//------------------------------//
// 7: Land of Ice 
// Story: Crossed Gears 
// by TheFoxern 
//------------------------------//

	The damage was...quite immense. Water from the tub, or the shattered pieces that were once the tub, flowed into the cracks in the floor. Everything was broken. Everything was destroyed; cracked apart. “What happened?” He wasn't sure who asked it, but he knew one of them did. But that was a very good question. 

He was going to sound crazy as he tried a hoof at explaining, “There was something in the crystal heart. Something that came out when I touched it.” He was trying to explain it in a way that didn't make him sound crazy. But really, how hard would that be to believe? They had to believe him. There was no reason not to.

“And, it did this?” He was sure that was Twilight speaking.

But he hesitated. Had it? “Yyyyes,” he said slowly. But from the look Twilight gave him, he knew that not even she was convinced. How could he have done this much damage? No, how could it do this much damage? Or...whatever. This was not something to worry about right now. “Though it seems...” He looked around; he could not see any letters, though he wouldn't be able to with all the cracks. It had the ability to crack the crystal to make letters, so it must be capable of this. “It is gone...”

“How convenient,” Copper stared at Shining Armor as he spoke.

“Oh. You're still here?” The anger on his face was quite clear, but Copper had honestly forgotten about him. That was unlike him. Shining Armor was a threat. Copper did not forget about threats. But this...this had shaken him. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to think.

“What was it saying?” That was Cadance speaking. 

His brow furrowed as he tried to concentrate. “I'm not sure. It blabbered quite a bit...it is quite broken...and...” He looked around the room. “Powerful,” he muttered. Power. Power corrupts. That's something it had said. Or had said inside the crystal. Or was that even it saying that? Things were getting too confusing to keep straight now. He rubbed his face absentmindedly. “I am being pulled in too many directions at once...too much all at once.” He saw the way they were looking at him and shook himself. “Too much time to dwell on it, I think.” He walked towards them and saw how they moved out of his way, Twilight not as much as the other two. “There is work to be done.”

~
The tavern was quite packed, though it had not been when Copper arrived. He had never been good with crowds in this sot of situation, but he found that if he treated the crowd itself as one pony, he could do quite a lot. Unfortunately he had not had time to ask for information, as he was too busy regaling the crowd with tales of his adventures. They were completely enthralled; was his life really so interesting? He had never thought it as such. He also wondered how many drinks he had had at this point. It seemed every time he emptied a glass, or Chestnut emptied it for him, another was there when he looked down. That was a better question. How much had Chestnut had to drink? Apparently she had racked up, as the barkeeper had said, “The biggest tab the Crystal Empire'd ever seen.”

Yet when Copper said that he would cover it, ponies practically threw bits at the barkeeper, paying the tab and then some, which had that pony practically doing flips. What was he talking about right now? Oh yes the airship. “And, well...I figured that the only way to make sure it went down, was to put it down myself.”

There was a lot of muttering, which seemed to happen every instance he went quiet. How famous was he? “And...you died,” somepony said.

Copper sighed and nodded. “Yup. Dead as dead.” He was trying to evaluate how drunk he was. Not to the point he wasn't still in control, but he was getting there a bit too quickly. He figured that he should stop. “And I can say I was a bit annoyed when I came back.” He found himself taking another drink despite himself. “Honessly,” he slurred a bit and pushed the drink to Chestnut, who happily took it. Slurring was bad. “I didn't ashk to be brought back.” A bit more drunk than he would like.

Then somepony asked him the question he had been waiting for. It was just like working through the mind of a pony, but in a larger scale. It just took time and eventually somepony would make some comment, if lead in the right direction. “But why did you come here? There's gotta be a reason.”

“Ah...yes...” He had to concentrate now to not slur. “Well...” How should he word it? Damn alcohol. It was screwing up his thought process. How truthful should he be? What would the consequences be if he said the wrong thing? Where was Twilight? He looked around for her but she had left with Cadance. “I'm sure a lot of you heard what happened when I touched the Crystal Heart.” There was a lot of murmuring and nodding.

“What happened?”

“Honestly, no idea. Probably happened cus it was this hoof I punched Sombra with.” It was a revelation that he had not thought about. He had touched the Crystal Heart with the same hoof he had hit the shade of King Sombra with. He stared at the hoof which he had gestured vaguely with. It was oddly quiet. He looked up, to see dozens of crystal ponies staring at him in stunned silence. “Ah...yes...too much to drink,” he said, pushing the cup in front of him away. “Let's just put it all out there then.”

He explained most of it. The parts that would keep them on his side. He left out Chrysalis and changelings. He left out Celestia. He merely alluded to both Equestria and Canterlot as ‘places far away from here.’ Honestly he left out a lot, though he did not do so to the point of lying. He merely didn't tell them the whole story.

“So I'm here because there was nowhere else to start looking for clues.” It was an amazingly sobering story. He took a deep breath and noticed as he again pushed a glass to Chestnut how they watched his hoof. “I don't think Princess Cadance would approve of me telling anypony any of this. And I know Shining Armor would be against it...but then again, he's against anything I do...but that's beyond the point. I know it's hard, but, anypony who is willing to talk. I know it's a painful topic-” again he had to push away a glass. Why were they still giving him drinks? “Which is why I'm not going to ask anypony about it and merely say that it would be more than helpful.”

But he was met with silence. And another drink. None of them looked mad, but some of them were clearly upset. He stared at the drink. He wouldn't pressure any of them to answer by giving them a look. There was no need to work like that anymore. He was a different pony than the one who would get answers by any means. “What about the Ice Queen?” 

It was like a gunshot in a library and Copper looked up.

“She's a myth,” somepony said, shoving the other pony who had spoken out. “Don't send him on a wild goose chase.”

“Ice Queen...” Copper muttered, staring past them all. He knew of her quite well, but she was a pony spoken in legend. A myth of the north. Something told to young ponies to make sure they come home on snowy days before it gets too late. His father had told him the story. He shook his head. It was a lead. “What about her?”

“They say that's why the Crystal Empire vanished. Cus she couldn't stand to watch what Sombra was doing-” then there was an argument. Lots of shoving and Copper decided to take this chance to escape the crowd. It was a lead. How do you find a myth? A legend...something that most ponies didn't believe in. Would he become like that someday? Something that ponies merely told as stories? A myth?

“There you are.” Copper looked up from the ground; where had he been walking? It didn't matter. He was happy to see the pony that was approaching him, though it took him a moment to recognize him. But the gold streak in his mane was the biggest hint and the spyglass that hung like a sword at his side.

“Spyglass...” He smiled at the pony. “I see you've decided on an eye color.” A light shade of green.

“Yes, well...didn't really have a choice in the matter,” he said as he shifted the bag on his other side, which Copper had dismissed at first. “You have a letter from...Princess Celestia.”

Copper looked around to make sure no pony was around. “Which one?”

“I don't know. I do not read the mail merely deliver it.” He proffered the letter towards Copper who took it. “It's...it's good to see you. I wish we had had time to actually talk after the...incident.”

Copper nodded slowly; Spyglass was very young. He wasn't sure if the changeling had any real friends at this point besides himself. And he knew that he made a poor friend. “Well, there will be time once things have settled.”

“If things ever settle,” he said and Copper laughed. “I'm serious. When it comes to you, there's no end.”

Copper was still laughing slightly as he nodded. “Yes I'm aware. I just can't bring myself to stop. And now, I have to find somepony who supposedly doesn't exist.” Spyglass tilted his head to the side slightly. Copper sighed. “The Ice Queen. Or, Snow Queen. It really depends on where you go, but the story is all over the place and they're all roughly the same...”

“Which means they're all based on something that actually happened.” The two of them looked over to see Twilight. Apparently she had found him.

“Yeah, but that's hardly anything to go on. They say the Snow Queen's story is older than Equestria...the only thing I know about her is the little poem...”

Spyglass looked at the two of them, a confused look on his face. “What poem?”


Little dears, lend me your ears
The snow has fallen on the ground,
Which calls to foals all around.
The winter fun, has just begun.
And so the Queen puts on her crown. 

Roll in the hills, and throw the snow.
For all the while, bask in the glow.
The winter whipping through the trees.
And watch your breath in the cold breeze.

But I must warn,
Stay close to home, where it is warm 
For She is near.
From high above she starts to peer.
For little ones who venture out,
Get caught within her snowflake stare. 

If you’re alone, she will collect you.
Only your home and warmth protect you.
But not every foal is lucky this way.
For some have gone missing, it’s true.

Away she’ll whisk you to her home,
A castle built of ice, not stone.
Holding you in glacial arms,
To keep you as her own.


Copper stopped and stared at the crowd that formed. He was greeted with the sound of stomping hooves and for the first time he could remember he felt embarrassed. He cleared his throat, looking again at the letter and getting down off the box he had leaped up onto. “It...used to be my favorite song when I was young...” He read the letter to keep his mind off of what he had just done. He had not meant to simply recite it like that, but had gotten swept up in the moment.

“It is interesting...but, what's it mean?” Spyglass said, tilting his head once again.

“It's called Land of Ice and it's supposed to warn foals about staying out too long during the winter,” Twilight explained. “The Queen represents pneumonia and frost bite.”

“It hardly mentions ice at all,” Spyglass said as his brow wrinkled.

Apparently this was the same group of boxes Copper had made his earlier speech upon, as there on a box sat Gilda's bloodied coat. He tucked the letter inside it before picking it up and draping it over himself. It was no cloak but it would do. “It's probably lost several verses.”

“Uh, Copper?” Twilight said, staring at him a moment. “There's a lot of blood on that.”

He nodded. “Yes, I'm aware. But it was a gift in time of need and I am going to need it.”

There was a moment’s silence as the two of them looked at him. “Why? Are you going somewhere?” Spyglass said.

It looked like Twilight was a bit faster on the uptake. “Copper, you're not thinking-”

“I am,” he said, taking a deep breath. “It's a lead. And as absurd as it sounds, it...it feels like a good idea. Maybe it's not...but, it's what I feel I need to do.”

“What are you going to do?”

Copper turned and smiled at Spyglass. “I'm going to find the Snow Queen.”

Dear Copper
I'm not going to tell you to do anything, because we both know you'll do it anyways. You have put a lot on your plate, more than I would have asked you to and all I can say is thank you. Thank you for all that you have done and for everything you are going to do. The only advice I can give you, is to trust. Trust in everypony around you, but especially, trust in yourself. Everypony trusts you. Especially me.
Remember to trust,
Celestia

~
It was good to see something besides white, though the look Chrysalis was giving him was not much of an improvement. At least he had confirmed that the Doctor does exist here. “And what do you know of the Doctor?”

“Not as much as I'd like. Enough to know that he could help.” Copper was trying to stay calm but just simply looking at her made his heart ache. He had truly loved her. “I wonder what other consistencies there are.” In the snow he had had lots of time to think and decided to call the things that were the same consistencies. It made sense. “Are you queen here?”

She froze stiff, her eyes wide. An expression Copper had never seen before on her face. Terror. “All right, this is getting too weird for me,” Scootaloo said as she walked quickly to the door, grabbing her coat. “Honestly, it's like the two of you are talking in damn code.” She slammed the door behind her.

Copper had watched her but Chrysalis had stared at him. “So, either you are, you were, or you're going to be,” he continued, turning his gaze back to Chrysalis, who took a step back.

“I...how...”

“The Copper you knew is...” He thought about it for a few seconds. “Gone. Gone is a good word to use. I am what was...pulled into his place.”

“You're...you're not Copper?” She was starting to move into her defensive posture. Goodness he had spent far too long with her.

“Oh no, I'm Copper. Copper Feather. Always have been. Just not this Copper Feather. I never fought in World War II. I didn't lose my wing in a bomb blast. I never joined the police department. I never became a Detective.” He covered his face and took a deep breath. “But you...I know you. I know the way you walk. I know the sound of your voice...I know the way you cling in your sleep...” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I do not know what you are to me, or what I am to you. But this Copper...his body...he loves you even to this day, despite breaking his heart. And I hate it. I hate having to feel this heartbreak, that I might have to someday experience myself-” he stopped. He was rambling. 

He shook his head and looked at her. She was standing on the other side of the table. “Who are you?” Curiosity. Her interest was captured now.

“I, am Copper Feather. Negotiator. Diplomat. I've saved countless lives and at the same time, been the cause of more loss than I can imagine.” But apparently that was not what she was looking for.

“That's what you do.” She leaned on the desk, staring at him. More than interest now. “Who are you?”

It caused him to think before he finally spoke. “I don't know anymore.” Her brow wrinkled. He leaned back in his chair, looking at her. “But enough about me. We're both at a disadvantage. I know a lot about you, some things that aren't true here. But I do know, that is not your true form. Some ponies say that I spend too much time around changelings...” She tensed again. “But I enjoy their company. Even if they just want to feed from my affection, or like me because I put-” he hesitated, “the other Chrysalis in control.”

Her fingers wriggled slightly and she grabbed her coat absentmindedly. “Control of what?”

“A lot. I kind of...” What was the proper way to explain it? “Well. Overthrew the current power and put her as a temporary replacement.” He held up a hand. “I do not have that kind of influence here, so you will have to settle for whatever love you're getting right now. Things work very differently in this world.”

“You seem to be adjusting.” For some reason, she had calmed down quite a lot. “Does Scootaloo know all this?”

He nodded. “I would not have lasted this long without her. I most likely would have ended up dead. Hit by a car or something if not for her. I don't know if she really believes it all or not. But I know I can trust her to not say anything.”

“And me?” She gave him a slight, lopsided grin. That was her plotting face.

“How would the world react to the existence of changelings?” The expression melted immediately. “I would not do that. But you have no reason to believe me.”

She was glaring at him now. “What do you want?”

“Your help,” he said as he slowly stood up and made his way to the closet.

“With what?”

“Finding the Doctor. And...this.” He opened the closet.

~
It had taken a lot of talking to explain what happened but this Chrysalis seemed quite agreeable; probably with the threat of changelings being revealed on the table she wasn't about to try anything against him. “That's not possible.” Except for one part.

“You keep saying it and yet I have the knife wounds to prove it,” he said, lifting the wrist up once again and revealing the blade hidden within the arm. “With this. Several wounds. Including quite a nasty one.”

“Clockworks can't do that, though. Copper, I've been in London. The most advanced one I've seen, could at the very most serve tea.” She seemed to be more or less trying to convince herself rather than Copper.

“And yet this one stabbed me.” He caused the blade to retract again.

“They can't move like that.” Chrysalis crossed her arms. “They can't.” She turned towards the clockwork and reached a hand out to point at the clockwork's arm. “Look, this…” She stopped as she looked more closely at what she was holding. “This one…” She frowned and leaned forward. “It looks so well defined…” she said as she looked at all the complex, elegantly-designed clockwork insides. “I've never seen anything like this,” she said, a hint of shock in her voice.

This scared her. Copper could see that and with good reason. If this was beyond anything public, this meant that someone went through a lot of trouble to not only keep it secret, but to kill Copper. Or Scootaloo. “Why was it after us is the question I'm most interested in...everything else can wait.” 

“How are you going to do that?” she asked as she watched him. Whatever he was doing was making quite a bit of noise and it took her a moment to realize what he was doing. “Copper...you're not...”

“Only way to find out.” He was trying to see what he was doing. He could see what he damaged, but it would take a long time if he wanted it to move the way it had. “I've searched it for some kind of marking...if it's truly so advanced it should be able to talk, right? Corser said that some of them could do that.”

“Yeah, the latest ones can say certain phrases, but...but this is dangerous.” He made a mental note that she made no attempt to leave. “What if it tries to kill you again?”

The gun that pressed to the temple of the clockwork was more than enough to convince her. “If it can't survive being dropped on its head, I'm sure it could not take a bullet. But it won’t be able to. A lot of its inner workings are still broken. It won’t be able to move very much at all, if at all.”

~
Back to the white. He sighed softly. The explanation to Chrysalis of what had happened had taken too long it seemed. He had to go all the way back to explaining what happened with Rarity. But there was still no explanation as to what caused the switch. It would not be so bad if there was a reason for the switch. But at least he could prepare himself in the split second it took. The feeling was...annoying. Like somepony reached in through the back of his head, grabbed the front of his head and then pulled it out the back.

What was he doing? Oh yes. Walking North. He took a moment to find his bearings and then began walking once again. There were no landmarks and all it would take is one light snow and he knew he'd be lost. Somehow this had seemed like a good idea. It still seemed like a good idea. Unfortunately it was his only idea. But something told him that it was the right thing to be doing. “For little ones who venture out, get caught within her snowflake stare,” he mumbled. 

He was far from little that was for sure. But Celestia had told him to trust himself. This was himself, trusting himself. Right? This is how that works, right? Whose idea was this? Had it been his own idea? Had it been the thing in the castle... Thing. Was it a castle? Technically it did work as one, but did they call it a castle? Or was there- he slipped on ice and hit it rather harder than he would have liked.

Though he would have liked to not hit the ice at all. For a moment he laid on it, trying to see if it was even worth the effort to get back up. This had been a bad idea; it was a stupid idea. How did he think this would work? Perhaps this was more about him wanting to be alone for a while, more than it was about finding the Snow Queen. He had been dealing with other ponies so much as of late. He was not used to this...large group thing. It was daunting. Difficult. He did not want to do this anymore. He didn't want to do anything anymore. Perhaps he could just lay here on the ice. “Why is there ice?” he mumbled as he struggled up again, looked ahead to see how much further the the ice went and felt his jaw drop.

Was the lake of ice there because of it? Or was it there because there happened to be a lake at this particular place? Whichever was the case, the castle of ice loomed in the distance. 

Now Copper was even more frustrated. But the more he thought about it...the less it seemed like his idea. Wander into the snow and hope he finds it? Something had guided him; he was sure of that now. That made him feel slightly less silly. Though when he took another step and ended up on the ice once more, the feeling of being silly had returned. It was ice. Of course he couldn't just walk on it.

It took a moment to get going, but he had skated before. It was a little awkward without skates but it was manageable. In fact it was quite...fun. He could quite get used to this. A quick figure eight, followed by another. Then a spin. What was it called? A pirouette? He had heard the term once before, but he was not sure what exactly it was. He knew it had to do with spinning. Or as the pony had described it to him, fancy spinning. It made him dizzy but it was fun. How fancy could he get? Could he go backwards? Yes, he could. That was difficult but possible. More so difficult when he slid into the door. 

It opened quite easily and his momentum carried him into the center of the room, slowly spinning as he did. He went rigid, staring around. The place was immense and seemed to stretch on forever. He could barely see the back wall. But something about it seemed...very familiar. But maybe that was just the way castles were? Perhaps they all vaguely reminded one of previous castles. But it felt like more than that. It was also empty.

He cleared his throat. “Hello?” The word echoed and seemed to fill the entire place. Slowly he skated forward towards the other end. He found himself mumbling, “Away she’ll whisk you to her home...a castle built of ice, not stone.” Well at least part of the poem was based on some kind of fact. He continued to skate and once again it started with a simple figure eight. Perhaps that was what he was missing. Fun. Skating down the halls and practically singing. 

But when a door opened, he went rigid. Especially when it was that feeling. “You may go now.” Somepony was talking as they came out of the room. “I do not know where he has gone and even if I did I...would not...tell...you?”

Again he cleared his throat and attempted to be serious. Though this was ridiculously difficult when one is slowly sliding across the floor, spinning in a slow circle. “My my. Copper Feather...”

When he turned to face the two, the shadow that stood in the door made him feel sick. “Madam Raven,” Copper said with clenched teeth. It was a good thing that Copper had not eaten because the sheer...stench of her...it was unbearable. Thankfully he did not have to look at her for long as he continued to slowly twirl. “Odd seeing you here.”

“I could say the same of you, dear Copper.” Even her voice made him feel sick. For once he wished he had the other body. In that body he only had the memories, not the physical aspect to it.

“Yes well...busy busy,” he mumbled, closing his eyes. “If you'll excuse me. Your presence is sickening.” He could not stand it anymore and skated off down the hall. It was not until he was back in the main hall did the stench leave. He laid down behind a pillar, taking deep breaths. That was not handled in the best manner but he couldn't help it. He shifted into a sitting position, leaning against the pillar.

“Given other circumstances, I would have considered that quite rude.” It was the voice that had spoken earlier. But now it was not overwhelmed by her. It was...soft, but cold. It sent a shiver down Copper's spine.

“My apologies. But that...that thing makes me physically ill. Months of torture, organs being ripped out and all that...” He took a deep breath, trying to once again shut out the memories. So much he wished to simply forget. He cleared his throat and stood up. “Again...sorry...I did not mean to intrude.” He turned and could not help but stare.

Snowflakes. In her eyes were two large pale blue snowflakes which shifted ever so slightly in shape. She was staring at him as well. Snowflake stare. Now that line made perfect sense. Other than that and her horn which appeared to be a large icicle, she looked rather normal. Her mane was rather long and as white as snow, with an off white body. “She is most unpleasant.” Her cutie mark was three simple snowflakes.

He cleared his throat and nodded. It was hard to not stare at her. She was...beautiful. “Quite so...I do hope I did not disturb anything.”

“No. She was leaving. I was tired of her incessant questioning.” She watched him with an expression of annoyance as she spoke. “The same question that you are going to ask.”

Copper's brow wrinkled. This was more something he was comfortable with. One on one. “What question is that?”

Her eyes narrowed and he noted the way the snowflakes shifted shape. “The location of Sombra. I do not know. He did not come to me.”

He stared at her in the best confused expression that he could manage. It was good enough that had he seen it he would have impressed himself. “That was not the question I was going to ask. Though it is a comforting thought that Madam Raven does not know where he is either.”

Now it was her turn to look confused. “What were you going to ask then? When you wandered out of the Empire, in search of me...I was sure that you were going to ask.”

It had been what he was going to ask. But he had thought of something better. “So it was you who guided me here, than?”

“Is that the question you wanted to ask?” Her smile was slight, very slight. But it was indeed a smile. 

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “No, but I was not aware that there was a limit to questions.”

“Not to questions. Merely to answers.” It seemed Copper had gotten her interest. “I was quite impressed with your rendition of Land of Ice and you skate quite well.”

He felt embarrassment creeping back in. “I...uh...” He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “Yes well, it is my favorite and it has been a while since I have skated, but it is a lot of fun.”

She smiled a bit more. “Yes, I could tell. But to answer your question. Yes. I assisted you in getting here. It was quite foolish to simply wander out and expect to find me.”

There was a moment of silence and then he shrugged. “Well it worked.”

She laughed, though it felt quite cold and not heartfelt. “Yes. But know that it will not work again. I was kind this time.”

“Yes and I thank you,” he said as he bowed slightly. “But my real question...” He looked at her, suddenly feeling quite serious. “Is whose side are you on?”

Those eyes shifted again in an odd manner when she blinked. “Sides? I am usually not the sort of pony to pick sides.”

He smiled slightly and nodded. “All right. I suppose that's as good an answer as I will get. Thank you for your time and your help thus far.”

Her brow rose slightly as she looked at him. “Is that all? You went through all this trouble, to find me and ask me which side I am on?”

“Essentially.” He shifted slightly, trying not slip on the ice, which he seemed fairly good at now. “I mean, if you were choosing them I would not fare well. If you chose our side, it would be extremely helpful. But personally I am fine with you remaining neutral. It means you won’t help them.” He gave a slight kick, which sent himself sliding towards the door. “It'd be terribly troublesome to figure out how to beat someone such as you.”

Somehow, but unsurprisingly, she was able to keep up with him without a problem. “You are the reason I am not siding with them...” Copper stared at her. He could easily get lost in those eyes. But she continued. “The power you wield would be the end of me.”

“A few ponies have been saying that...that I have a lot of power...” he muttered, trying not to stare into those eyes. “I am unsure.”

“Was the room not enough to convince you? Even I am unsure of what gave you such power...but there is no doubt you are powerful.” Several things went through his mind at that point. How could he have done such a thing? How was that even possible? “You are most dangerous now...because you have no control.”

She was leading him somehow. Perhaps slightly altering the floor? But he was going in a large circle now. She did not want him to leave it would seem. “So I am of interest to you, hm?” She blinked, staring at him. “You are guiding me in circles. You allowed me to find you, you helped me...are you waiting for me to convince you to join my side?”

The space between them was slowly closing as he slowed, or perhaps she was speeding up. “I have been waiting for you, Copper. There are so many things I have wanted to say to you, but been unable...so many wasted years. But now, here you are, so willing to come to me.”

“What...” He hesitated, trying to think. “What are you talking about? You-”

“I know you Copper. I have known you for such a long time...” She was a little too close now, closer than Copper would have normally felt comfortable with. Then they touched. It was a gentle touch; he almost expected it to burn but it did not. It was such an odd gesture, but she had pressed her forehead against his, her horn having gone somewhere into his mane. “I have known you for such a long time...” Against his forehead it almost felt...cool.

~
It was quite warm, a little uncomfortably so. That was probably because of all the bandages. It was like wearing a heavy coat. But the coolness of the window made it all so much better. Outside, everything was covered in white. It had snowed in the night. The door opened and the nurse came in. He half expected to be yelled at for being out of bed. Again. “Copper?” He turned to look at the nurse. She gave him a smile. “Would you like to go outside?”

He nearly fell over in his attempt to get across the room. “Oh yes. Very much. I have not been able to play in the snow this year.” Then he added, “Please may I go out?” after remembering his manners.

She nodded, giving him a large smile. “As long as you stay in the play yard, there should be no problem. The doctor says you can move around now.” She lead him down the hall, but for him she was not moving fast enough. It had been over a week of watching snow and finally he would get to go out and play. He stumbled again, nearly running into the wall. “Be careful. It'd be terrible if you got hurt.”

“But I'm already in the hospital. You can't get more hurt in a hospital,” he said with a grin as they came to a door and he rushed outside. The cold air felt good. The snow beneath his hooves felt good. He started to run but tripped and landed in the snow. But he got back up and shook the snow from him and tried again. He made it a bit farther before he fell and landed in deeper snow. This time he laid there a moment before he sat up. He stretched out his wing a moment and thought. Somepony had said that he would be off balance for a long time until he adjusted. How long would that take? Copper didn't have the time to learn. He wanted to run. He wanted to play.

Again he got back up, not bothering to shake off the snow. Now he was determined. He ran again, but this time when he felt the loss of balance he flapped his wing. He fell over the other way, but leaped back up immediately and ran. This time he did not fall over. He had to keep his wing out slightly, which gave him just enough lift to not fall over. Perhaps it looked a little odd but at least he could run. He laughed and jumped into a large pile of snow that had been shoveled from a walkway.

“Roll in the hills, and throw the snow,” he sang softly, throwing up quite a lot of snow as he rolled down the mound. “Bask in the glow,” and it did glow. The snow did. It glowed. Copper had never seen the snow glow like this, but there it was, as he sat panting. It felt amazing to be out. Too long had he been in that room. Weeks were spent laying and recovering. He had been worried that he would miss Hearth's Warming Eve. But that was still some time away. 

It felt so good to be outside in the snow. He felt like he had been on fire, cooped up in that room. Long, deep breaths of the air filled his lungs. Cold wasn't the right way to express how he felt. He did not feel very cold, to him he felt more...calm.

“Away she'll whisk you away to her home,” he mumbled as he laid in the snow. “What does a home of ice look like?” He wondered aloud. It had always bothered him. Would it be a simple cottage made of ice? Or something grand like a castle? He spent several minutes pondering this, until he heard the crunch of snow and looked up. “Celestia!” His heart felt as though it filled up once more.

“Oh, dear Copper, there you are.” She was a beacon of light. “They informed me that you were to be released and I have come to take you to Canterlot.”

He tilted his head to the side slightly. “Canterlot? Why am I going there?”

She smiled at him. “If you are to be my negotiator, you must be taught to be diplomatic. You've many lessons but I am sure that in a few months you will be more than capable.”

Again he was confused. “Capable of what?”

“Of speaking with my sister.” Her gaze turned from Copper and froze onto him.

~
His eyes opened slowly and he found himself with the Snow Queen once more. It had been so odd, experiencing that from another perspective than his own. Oh how young and naive he had been. “You have been watching me?”

Those eyes were impossible to avoid now. “I tend to all my foals...”

The rate at which Copper's heart beat increased, before settling down again. “And I am one of your foals?”

She pulled away slowly and Copper felt odd as he actually missed the cool feeling. “You are a special foal. She has kept me from you and kept you from me...” He wondered what was going through her mind right now.

“Why would you want me as your foal?” Copper knew that she was not his mother, but the way she spoke to him, was as a mother. Now he was conflicted. How does one go about something like this? She had claimed him as her foal.

The blank way that she stared at him gave Copper the impression she did not understand what he was asking. But she seemed to work out some sort of answer. “Who could not want somepony as amazing as you?” The slight twinge in Copper's chest was odd. It felt like something a praising mother would say. But what would he know of mothers?