Manehattan Stories - Chapter Five
While Snow was spending his final day at work, Sketch had set to work. Hearth’s Warming Eve was upon the pair. The apartment was now littered with decorations and tinsel, strung from wall to wall. The normally empty fireplace now burning hot and two stockings hanging from each end, lovingly named. Left being Snow’s and right being Sketch’s. Hearth’s Warming was something Sketch enjoyed and now having somepony special to spend it with meant she would finally have a reason to go all out. When Snow left this morning the apartment looked bleak and average. Sketch had seen to it that when her Snow returned it would be a complete change, a view of absolute warmth, home and serenity. All that was left was to lay down the fake snow on the floor and arrange the presents. They each had two. Sketch was quite sure Snow knew what one was. As a large thin square from an artist kinda screams art! She hoped however that he hadn't guessed the other one. It was a small box neatly wrapped in pink paper and tied with a bow. Sketch was also equally excited to see what Snow had got her. One of his gifts to her was a small thin rectangular box, she guessed it was some sort of scented candle or something. The other gift made her the most excited it wasn’t much larger than the other but it had a note tied to the top. Snow made her promise not to look at it till he was there. This made her hope that it was some kind of big news or something that she absolutely had to know.
Sketch over the course of the day had to tare herself away from the note. Knowing she had to wait. but each time she would liger more and more, longer still. Just staring at it. Almost as if she were trying to see through its folds to the words inside. Night fell upon the streets. Sketch knew Snow would be coming up stairs any moment. The tension from not knowing tearing at her mind. Finally she caved. Snatching up the letter with her teeth and unfolding it. She lay it out on the counter to read.
“Dear Snowgleam
The request placed on the appartment and open space below, made by one Bitter Pots of Manehattan, in your name has been approved. The request to turn the empty space below into a coffee house has been approved. Upon your arrival you will find the coffee house in full working order as per Miss Pots request. Your new apartment will also be fully furnished upon request. Please find enclosed the key to your new shop located at.
67 Ashvail lane
Ponyville -Equestria”
The was a key Tapped inside underneath. Seeing this made Sketchs heart sink.
“He’s leaving?” She whispered out through tears. Standing there still and frozen. As if her whole world had stopped.
“Sketch?”
Sketch was pulled out of her trance by Snows concerned voice from behind.
“I wanted to-” Sketch cut him off. Angrily hitting him in the face with a hoof. She was no longer crying so much as, furiously leaking angry tears.
“Why wouldn't you tell me something like this!” She yelled. Throwing the letter at him. “What!? were you just going to announce it like it wasnt a big deal! And.. On Hearth’s Warming!! Are you bucking insane!” Sketch had begun to pace back and forth, only stopping to flail her hooves at him or to wipe away some tears.
Snow had began to get aggravated. Reason number one; Sketch had opened the letter. An event that he wanted to be around for, for obvious reasons. And Reason number two; She was right, he had planned on springing it on her.
“Its not like I wanted to! I wasn’t given enough time. My boss only offered me the job last week!” Snow shouted back. Getting pushed to the sofa by Sketch shortly after.
“And you said yes! Are you crazy?” Sketch said tearing up more and more. “And thats a load of manure! not enough time. You could have told me then and there.” She collapses on the seat next to him. curling up and crying into her hooves.
“I didn’t want to upset you, I didn’t know how to tell you” Snow said tearing up himself.
“You still could have said something” Sketch whispered through her tear soaked hooves.
Snow reached over and pulled her down to rest upon his chest. She resisted at first, but upon spotting his tear filled face gave in and sobbed, clinging to his fur. The pair remained silently crying, clinging each other for a while. Eventually Sketchs muffled voice rang through his fur.
“When do you leave?”
“The tickets Miss pots ordered are for tomorrow” Snow said. Solem and sadness showing in his shallow quiet voice. Sketch didn’t reply, she only pushed him down. Sliding in behind him on the thin sofa and wrapping her hooves around his chest. Pulling the blanket over the two. Sketch began crying softly into his mane. Her sadness echoing through Snow, filling him with grief and regret. The two lay there for hours on end. Deep into the night. Snow had begun to think that Sketch had drifted into sleep, much like he was beginning to. This was until a sleepy voice whispered from behind him.
“Snow. You promise we will write each other every day?” Sketch whispered softly hoping he wasn't asleep. Snow turned onto his back, keeping Sketch wrapped around him. Only moving her head, so it now rested on his chest. Allowing him to see her.
“Every day” He nodded. placing his hoof on hers.
“And I can come visit whenever I want?” Sketch whispered. Tiredness catching up to her.
“Always” He softly replied. Placing his hoof on her sleepy face and leaning in, kissing her softly on the forehead. With that he could hear Sketchs relaxed sigh and watched as she fell asleep wrapped around him. He was not long to follow.
Hearth’s Warming fell upon the city of Manehattan. A joyous occasion for all but two ponies. The pair did not say much when they awoke. There was no smiles or happy passing of gifts. Only the saddened faces of two ponies walking through the empty morning. One pulling a small cart of bags and carefully placed. Two gifts, still wrapped. Lay upon the top of the bags. Neither of the two said a word on the longest walk to the station. Nor did they say a word as they awaited the arrival of the Ponyville express. Time ticked life away and before the pair knew the sounds of the soon arriving train came echoing across the station. It rounded the corner and screeched to a hault.
“Now boarding, All the way to Ponyville! All aboard whos comin’ aboard!” The conductor yelled. Though his words only fell upon the two ponies as they were the only attendees. He watched as the pair teary eyed once more, embraced each other for a long goodbye.
The two held on tight to each other, never wanting to let go. Sketch crying into Snows shoulder. As the conductor gave the final signal for the final boarding call. Snow pushed away from Sketch but kept a hoof on her shoulder. Looking straight into her eyes.
“I’m going to miss having you around” Snow spoke softly and slowly. He leaned in, kissing her gently on the lips. Though only for a moment, this felt like an eternity to each pony.
Before Sketch knew it he was gone. She watched dazed as he sat down in the window seat looking out at her with saddened eyes. She cried as the Wheels began to turn. Taking her first kiss with it. And just like that Snow was gone