Chestnut didn't move in his small little hiding place, instead he sat there crying.
The tears were welling in Snowdrop's own eyes. She wanted to sniffle.. She wanted to just let it all out but she had to stay quiet so she could listen. The quiet sounds of the forest were soothing to her, slowly.. Very slowly relaxing her. (How can I love somepony so much in so little time?) She wonders to herself, embracing the silence. (It's only been a day.. And here I am, hunting him down because he doesn't want to return to an abusive family. Poor kid..) "Chestnut.. Please. We just want to help.."
"NO!" he called, his voice echoing slightly. "Y-you c-can't..." Chestnut said with a saddened tone, very close to Snowdrop.
"Yes we can, Chestnut.. We have an adult on our side. We can get the authorities! What do they do to you that's so bad? What do they do..?" Snowdrop wass getting more and more emotional as her mind swam with the thoughts. But at least she finally got him to talk.. She starts heading towards his voice.
"It's not..it's not something you can help with." Chestnut said, hearing her slow approach. "Watch for thorns..there's..one bush." He warned her.
“Thanks.." She was calming down. His insisting that there was nothing they could do was giving her more ideas. But could that really be the case? Chestnut wasn't very old yet.. That meant his parents couldn't be either, didn't it? She approaches more slowly, feeling around carefully for her obstacle. "Really.. Thank you so much.. I was so scared without you.. I'm so happy to hear your voice again.." Feeling the bush he warned about, she steps around it and right into a little ditch that steals her balance. Snowdrop comes tumbling down into Chestnut's lap and smiles. "Heh.. Found you~"
Chestnut didn't laugh as he looked at Snowdrop. "You can't help." He insisted, laying his head down on top of Snowdrop's.
"Well you saying that so much sure has given a lot of ideas about what happened.. Can you just tell me what's so bad about them if I promise not to take you back? I care about you, Chestnut.. I really do. I love you, and if it's so bad you don't even want to go back to them, then you don't have to. I'm sure mommy would appreciate the company. And if your parents care at all.. She can send them somepony to let them know that you won't be going back."
"N-no." Chestnut started with a sniffle; "No pony can help..th-thats...that's the thing." he said getting very quiet.
Snowdrop rolls over and hugs him. "Then I think one of my other ideas might be the right one.. Are your parents.. Dead, Chestnut?" She asks cautiously.
Chestnut was slow to answer, giving Snowdrop the answer she needed. "Y-y-yes...th-they....yes." he said, bursting into tears as he hugged Snowdrop tightly, crying into her shoulder.
"Oh my gosh.. I'm so sorry.. All those horrible things we were thinking about them... D-does anypony know?" She asks, still holding him and stroking his mane.
Chestnut shook his head. "N-no..I flew into town a month before school started and signed up myself." he said through his tears.
"Oh my gosh.. I feel horrible.. All those things I was thinking.. I'm so sorry, Chestnut." She hugs him tighter. "D-do you want to go home then..? I understand why you wouldn't tell us that, so don't worry.."
"N-not r-really..its..it's not a home anyways...i-it's a...a shed. L-let's just..go back to your mother." Chestnut said, standing up on shaken legs. "D-don't...don't say anything..please?" He begged Snowdrop. "L-let me..let me tell her?"
"Chestnut.. When I said home, I meant my house. Of course we won't make you go back to that. And.. I don't know why it matters who tells her.. But.. Yeah, I'll stay quiet about it. I can't apologise enough.." Snowdrop slowly climbs up after him. Her urge to cry.. Her need had completely worn out now. She felt so bad that tears wouldn't be enough. "How should we approach her..?"
"I..I don't know..I'll think of..of something." Chestnut said as he helped Snowdrop climb from his secret place. "I just...I was afraid to say anything..I..I don't wanna be taken."
"Yeah.. I can see why you wouldn't want to face that.. But why wouldn't you just tell us in the first place? Were you.. Afraid we'd take you to an orphanage or something? I wouldn't let mommy even if she thought of that." Snowdrop says confidently.
"N-no..not you..not even your mom...but..others might." Chestnut said as they neared the clearing again. "Your mom should see us soon." He said, looking at their surroundings.
"But we wouldn't turn you in.. Did you just forget about it when we were having so much fun together? But still.. Why wouldn't you tell us when we were assuming all those horrible things then? Sorry I'm asking so many questions.. I just don't understand." Snowdrop explains.
"I wouldn't expect you to." Chestnut said with his head down.
"Well why don't you explain it then..?" She asks, still feeling bad.
"No..n-not..not right now please?" Chestnut asked, looking up at the skies above.
Snowdrop sighs. "Fine.. Mommy! I found him!" She calls up to her.
Primrose had flown deep into the forest, much further than the two ponies had been. But she thankfully heard her daughter calling and went flying to her. She was expecting her to be back on the road by now, but instead she spotted the two tiny ponies in a clearing. "Ah, there you are! I'm so glad you're safe!" She comes drifting gracefully down. "Now hurry! Let's get out of here. Everfree Forest is dangerous!"
Snowdrop climbs up silently, still overwhelmed by the situation she had just experienced. Dead parents.. Hateful comments.. Horrible thoughts.. When would she forgive herself?
Chestnut obeyed also, climbing on without a word. Watching the ground as he held on while Primrose flew, he started thinking; (What did I do to deserve this? Why do I have to be that one pony...Why? I..I just wanna know why..) He thought, starting to cry.
Snowdrop smiles sympathetically as she notices Chestnut crying, feeling his tears drip onto her back. "You'll be fine, Chesty.. You have us as your family now." She says reassuringly.
Primrose noticed the hushed voices behind her but they were difficult to hear over the wind. She was slightly disturbed by not knowing what they were talking about, but she was able to take reassurance in telling herself that they'd fill her in later. "So.. Where are we going now, children? I.." She blushes a little. "I just realised I'm flying without a destination." She finishes with an awkward laugh.
Chestnut looked up and around at where they were. "Just..head back to Cloudsdale. We...we can talk there." Chestnut said loudly, speaking over the wind once more.
"My house? Umm.. Alright then. Is everything okay? You two are being awfully quiet.." She says, attempting to make conversation with her passengers.
Snowdrop looks down sadly and buries her head in her mother's neck. (Sorry, mom.. I'll keep Chestnut's word over yours..)
"Err...y-yes.." Chestnut said, watching Snowdrop bury her head. "We..we can just talk when we get there."
"Okay.." Primrose was losing a bit of her motivation now, saddened by the feeling of ignorance, but she kept on flying for her daughter.. Soon to be son as well.
Snowdrop was hoping hard that her mother would be alright with this change. She couldn't think of any reason she wouldn't be.. But two huge changes like this in a row? That would do a number on any mother's heart. Especially in this situation. First, she finds out her barely a child daughter is in love, and then she finds out that her daughter's love will become an unofficial son? Oh boy..
Chestnut held onto Snowdrop, holding on for hope; for love. He held her close, crying lightly into her soft fur as he thought of what might happen next. What will Primrose say? What will she do and how will she react? Chestnut was causing himself to panic as he thought of scenarios. (I hope she doesn't freak out like I'm thinking she will. I don't wanna have to run again..once in a year is already hard..)
Snowdrop smiles as she focusses on this moment. Who needs worrying? Here she was, holding onto her beloved mother. Her beloved coltfriend holding onto her. What more could she want? A soft bed, maybe.. She was looking so forward to getting home and snuggling up with Chestnut again. She'd never felt a happier moment in her life. And she loved him so much that she didn't even care about not understanding it. She loved him and he loved her. They were together. That's all that matters. Snowdrop snuggles deeper into her mother's neck. Ready for her sad life to take a turn for the better.
Chestnut tried to relax as they neared cloudsdale, knowing that as soon as they landed he would be bombarded with questions. (What do I say?) he kept repeating to himself, never coming up with a good answer.
"Alright guys.. Here we are." Primrose lands with a sigh and stands still so her cargo can depart.
Snowdrop could tell her mother was unhappy. "Mommy.. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing.. I-I'm fine, dear." She answers.
"If you say so.." Snowdrop could tell she didn't mean it, but she knew her mother well enough. If she didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't. So down she hopped. Waiting for Chestnut to do the same.
Chestnut didn't jump down, instead scooted forward to hug primrose. "I...I'm sorry." He said crying.
"You're sorry..? For what, sweetie?" Primrose looks back at him as well as she can.
"For running..for scaring you..for...for anything." Chestnut said, hugging her once more before jumping down next to Snowdrop.
Primrose smiles as she turns to look at him. "Oh, it's fine, dear. I remember how hard it is to be a kid. I'm just glad you're both safe. But.. I did hear you two talking back there.. I didn't understand you and I really don't like being left out of things.. Call you tell me what happened, please?"
Snowdrop looks down again, closing her eyes in shame.
"I...I d-don't..r-really know what to tell you.." Chestnut says. "Just...I'll answer whatever questions you have." He said as he hung his head.
"I asked you the only question I have, dear. What happened back there? What was the point of all that? Why did you do it?" She sounded a little frustrated as she went on, sighing to calm herself. "I'm sorry.. It's just.. Like I said, I don't like being left out."
"I...I didn't want to take you home...so..so I ran...that's all I know how to do." Chestnut said while looking down. "It's...it's all I've ever known how to do for years." He said as he looked up into Primrose's eyes.
Snowdrop sighs. "Why don't you just tell her, Chestnut? All you're doing by avoiding this is worrying her more."
This catches Primrose's attention. "Just tell me what, Chestnut..?"
"I...I can't...." Chestnut said, looking over at Snowdrop. "P-please? H-help?"
"As somepony who's never really had to deal with this.. I don't understand why it's so hard.. But what he's trying to tell you, Mommy is.." She sighs. "His.. His parents are dead. I don't know how long he's been alone; I didn't want to pry. But that's why he didn't want to go home.."
Primrose's face falls just as Snowdrop's had. "Oh my goodness.. I was so wrong about them.. C-chestnut, I'm so sorry! The way you were avoiding the topic so much.. I-I never would have guessed that! Oh come here, you!" She bends down to Chestnut's level and opens her arms.
Chestnut flinched as he received a different reaction than what he expected. "Y-you mean..you're not...not mad?" Chestnut asked, as he ran into her arms, hugging her neck tightly.
"Mad..? Why would I be mad about that? You poor thing!" She hugs him back, tightly as well. Then, with a smile she says; "Now before either of you ask.. I know my little girl well enough that she doesn't even have to. Chestnut.. Would you like to live with us? Seeing as things went so quickly your first night.. I'd appreciate you two sleeping in separate rooms, but aside from that: You are welcome in this home!"
Chestnut stepped back, looking at Primrose with an astonished look. "Y-yes!!! I...I would..I would love to!!" Chestnut said ecstatically.
"Well then welcome to the family, son. You better treat my daughter well~" She says, chuckling.
Snowdrop was stunned as well. She had been telling herself that her mother would be okay with this.. But she seemed more than okay! She seemed.. Happy! "Oh mommy, I knew you would say yes!" She calls excitedly, running into her mother's arms.
"Snowdrop!!! I...I get to...I..I get a bed." Chestnut said, realizing what all this meant. He would finally have a home, a mom, a...a family.
Snowdrop starts crying happily. "Yeah you do.. You get your own bed, a whole room just to yourself. You get a wonderful mother to make you meals every day and love you unconditionally. You get a sister/lover who'll stick with you 'till the end. And you.. You get a life! Your new life starts now." She says, snuggling closer to him in their little group hug.
"I...I do don't I?" Chestnut asked himself. "I don't know what to say..b-but..thank you!" He said, smiling brightly as he hugged his new family. (This is the best day of my life!) he thought, looking at the two happy ponies he was hugging. He had what he wanted all along; a family and a friend.
The End