I remember tears streamed down your face When they said they'd hurt you now When their haunted shadows nearly killed your light You ran away from all the scary things But you couldn't hear me crying out That I wouldn't let you slip away from me The stars were in shock And as the fire raged on Couldn't you hear me screaming: Please don't leave me behind?! I want you here with me Safe and sound So let the wind carry this to you A lullaby to soothe your dread From me... To the mare... That I love." Spitfire finished, letting a tear drip down her face, as she sat up and stared out the window. The stars twinkling in the night sky seemed to wink at her. Somewhere in the Yaket Mountain Range, the wind whistled a lullaby into Fleetfoot's ear.