Snow fell over Canterlot City, as it did most winters. And—also as often—several of its flakes, amidst their slow, lackadaisical freefall, found their way atop the greenery of Canterlot City’s parks.
However, not all of that greenery necessarily belonged to trees.
Wallflower Blush smiled as she watched the snow descend, with multiple flakes gradually coming to rest on her head. She didn’t mind them—she enjoyed the aesthetic they gave this time of year. She also liked the feel, the touch, of tiny frozen kisses on her skin—as well as whatever she could catch with her tongue.
That last was only when nobody was looking, of course. Sometimes, it was still okay to be by one’s lonesome.
Nature, however, was always around her. People took Nature for granted; its wonders, its sights, sounds, even smells. Emotion existed in the wind, history in the sky, artistry in the myriad tapestries of colors. Even here in Canterlot Suburban Park, the most average and ordinary of parks Wallflower had ever known, the smell of pine mixed with an invigorating winter breeze to create the feeling of being in the world’s biggest greenhouse—missing only the heat.
Which was great, because Wallflower loved greenhouses. She’d live in one if she could do so without that silly, pesky risk of… what was it again? Oh, right. Death. Talk about your fatal flaws. Well, no home was perfect. Besides, being outside with Nature was hardly anything to sneeze at, either. It hugged her over her burgundy down coat, making sure she knew that it was there, even when partially shielded from its elements. She welcomed it, for she knew its embrace well.
Right now, however, Nature was incidental. She was here for a different entity’s embrace—or so she hoped.
Wallflower put her phone-friendly gloves back on, took her device out of her coat, and opened her text message window. After reading over the last few messages, she looked around, seeing nothing but white dots and random passersby.
Where is she? Wallflower mused, noting that her phone read 10:03am. She said we’d meet at ten. Did something happen? Did she decide she didn’t want to do this after all? Wait, no, she’d’ve texted me or called me if something were wrong. She’s nice like that, and it’s only been three minutes. Calm down, Wall. She won’t leave you—
Suddenly, she was a lot more conscious of how… by herself she was. The occasional person, or group of people, still walked by. None of them looked at her. They had no reason to, of course—she was just a single ordinary girl, sitting on a bench. Move along, nothing weird to see here.
But she vividly remembered when she wasn’t able to see herself as just Wallflower Blush, Ordinary Girl, sitting on a bench. She remembered silently crying for anyone, anyone at all, to notice her, to validate her existence—because she didn’t know how to find that validation for herself.
If anything, she’d only known how to increase the distance between it and herself. The days of Wallflower Blush, Invisible Girl, hadn’t been that long ago. And it was a feeling that was all too familiar, in those moments of vulnerability where it came back knocking at the door of her heart.
Apropos of nothing, the day became that much chillier, the kisses of the snowflakes now turning into small pinpricks. Her gloves went to her lips as she resisted the urge to nibble on them.
She won’t leave you alone, Wallflower. Unless… Her chest twisted. Unless something happened to her phone. That would be bad, too, but it wouldn’t be your fault… right?
Just as she was about to give in to a snack of fabric, she heard her name being called.
Huh?
Wallflower looked down the trail in front of her to see someone coming her way. They were still too far to make out completely, but she was able to make out a long dark blue winter coat, glasses… green hair like hers? Could it be?
It was.
Juniper Montage strode down the path, walking as fast as she could, but clearly taking care not to drop what was in her hands—two steaming cardboard cups. Whereas before it took all of Wallflower’s energy to push down her fear, it now took just as much to quell her excitement, her heartbeat now nearly audible.
At least the sudden rush of warmth was good for being out in winter.
“I’m so sorry I’m late!” Juniper smiled as she approached. “But I come bearing gifts.”
Wallflower stood to meet Juniper, who promptly handed her a cardboard-sleeved coffee cup bearing the Starcolts logo. Wallflower sniffed the steam wafting from its open top, and her eyebrows shot up as its unmistakable rich, honeyed scent and flavor reached through her nose, and traveled all the way into her stomach. “You… Juniper, no way.”
“Absolutely way.” Juniper flourished, making a huge show of taking a dramatic, theatrical bow. “One matcha green tea latte, extra foam, extra cinnamon,with just the tiniest pinch of vanilla, brewed thirty seconds longer than standard. The 'Wallflower Blush Special', if my intel is correct. Except I had them use real sugar, because no artificial sweetener is touching either of us.” She made a face.
Wallflower sipped, squealing as the sweetness hit her taste buds. “The flavor’s perfect! Down to the last detail, even.” She looked up at Juniper in awe. “How did you know?”
“Hello? Niece of, and ex-gofer for, this continent’s biggest director?” Juniper preened, flipping her right ponytail. “I still know every barista in this city on a first name basis—well, except for the replacements for those who finally graduated university. Still, it didn't take much for me to find out where you often go for your tea, and what you always order, right before taking a whole booth to yourself.” Juniper’s grin showed teeth. “Who would have thought such a green thumb would have such a sweet tooth?”
Wallflower’s face burned as her cheeks tinted. “Well, thanks a ton. I haven’t had one of these in a while, much less had a friend surprise me with one… or had a friend in the first place who could, so, uh, yeah. This is pretty much the best gift ever.” She flashed Juniper a teasing smile. “If just the tiniest bit stalkery.”
Juniper blushed back. “Augh. Literally everybody’s a critic.”
The two laughed, bumping against one another. “I’m glad you came,” Wallflower said.
Juniper took a sip of her own cup, which Wallflower could see was marked as an order of chai latte. “Yeah, me too. I’ll try not to cut it so close next time. Wanna walk?”
Wallflower nodded, and the two started their stroll down the park’s trail.