//------------------------------//
// II - Sweetest Thing 
// Story: Tears of Snow 
// by FlashKenshin77 
//------------------------------//


Tears of Snow
By - FlashKenshin77

Chapter II - Sweetest Thing
Edited by - WeLCxAlphaPuppy and Rglloyd



"Because even the smallest of words can be the ones to hurt you, or save you."



~;~


Consciousness came back to me in pieces, the methodical snoring of Dad being the first thing I heard. The mattress creaked as I got up and shambled to the bathroom, turning the water on in the bathtub. As I waited for the pipes to warm up, I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to think of a way to hide my bruises. The entire right side of my face was purple, especially around my eye. The trusty patch hid some of it but was stained red, drawing even more attention to it. I hesitantly took it off and tried to clean it. I looked at the eye and saw discoloration, the deep scar standing out still.
I cautiously opened it, seeing a dull emerald green and instead of a healthy white, blood red. I squinted my left eye, holding the right one open as I tried to see it better. I lightly poked it and didn’t feel anything. I sighed as I laid the patch on the sink to dry and gingerly stepped into the tub, the hot water burning as it seeped into the cuts and bruises. I almost cried out in pain. I shoved a hoof in my mouth and bit down hard as I quickly cleaned my coat, careful of the fresh cuts.
I dried off and looked at the towel, stained with dried whiskey and faint red marks. I threw it in the dirty hamper and snuck into my room, briskly getting ready for school. I could hear my dad wheeze in his room, passed out in drunken stupor. I slipped on my saddlebags, careful of my new markings and walked out, the sun barely poking out over the clouds.
I wandered around the empty city, once again my only companion being the quiet hiss of the wind. I headed towards the park me and Snowdrop passed by the other day. Ponies started to trickle out of their houses, and I ran to the cover of a few trees to look around hoping nopony saw me. There was a small empty fountain away from everypony, a few birds sprinkled on the edge. I  hastily walked towards it.
The birds rapidly flew away as I got closer and sat down on the edge, staring at my reflection. The water weakened the bruises and cuts so it was only just noticeable and not standing out. I sighed, sitting down and feeling the tears slowly falling. They splashed into the water, which rippled around them.

[....]

I was six before Dad finally took me on a trip to the park. I was so excited I hopped up and down the entire way there. He was still hungover, and regretted letting me talk him into taking me.
“What’s the big about some stupid park anyway?” He muttered, a hoof blocking the sun from his eyes.
“Because the park’s so much fun! So many other ponies there that I could play with!” I said, happily bouncing.
“What did I say about strangers Icy.”
“But Dad-”
“No buts Icy, we’ll stay for awhile, then I have to get home for work.”
I pouted, kicking the ground. “Okay...”
Finally we got to the park and I squeed, seeing the jungle gym and slide. I saw a swing empty and I rushed towards it, jumping in. “Dad, can you push me?” I asked, pleading.
“You’re a colt, you can push yourself.” He said, grumpily plopping on a bench, taking out a newspaper.
I sighed and pushed against the ground, the swing creaking. I heard fillies and colts laughing all around me. I looked around and saw a filly and her mom, who was helping them climb over a small hill in the monkey bars. I sat there, watching them as the filly cried in victory as she hugged her mom.
I smiled and looked at Dad. “Dad... where’s mom?” Dad froze up behind his paper. He never gave me a straight answer or would avoid the question. Now though, I’ll finally get to the bottom of it.
He peered at me over the tip of the newspaper, staring at me. “You wanna know where that two timing mare is? She ran out when you were born, and never once turned back.”
I stared at him, my mind trying to understand what he meant. “W-what do you mean?”
He threw the newspaper down before stomping up to me. “She left because of you! She couldn’t stand the thought of raising a foal that was already useless!” He yelled, the parents and their foals looking at us. I blinked a few times, tears starting to come down before he forcibly grabbed my hoof. “Come on, we’re going home.”
I forced down the tears as he dragged me home, the ponies around us unsure what to do. When we got home, he threw me into my room, slammed the door, and got ready for work. He left a few minutes later as I heard the front door open and shut. I laid down on my bed, and rocked back and forth, crying into my pillow.

[....]

I held the picture I drew yesterday, staring at it. ‘Mom’ happily hugged me, a wrinkle hiding her face. I felt the tears fall and tried to stop them, failing. My hooves shook as I wished it all to go away, the emptiness gnawing at my chest. I quickly held a hoof to it, pain blossoming as the world spun briefly, and I struggled to breath.
A moment later the pain disappeared, and I shakingly took a breath. I wiped my face, careful of the swelling, and stuffed the picture into my saddlebags. I slowly made my way towards the school, taking the long way. As I limped, I heard somepony behind me and turned my head towards the noise. Surprisingly, it was Snowdrop, walking quietly to the school building.
“Hey Snowdrop, what are you doing here so early?” I yelled, shuffling as fast as I could, trying to catch up to the filly.
She whirled around, her ears pointed in my direction. “I-Icy? What are you doing here?” She stopped and waited for me.
“I... er, usually leave this early so I don’t wake my dad... what are you doing out so early?”
She hesitantly kicked the snow. “It’s better if I get there before the others do.”
“Why’s that?”
“Then I’m not in the other’s way.”
“But you’re not-”
“It’s okay Icy, I know I am.” She sighed. “I always have been. It’s just a fact of life that I’ve accepted.”
I nudged her with my snout. “You aren’t in my way and I walked up to you. I don’t know why you’d ever think you were.”
She sniffed. “Because all the kids say I am...”
I rested a hoof on her shoulder. “Snowdrop, you're not in anypony’s way, ever.”
“But I bump into everypony and I-”
“So do I, and I can still see.”
She faintly smiled. “But the others-”
I gave her a hug. “Are just big bullies that need somepony to pick on...”
She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. “That’s what my Dad said too...”
“Then I can’t be wrong if a grown up said it, right?”
“I-I guess...” She said.
“See? I know a way to make this better, let’s go get some ice cream.” I said, grabbing her hoof and leading her into town.
“But I didn’t bring any bits...” She said, keeping up.
“Don’t worry, I got enough for both of us.” I said. “My grandma gave them to me.”  I said, walking next to her.
“Really? When?”
“For a birthday, I think. She secretly hoofed them to me, and said not to tell my Dad, said to save them for something special.”
“Do you remember your grandma?”
“Sorta, but only feelings really. I know I lived with her for awhile.” I scratched my head. “I remember her, and my dad arguing a lot, and the yelling...” I smiled. “But I do remember this one time I found a baby bird that just fell out of its nest, its little wing damaged. I rushed inside to get her, and she gently picked it up, trying to soothe it. She did something and its wing was all better. The baby bird flew back up to its nest and the baby bird’s mom was so happy.” I chuckled. “The look on my grandma’s face when the two birds tweeted happily together was one of the only things I remember about her...” I paused, frowning. “Then she died, and I had to live with my dad again...”
There was silence as they walked along the path, ponies starting to emerge from their homes. “If you don’t mind me asking, how did she die?” Snowdrop whispered.
“From what my dad told me, of old age. She was really old when I lived with her...” I paused, trying to remember.
“Oh... I’m sorry to hear that.” She said.
“It’s ok, I got over that a long time ago. Her best friend said she enjoyed every moment we had together, and that she wishes my mom was still around, whatever that means.”
We finally got to the ice cream parlor, and I held the door open for her. She smiled, and walked through. The parlor was just opening. So there was only one other pony in there besides us, and that was the server. He had a chocolate colored mane with bright brown eyes. His coat was lighter color than his mane, with a bowl of ice cream as his cutie mark.
“Welcome to Thirty-One Flavors! My name is Basky Robbins, what can I-oh sweet Celestia, what happened to ya kid?” He asked, looking at me.
“It’s nothing, I sorta... fell.” I said, Snowdrop looking at me weirdly.
“From where? The top of the weather factory? Looks like you went a few rounds with a dragon.” Robbins said, shaking his head. “A-anyway, what can I get you two?”
“What would you like?” I whispered, looking at Snowdrop.
She fidgeted slightly, still staring at me. “Um... I don’t know... you don’t have to get anything...” 
“It’s okay.” I said to her. “Um... how about...” I said, looking at the selection. “Two small bowls of cookies and cream.”
“Sure thing kid.” Robbins said, digging underneath the counter, grabbing two bowls, and the ice cream scooper. “Take a seat and I’ll bring it to you when it’s done.”
I nodded, lightly grasping Snowdrop’s hoof as I led her to a corner booth. We scooted across, and briefly stared at each other.
“What did he mean you looked like you fought a dragon?”
“Oh that? I was helping my dad unpack and I sorta fell off the ladder and into a box. Took a few bumps.” I said quickly. “It’s no big deal.”
“Oh goodness, are you alright?” She asked worriedly.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Didn’t even feel it.” I chuckled.
Robbins walked over, carrying the two bowls on his back as he slid them onto the table, the bowls stopping in front of us. “Enjoy.” He said with a quick smile before going back behind the counter.
Snowdrop looked at me as I dug in, the cookies and cream tasted great even on a cold morning. Snowdrop blindly felt for her spoon before grabbing it, next searching for the bowl. I got up, sitting next to her.
“Here, let me help.” I offered.
“Oh... um, you don’t have to, I’m okay.” She said, searching on the opposite side of the table.
“Please, I want to.”
“But I got it.” She said, clinking her spoon against my bowl and grinning widely at me, flipped the bowl as the ice cream flew straight into my face. I sat there, ice cream dripping from my face as she must’ve realized what she did. “Oh my Celestia, I’m so sorry!” She said, trying to find napkins. I licked some of the dripping ice cream and smiled.
I laughed as Robbins looked at the commotion. “What in the world is going on over here?” He asked, grabbing some napkins and hoofed them to me. I quickly wiped my face, still chuckling. He laughed, shaking his head. “Alright kids, I guess that one’s on the house. I’ll go get you another bowl.” He said, walking away.
“Thank you.” I said, turning to look back at her. Her face was bright red, her hooves covering her eyes as her body shook. “What’s wrong?” I asked, my hoof resting on her back.
She sniffled, turning away from me. “N-now you won’t be my friend...”
“What why would you think that? Is it because of the ice cream?” She nodded. “Snowdrop, that won’t make me stop from being your friend. It was an accident and besides, it tasted good.”
“B-but I spilt glue on Cumulo and she got so mad at me...” She muttered.
“That’s her, not me. So what, you got a little ice cream on me? It’s not like you meant to... It’ll take more than that to get rid of me.” I chuckled.
She faintly smiled, the tears stopping for the moment.”Thank you Icy...” She looked at the table. “I should’ve just listened to you but I thought I could finally do something on my own.” She sighed. “I’ve always had help doing the simplest things and I thought I could eat ice cream by myself. Guess I was wrong like usual.”
Mr. Robbins came back, placing the bowl in front of me as he took the empty bowl away. “Snowdrop it’s alright, everypony makes mistakes. I mean just yesterday I thought you were gonna fall through a gap between clouds. It looked a lot bigger to me...” I faintly smiled.
She tried not to smile. “But-”
“No buts, now are you going to eat this ice cream, or am I going to have to eat it?” I asked, pushing her bowl closer to her, helping her put the spoon in the bowl. I left her alone as she worked out a pattern.
She smiled, enjoying the ice cream, both of us silent.
“So, I was thinking.” She said, tapping her spoon on the bowl.
I turned to glance at her, a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth. “Yeah?”
“Maybe we can get my dad to start teaching us how to fly later today?” She asked hesitantly.
I shrugged. “Sure, I doubt it’ll be that hard.”
She smiled, nodding as she scooted her bowl, carefully, away from herself, the spoon clanging on the porcelain.
“So what did you think?”
“I thought it was good. How about you? Better tasting it then wearing it?” She asked.
“Oh most definitely. Granted, I doubt it’ll be good for hair gel. I’d keep eating it.” I said, rolling my eyes.
She laughed, lightly tapping my shoulder. “But sorry for earlier...”
“It’s alright, in fact...” I said, taking a bit that I had left and bopping her in the nose with it. I smiled as she looked at her nose. “Now we’re even.”
She stared at it, trying to get it off before she started giggling that turned into full blown laughter, wiping it off with a napkin. I started to chuckle as well, shaking my head as Snowdrop leaned against me for support, holding her ribs.
“I didn’t think it was that funny...” I said, looking at her.
She gasped, wiping a tear from her eye. “It’s not that, I just remember my Dad telling me a story about when him and Mom were dating. He did the same thing, thinking it was romantic or something and Mom flung the entire bowl at his face.”
“Well you already did that so I had to improvise.”
She blushed, getting off his shoulder. “Yeah... that was an accident.”
“Or were you trying to recreate the story?” I asked, trying to keep a straight face as I looked at her. Her face turned a deeper shade red.
“Hey kids, aren’t you going to be late for school?” Robbins yelled from behind the counter, wiping it down with a towel.
I turned, looking at the clock; it was a little before seven thirty. I quickly got up and grabbed our bowls, walking over to Mr. Robbins and paid for the ice cream. 
He took the bits and put them in the cash register. “What about the drying ice cream kid?” He asked.
I shrugged. “Guess I got free mane gel.” I said, walking over to Snowdrop as we put our saddlebags back on and waving goodbye, trotted to school.
“Thanks for the ice cream Icy.” Snowdrop said, trotting happily.
“No problem, glad I could repay you for lunch yesterday.” I mumbled.
Snowdrop led the way to school, taking the back streets so we wouldn’t run into many ponies. The few ponies that we did run into however, stared at me in horror as they noticed my injuries. A few moved out of the way, stunned. We finally made it to the school, a pony stopping and asking what happened to me.
I opened the door to the classroom, the room full of fillies and colts. Mrs. Windith looked up from her desk as her eyes widened as she saw me. She quickly got up as the room suddenly went dead silent.
“Icy, what happened to you?”