Flames flickered in a compact hearth, filling the house with soft, dancing light. A pale yellow pegasus hummed to herself while preparing two cups of hot cocoa. To conserve heat, her cloudhouse had been reshaped to encapsulate the kitchen, living room, and both beds within a single room. It was cramped, but an effective measure during the coldest season.
She reached for a jar just as the howling wind rattled the kitchen window. With a sigh, she plopped two marshmallows into each wooden mug. She blew a tuft of pink-and-rose mane out of her eyes, hovered back to the hearth, and settled onto the rug next to a pale blue filly.
“Cocoa’s ready, sweetie. Hold out your hooves.”
The filly did as asked; once she felt the mug and gripped it with both hooves, the mare let go.
“Thank you, mother.” She took a sip and smiled, drinking in both the nutty flavour and its delectable aroma.
“You’re welcome.” Her mother grinned and kissed the filly’s cheek. “I’m sorry you can’t go outside tonight. Truly. But it’s simply too cold. I don’t want you to freeze.”
“I know. But I just really wanted something for show and tell once school starts again.”
The filly took another sip as she looked wistfully toward the rattling window. She closed her opaque eyes, held up her ears, and tried to imagine; beyond the swirling blizzard outside, she could still picture the night sky in her mind. And beyond the fire’s gentle crackle, she still heard the stars twinkling.
“Just think of the bright side,” her mother said, taking a drink from her own cocoa. “At least winter is almost over. Soon enough, everypony will be happy again. No more blizzard. No more food rationing. Days and nights as warm as snuggling in your bed.”
The filly sighed. “Not everypony hates winter.”
“Oh, sweetie. Nopony hates the winter.” Her mother ran a hoof through the filly’s snow-white mane. “They just like the other seasons more. It’s not the same thing.”
“Really? It sure sounds like it.”
“I know it does. But you’ll understand someday.”
Three solid knocks came from the door. Both ponies jerked their heads toward it.
“I think somepony’s outside,” the filly said.
“It was probably just the wind,” her mother replied. “But I’ll check anyway. Nopony should be outside in this weather.”
The filly nodded as her mother rose up. She opened her mouth wide and placed a hoof over it. The fire warmed her coat, and mother’s hot chocolate did the same for her insides. Her eyelids began to droop. Maybe bed was a good idea after all.
She turned to her right and paced toward it, but her ears shot up at her mother’s gasp.
“Oh my goodness!”
“Good evening, fair Primrose.”
The filly spun on the spot, all thoughts of slumber dissolving from her mind.
“Princess Luna!”
She rushed toward the door and leapt into the air; rewarding her faith, Luna caught her with outstretched hooves and pulled her in close, chuckling.
“A pleasure to see you again, dear Snowdrop.”
Snowdrop’s smile never left her face as her favourite pony in the whole wide world talked about the hardships of ruling a kingdom. Unicorns were a bunch of pansy flowers when it came to cold weather, apparently. Not like her tough little best pegasus friend, the princess insisted.
“The self-entitled foals always demand more wood, more food, more clothes.” Luna snorted. “‘Why can our Princesses not bring forth Spring’s kisses early?’ ‘Why must we suffer this unnecessary season?’ ‘Surely our earthen brethren are capable of year-round production!’”
She sighed and leaned forward, resting her chin with both hooves upon the kitchen table. “Please forgive my lengthy tirade. I am… sorry to burden you with my personal woes.” She lifted her own fresh cup of cocoa to her lips with her magic, and drank deeply. “By the by, Miss Primrose,” she said after lowering the mug, “this is a most delicious and heartwarming drink. I insist you supply your recipe to the Canterlot castle staff.”
“Well, thank you kindly, Your Highness.” Primrose blushed away and held out her wings. “Have you both finished?”
Luna and Snowdrop’s mugs both floated toward Primrose, who took them and trotted off to the sink.
“I must say, Your Highness,” she said after returning to the table, “it’s not every day we’re graced by a royal visit. Particularly an unannounced one. Not to imply that you need a reason to visit of course—my little Snowdrop absolutely adores you—but, well, I’m sure you understand my wonder.”
Luna and Snowdrop shared smiles before Luna faced Primrose again. “What makest thou so sure that We did not merely fancy an audience with Our favourite nighttime enthusiast?” Luna said as she raised an eyebrow. She let two seconds pass before cracking her smile again. “Ah, forgive me. I couldn’t resist a little joke.”
The smile faded, her expression serious once more. “In any case, yes, you are correct. I have a delicate matter to discuss with the pair of you. Please understand that it is vital this conversation remain between the three of us. Celestia advised me not to approach you, but…”
“What is it, Princess Luna?” Snowdrop leaned in closer.
Luna took Snowdrop’s hooves into her own. “I come to you tonight—not as your Princess, but as your friend—to ask something of you. Knowing that, I’ll understand if you refuse my request, because there’s every chance it might be—” Luna flicked her eyes up to meet Primrose’s “—dangerous.”
Primrose flinched.
“Is this some kind of quest, Princess?” Snowdrop asked.
“Yes. A quest that—and I’ll be honest with you both—others have already attempted… and never returned from.”
“What?” Primrose leapt back off her chair and hovered as it fell on its side. “Ponies have died on this errand? And you want my little Snowdrop to risk her life too?”
“Please, Miss Primrose, hear me out,” Luna said, releasing Snowdrop’s hooves and raising one of her own. “Celestia and I are sure there have been no fatalities. I’m confident that she’ll be perfectly safe.”
“Safe?” Primrose cut Luna off with a wave of her hoof, her voice rising. “Like you kept the others safe?”
“Mother!” Primrose and Luna stared at Snowdrop, shivering in her seat. “Please don’t shout.”
Both mares maintained eye contact, Luna’s chest out and Primrose flapping in place. Finally, Luna exhaled a long breath while Primrose descended to the floor.
“I apologise for my outburst, Princess,” she said, lowering her head. She walked up next to Snowdrop and wrapped her in a hug. “But you must have expected such a response. Whatever reason you have for wanting Snowdrop’s aid on this mission, you’re talking about placing my poor sightless filly in danger.”
“I guess… of course, you’re right,” Luna said. “I’m not as well-accustomed to speaking with our subjects as my sister. She tends to attract the most attention wherever we go together.” She stood from the table. “If we may gather about your hearth, I’ll explain everything in full, I promise.”
Primrose looked from Luna to Snowdrop, back to Luna, and nodded. “Come on, Snowdrop. Princess, another log?”
While Luna levitated an oaken log from the stack in the corner, Snowdrop said, “Okay,” and clambered onto Primrose’s back. The three of them departed the table and settled onto the rug in front of the fire.
“Now, Princess,” Primrose said once Snowdrop slid off her back onto the rug and nested against her, “tell us everything. Then maybe I’ll understand why you think my Snowdrop of all ponies would have better luck than fully-trained soldiers.”
“Thank you for this chance, Miss Primrose. All right. Listen well.” Luna dropped the log into the fire; embers jumped up as she began her tale.
“Celestia and I believe that it may be a hybrid abomination, left over from the brief Era of Discord eight years gone. We first heard tell of the beast when a zebra emissary approached the castle seeking royal audience. She claimed it was a matter of grave urgency.
“During the final vestiges of Discord’s reign, he created many foul creatures. Some were already long in existence before his time—such as my friends, the manticores—but he did also create other vicious and untameable monsters, though I shall not digress further.
“The emissary told us of a night that one of their own went missing, soon after Discord visited their village. They searched the Everfree Forest for days, yet found no trace of her. All mourned her passing thereafter.
“Then, one night, years later… it came.”
Snowdrop gasped and huddled closer to Primrose. “W-what was… it, Princess?”
Luna shook her head. “The emissary could not say. All she said was that they heard a loud scream near midnight, followed by some hurried movement. When they investigated the scream… they found their chief medicine mare in her hut, frozen next to her fire. Not by ice… instead petrified in solid granite.”
Primrose recoiled. “What? This beast can turn living things into statues?”
“That appears to be the case, yes,” Luna said. “But that is not all. When they investigated come the early twilight, they found a winding trail through the snow. We believe that whatever creature left said mysterious trail is responsible for the petrified medicine mare, and possibly the first mare’s disappearance years ago. Although I admit, Celestia and I are perplexed by its motives.”
Primrose slowly lowered her hoof from her mouth and looked down at her daughter. “So… what does this have to do with Snowdrop? Why should she be placed in such danger? Why can’t you send some Royal Guard to slay the beast?”
“Yes, that would seem the most sensible course of action, wouldn’t it?” Luna agreed. “As such, we… already tried that. They are among those who never returned, and I have no desire to send more to meet the same doom as their predecessors.
“However, I have reason to believe that dear Snowdrop is invulnerable to its curse.”
Luna flashed a brilliant smile at Snowdrop. “Snowdrop, my friend… verily, your greatest weakness is about to become your strongest asset.”
The next morning, dawn gleamed over the Everfree Forest, blanketed by a metre of snow. Evergreen trees defied the season by greeting the sun like an old friend. Other trees stood frozen, begging the sky for their clothes back.
At least, that was how Princess Luna described them to her fellow passenger. But Snowdrop could see it clearly in her mind, regardless. She appreciated Luna’s tale, the imagery, the way her gentle words painted a picture in her mind’s eye—the only one she had ever trusted.
The chariot landed in a clearing, normally invisible but for the stark conditions. Snowdrop clutched her brown cloak tighter as they came to a halt on the ground.
“P-Princess Luna? Can I get out now?”
“Yes, Snowdrop,” Luna said. “We’ve arrived on the outskirts of Zebrica. Remember what I told you about the ground.”
Snowdrop nodded and flapped her wings.
“To the right, then a slow descent.”
Snowdrop gasped as her hooves touched the ground. Surface snow was not like winter clouds at all; far from fluffy and supportive, it crept up her legs and touched her belly.
“Brrrrrrr!” She shivered, leaping out of the snow and hanging in the air. “It’s really cold, Princess! I think I’d rather fly.”
Luna chuckled. “As you wish. I wanted you to experience touching the ground first, but now that you have, you may ride upon my back.”
“Yes please, Princess. Thank you! This snow is… it’s really cold!” Snowdrop shared a giggle with Luna as the Princess levitated her onto the Royal Saddle.
“Thank you, gentlecolts,” she said to her chauffeurs. “You may return to Canterlot now.”
The Guards saluted and took to the air.
Luna watched them disappear over the forest’s canopy, then trudged forward through the snow. “The village of Zebrica lies ahead,” she said. “They have lived there since before even we princesses were foals. They endeavour to keep Forest Everfree’s more… wild denizens under control with their presence. They use secret, powerful magic to repel predators from their village borders and those of Everfree itself.”
“Powerful magic?” Snowdrop repeated. “That sounds amazing! But…” She put a hoof to her chin. “I wonder why they couldn’t stop this creature we’re looking for. Did their spells fail?”
“Nopony is sure why as of yet, although neither I nor the zebras have observed further dissent among Everfree’s beasts.” Luna frowned. “For all we know, this creature alone is impervious to the zebras’ safeguards.”
“Oh. Um, Princess Luna?”
“Yes, Snowdrop?”
Snowdrop shivered. “I’m… just a little scared. You promise I’ll be okay?”
Luna stopped. Her aura enveloped the saddle, and a gentle heat spell fell over it. “I swear, Snowdrop, my beloved friend. I promised Lady Primrose—no creature, foul or fair, shall touch a hair in your mane.”
Snowdrop smiled and rested her head against Luna’s neck.
“Awaken, Snowdrop. Zebrica is at hoof.”
“Hm?” Snowdrop’s ears perked as she raised her head and yawned. She caught snippets of speech in an odd accent, but could not decipher the words.
“Are you tired?” Luna eyed Snowdrop over her shoulder. “I hope you slept well last night.”
Snowdrop nodded. “Oh, I did. I could tell you were there, guarding my dreams. Your saddle was just so—” she yawned, stretching her forelegs and wings “—comfy and warm…”
“Ah. I understand. But now you must be alert, for here in Zebrica you will learn more about this dreadful abomination.”
“Okay. I’m awake now, Princess.”
Luna hummed and faced forward, continuing onto the centre of the village. Huts spread out on either side, logs lashed with thick vines and topped with snow-covered straw. Passing zebras stopped and bowed to Luna before going about their business, although more than a few set curious eyes upon the blue filly with pale eyes on her back. Whispers followed the pair even as they left the gossipers behind.
As they approached the middle of town, Luna found less snow clinging to her hooves and more solid ground beneath them. A great square spread out before them, huts all around its perimeter. Fallen pine trees devoid of branches lay helter-skelter around a large fire pit in the square’s centre, itself surrounded by white rocks. A stone well nearby yawned out from within a snowy blanket. Only a few zebras milled about; most nodded to the princess before going about their business.
A single mare trotted up to Luna and bowed. “Welcome, Princess of the Night. Might you aid us with our plight?”
“We fear that We may not, in this hour of need,” Luna said. She nuzzled Snowdrop. “But We bring a friend, who may yet indeed.” She winked at the mare.
“So polite, this Night Mare, who answers rhymes with rhymes.” The mare smiled eagerly as Snowdrop dismounted Luna’s back. “We welcome all who might see us through such troubled times.” She beckoned to the visitors. “Come this way and you will know, what tragedy we have to show. My name is Kuongoza, your humble guide. Now I’ll lead you to the horror inside.”
It was quiet and still inside the medicine mare’s hut, Snowdrop noticed when she and Luna entered, passing through a beaded curtain. Unlike the chill outside, the air seemed as warm as her own home the night before. Far from the cold smell of the snowy forest, the cloyingly sweet scent of herbs and incense filled Snowdrop’s nostrils.
The statue was cold to the touch. Not like the snow that hugged her belly, and not like a moonless Cloudsdale blizzard. It was different; it was the cold of preservation, of scentless, silent lifelessness. But it was more than the touch; the idea set her quivering as she swiftly removed her hoof from the medicine mare’s cheek. Not a peep came from the smooth muzzle.
For the first time, Snowdrop blessed her curse. To witness this statue in a cruel, solid mimicry of flesh would have been too much to bear. Was the life inside trapped, suspended, pleading with her for release behind the unmoving mouth? Or was it gone completely, shattered by cruel affliction?
“Miss Kuongoza?”
Zebra and alicorn stopped talking. “What is it, my dear? What do you wish to hear?” came the lilting voice.
“Does this zebra have a name?”
She heard Kuongoza’s steps, and felt them through the floor until the zebra stopped next to her. “Her name is Zeeganga, little one. We mourn her now, life too soon done.”
“Zee-gaan-gah.” Snowdrop wrapped her tongue around the name, repeating it a few times. “I’ll remember it when I face this creature. Nopony deserves this.” She touched Zeeganga’s granite cheek and felt a vibration as Kuongoza touched the other.
“I promise I’ll find what did this to you,” Snowdrop whispered. “Princess Luna will help me. Although I can’t see you, in my mind’s eye you look terrified. If I listen hard enough, I can almost hear you begging.”
She removed her hoof and spun toward the hut’s entrance. “I-I’ll do it, Princess Luna, Miss Kuongoza. If I’m the only one who can, like you say… then I need to try. Not just for her, but for all of you in Zebrica. I may not have working eyes, but I’ve relied on my ears all my life. The whispers as others passed us by… they’re scared. They don’t feel safe. They think they’re going to be next.
“Even for winter, the quietest season, your village is far too silent. No one wants to talk. They hide in their homes. Foals aren’t out playing, throwing snowballs at each other or making snow princesses. Even the winds refuse to blow. I don’t expect to hear bird calls or animal noises during the winter, but this village should be louder, happier, even just a little more lively.”
Snowdrop took a deep breath. “I’ll do it. I’ll bring that lively noise back to your village. I’ll make you all happy again.”
She heard Luna’s faint sigh, and imagined waves of princessly approval washing warmly over her heart.
“The trail ends here.”
Snowdrop lifted her head as Luna’s gait stopped. “So what do we do now, Princess?” she asked, dismounting from Luna’s saddle.
“We’ve arrived at a dark entrance, Snowdrop. Together we proceed in darkness. But first, I must ask your permission to cast a spell on you. I want it to both surprise you and prepare you at the same time for what we might encounter ahead.”
“What spell is it?”
The tinkle of magic reached her ears, and she heard something shift from under the saddle.
“Be not alarmed,” Luna said, placing a hoof on Snowdrop’s shoulder. “This spell will shock you, but I feel you will greater appreciate the surprise if you know not what comes. I ask you to trust me.”
“I do trust you, Princess Luna. You’re my best friend.” Snowdrop leaned her head against Luna’s hoof. “Do anything you need to.”
“Thank you, Snowdrop. Now—” the familiar tinkle again “—brace yourself for the experience of a lifetime. This may sound like a pointless request, but please close your eyes.”
Snowdrop nodded slowly, but did as she was told. A tingling sensation ran through her body, making her gasp, yet she did not object. Warmth spread from her hooves, along her gut, her back, neck, tail, and finally her face. Two concentrated warm spots rested behind her useless eyes.
“Take a deep breath. And… open.”
Snowdrop opened her eyes. She blinked. She blinked twice, thrice, again until she knew for certain her imagination was not in fact playing tricks on her. A winter wonderland of whites, blues and browns greeted her for the first time in her life. A yellow ball floated overhead, and a gaping black mouth yawned in front of her.
“P-Princess Luna… I can… I can see! I can really see!”
Tell me then, my friend. What do you see?
Snowdrop gasped again. “Where are you, Princess? I heard your voice, but… it was inside my head. You never actually spoke.”
Focus, Snowdrop, came Luna’s voice again. Tell me what you see.
“I… am I really this tall? I still feel really small, but my eyes—these eyes—tell another story. This is weird… I-I’m not sure I like this.”
Snowdrop watched as a midnight-blue leg came into view before her face.
This is not your leg, Snowdrop. It’s mine. Observe.
Snowdrop watched the leg move down. Her vision followed the hoof; it touched the shoulder of a small sky-blue filly with a mane as white as their surroundings. She shuddered under the second touch… and gasped for the third time.
“W-what have you d-done to us? I can see, but… it’s not m-my own eyes seeing, is it?”
Correct. What my spell did is enable you to see through my eyes—for you see, we are sharing my mind together. But even as your mind shares my body, you still retain control over yours. See for yourself.
“Um…”
Snowdrop took a step forward. From behind Luna’s eyes, she watched her own body walk forward. “This is… this is… just, wow. Your magic is incredible, Princess!” She took another few paces forward, watching her body approach the dark maw’s entrance. There was no more snow at her hooves; she felt only hard stone beneath her steps.
“Do we have to go in there?”
Yes. This is where the beast’s trail ended.
Luna paced forward and looked around, affording Snowdrop a greater view of their surroundings. This is what snow looks like. These are trees, or what remains of their trunks. The big black mouth is called a cave. The thing coming out of the cave is darkness… I imagine that must be all you’ve ever known?
“Yes,” Snowdrop said. “Darkness… all my life. Never any light. Never any clouds, or trees, or fire… No light. No wonderful light. I don’t even know what my own mother looks like…”
Snowdrop turned her head, and for the first time in her life, she saw herself. She smiled, even as her body’s opaque eyes glistened with tears.
“Thank you, Princess Luna,” she said, watching her mouth form the words. “Thank you for this wonderful gift.” She wiped a leg across her face and sniffed.
Of course. Anything for my favourite brave little friend.
Snowdrop’s grin broadened. “Even if this can’t last, I’ll… always treasure it.” She then faced the all-too-familiar darkness and set her expression. “But we have a job to do first, don’t we?”
Indeed we do. Are you ready to prove to the world how strong you can really be?
Snowdrop nodded and took another step forward. “Let’s do this.”
Snowdrop walked at Luna’s side into the dark. It was still the most odd sensation, knowing she was walking next to her actual line of sight. Luna’s horn illuminated the dark, a gentle blue glow granting a few metres of visibility through the endless gloom, and yet… somehow she felt more helpless than ever. It was the most curious thing.
“Princess?” she whispered, her voice loud enough in the crushing silence. “Can I tell you something? It’s going to sound strange, but please just listen.”
As you wish, came Luna’s reply. What ails you?
“Well… first, I just want you to know that I’m so happy to finally see for the first time. This is the greatest gift anypony has ever given me, apart from your musical twinkling stars. And I really do appreciate it…” Snowdrop bit her lip before continuing, “But here in this place, this dark cave, I feel even more helpless. I can see, and yet our vision is restricted by darkness anyway. I just can’t help but feel like… like being able to see in here doesn’t help me at all.”
Snowdrop. Do you not want to see anymore? To be blind once again, even with my power?
“It’s not that, Princess.” Snowdrop shook her head. “It’s just… like I said, seeing is wonderful, but I always did fine without it. I’ve never truly been blind—I see that now. I have my hearing, and my senses of touch and smell. Being able to see through your eyes has opened my own. I can’t focus properly on other things while your sight distracts me. Like the way our hooves echo with every step, or how water drips from the ceiling to the ground.
“So please, Princess Luna. As much as I love you for this wonderful gift… I-I can’t accept it any longer. I want to be me again. I may be sightless, but I’m not blind.”
The pair were silent for some time before Snowdrop saw Luna pick her small blue body up and press her into her chest. Snowdrop’s vision went dark as Luna closed her eyes.
You have opened my eyes as well, dear friend. Never have I known a pony so accepting of their disability. I will of course adhere to your wishes.
The warmth behind Snowdrop’s eyes faded, the rest of her body tingling until finally she blinked her own eyes. She smelled the cave’s frosty chill She felt the beating heart in the princess’s warm chest, and a drop of liquid on her face. She tasted salt.
She saw nothing. It didn’t matter.
“It is up ahead, Snowdrop,” Luna said as she set the filly down again. “Proceed with caution.”
Snowdrop acknowledged Luna’s whisper and strode forth. Her steps echoed louder as she advanced. Her ears perked at a dragging sound in front of her. She came to an abrupt halt. The sound also stopped, although she could sense… something staring back at her.
“P-Princess? What is it?” Even her low voice echoed in this place. It had to be a giant empty chamber of some kind.
“Exactly what I expected,” Luna whispered. “Have no fear. There’s a beast looking right at you, barely a length from your face.”
“I can feel it. There’s magic there… some evil magic. I…” Snowdrop shivered and took a step back. “I don’t like it, Princess. It keeps staring, and staring, and staring…”
She felt the comforting hoof on her shoulder.
“It can’t hurt you, I promise. It will stare and stare until you succumb, but you never will. Being unable to see its evil, life-ending gaze makes you stronger now than anypony else in Equestria. Through sheer fate, you and you alone are immune to the petrifying stare of the foul Cockatrice.”
“A Cockatrice?” Snowdrop repeated.
“A monster, an ancient horror. It bears a chicken’s head atop a serpent’s slippery, scaly body. ’Tis an abomination from the beginning of time. Celestia and I thought we had sealed it away for good, however the mad god, Discord, must have released it before we used the Elements of Harmony to imprison him. This was not so long ago—verily but a few years after your birth.”
“So this is what petrified poor Zeeganga then.” Snowdrop glared at the dark magic’s presence. “How dare you! I don’t care what reason you have for freezing living things like that. You’re destroying lives, and you need to stop!”
The magic intensified, washing over Snowdrop. That unseen gaze was not only compelling it was cold, lifeless… just like Zeeganga’s statue. Her fur stood on end. A tremor ran through her body, but still she held her ground.
“What you are doing is wrong and unnatural. You need to stop.”
She thrust her head forward into the Cockatrice’s face and gave her hottest, angriest stare in return. She imagined her look of unbridled rage, her direct defiance to the creature’s primary weapon. She heard something shatter… and felt the dark magic dissipate.
Luna’s gasp came over the frenzied screeching and whooshing wingbeats that filled the chamber. “I… I can’t believe my own eyes! Yet it has occurred clear as Sky Mirror Lake before me. Snowdrop…” she panted for a moment. “You’ve broken the Cockatrice’s sight. I’ve never seen anything like it in all my long life.”
“I b-broke it? Oh no!” Snowdrop covered her mouth. “Is it okay? I-I didn’t mean to hurt it—”
“It is fine and well, Snowdrop. Fear not—it has merely lost its nefarious ability.”
“Oh.” Snowdrop turned to Luna. “Um… is that it? Are we finished? Do we return to Zebrica and—”
Multiple voices arose from within the chamber, cutting Snowdrop off.
“What happened?”
“Where are we?”
“Private Gale, Commander Vanguard, that you?”
Luna gasped. “Can it be? My Guards?”
Three cheers rang out. “Princess Luna?”
“Yes. ’Tis I, your Princess of the Night, and her faithful friend, Snowdrop. She is the one who released you from your curse by breaking the Cockatrice’s sight. Cover your eyes, everypony—I’m lighting up this cave now that the danger is passed.”
There was a flash of magic. Snowdrop’s fur bristled from the illumination spell, and the cave began to warm. She heard Luna’s quick intake of breath.
“By Star Swirl’s beard… this is…”
“What is it, Princess?” Snowdrop asked. “Is everything all right?”
Three sets of hooves clopped along the ground to rest near Snowdrop and Luna. “I don’t understand, Princess,” the first voice—Gale?—said. “If the spell on us three was broken…”
“Snowdrop—” Luna bent her head down and whispered “—perhaps you should see what I see again, now that the cave is alight and my sight would serve you better. This is something I truly believe you should witness.”
“Oh. Um, i-if you insist, Princess.”
Luna’s spell washed over Snowdrop, and soon she was taller again. Luna looked around, affording Snowdrop a view. The chamber was vast, covered in pebbles and mossy boulders. Bright blue flames burned in magical chandeliers affixed to the ceiling. A particularly large, shiny boulder sat right in the middle, like a glittering centrepiece.
But it was the cavern’s other features that made Snowdrop gasp. The cavern’s hundreds of other features. Birds, beasts, hybrid abominations alike were littered about the ground everywhere; all were encased in solid granite.
“What black magic is at work here?” came the third guard’s voice. “All these poor creatures are still trapped. Why were they not released?”
Luna and Snowdrop stared around some more before Luna shook her head. “I don’t know, Sharp Eye. It’s possible that the Cockatrice who petrified you three could have multiplied in the time since its escape. This is why we sealed it away in the first place. If there are others… come, Snowdrop. I want your opinion of something.”
Snowdrop trotted slowly next to Luna. Together they made for the statue of a snarling creature with a bizarre hodgepodge of body parts.
“Gentlecolts—” all three stiffened and saluted Luna “—return to Zebrica and inform Chief Kuongoza of Snowdrop and my whereabouts. Remain there for one hour and await further instructions. If we do not return within that time, you are to return to Canterlot and inform Princess Celestia.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Gale, Vanguard, and Sharp Eye all bowed—first to Luna, and then to Snowdrop.
“Thank you for freeing us, Miss Snowdrop,” Gale said.
“We will always remember your heroic deed,” Vanguard added.
“Please be safe. Both of you.” Sharp Eye bowed once each to both ponies. “Bards will sing your praises—would be a great shame if you never heard them.”
After retrieving their fallen weaponry, the trio galloped out of the cave. Their echoing steps gradually faded, leaving Snowdrop and Luna alone once more.
Snowdrop, came Luna’s mental voice. Look at this Chimera. What do you notice about it?
Snowdrop paced closer. Hoof trembling, she reached out and stroked the cheek of the foremost head, complete with foot-long fangs.
“I-it’s cold, Princess. Hard, and smooth. Just like Zeeganga’s statue.”
Exactly. I expected the Cockatrice was to blame for Zeeganga’s petrification and my own Guards’ disappearances, but now I have my doubts. Not only should every one of these creatures have been released at the same time… but I have seen the victim of a Cockatrice before. The stone is gray, dull, and brittle. One must be careful when handling a being so afflicted, lest a piece of them break off, or their statue shatter into unsalvageable shards.
“So… something else did this to Zeeganga and everything else in here?”
I fear you may be correct. Something with an ever greater and more terrible power. Our work is not finished yet. But for the moment, I think we’re done here. We can try to solve this mystery later. And my guards are right, of course—you are to be celebrated. You saved three lives today, Snowdrop!
“I… I guess I did, didn’t I? Wow.”
I’m dropping the spell again now. My magic is low, and I can feel a most unwelcome Royal Headache coming on. Prepare yourself.
The fires burned themselves out as the chandeliers faded from view; Snowdrop’s body tingled, the familiar darkness returning.
A sound in the darkness.
Snowdrop’s ears perked. “Princess,” she whispered, “did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” came Luna’s soft voice at her ear.
Snowdrop stiffened. “There it is again. It’s dragging along the ground. I think it’s coming from around the boulder. Sounds… b-big.”
The pair fell silent in the gloom. The dragging sound Snowdrop described reached Luna’s ears as well.
And it was getting louder. Closer.
“Snowdrop. I want you to run. Get out of this cave as fast as you can.”
Snowdrop held a hoof to her mouth. “Are you sure? What is—”
“Back to Zebrica, Snowdrop!” Luna hissed. “On the double. There’s something—”
“Ssso, the pair of you came from Zebricaaa…”
The high-pitched hiss filled the cavern; Snowdrop’s blood turned to ice.
“H-hello? Who’s there?”
“Do not feign ignorance! I know the pair of you follow in the hoofsssteps of your predecessssors. You ssseek to drag my vanquishhhed corpssse back to parade your victory in front of the othersss… victory over the Mistresss of Ssstone.”
“Snowdrop, flee! Now! I’ll hold it… it…”
Luna’s voice faded as a crackling sound replaced it.
“Princess?” Snowdrop asked.
A powerful laugh broke the new silence. “Sssuch a loudmouth, younger sssister of Celessstiaaa. You will do well to remain sssilent in my domain.”
“Princess?” Snowdrop repeated. She reached out to touch Luna’s leg. She recoiled, feeling not comforting fur but cold, smooth granite.
“N-no… oh please, no!”
“You turn, foalishhh filly. Look upon your demissse and leave me be.”
There was the dark magic again. This time it swept over her, far colder than the Cockatrice’s stare; she was drowning in an avalanche, a chill more freezing than any winter from her past.
But Snowdrop thought of Princess Luna, of Zeeganga, of Zebrica… and her mother. Scowl set, she stood her ground, wings spread and knees bent.
“What isss thisss?” the serpent hissed. “You ssshould have turned to ssstone. No living being can bear to gaze upon me.”
“Is that true?” Snowdrop challenged. “Then tell me, Mistress of Stone, why you can’t petrify me, a helpless filly, when you can stop even an alicorn princess mid-sentence.”
“Sssilence!”
The chill devouring Snowdrop’s bones clawed deeper still, and her teeth began to chatter. She rustled her wings and shivered, but the cold came from within now and spread through her body. It clasped her heart, and poised to sink its fangs in.
“D-don’t you want to know why you c-can’t turn me to stone, t-too?” she asked, her teeth chattering harder. “Does it g-get lonely, having n-nopony to talk to?”
The cold remained, though the temperature held constant.
“I-I’ll talk to you, if y-you like. I-I think you j-just need a… need a f-friend. Someone to l-listen.”
The cold lifted slowly, until Snowdrop stopped shivering. She gasped and breathed on her hooves to warm them.
“There’s sssomething about you, little one.” A smooth slithering sound rose from all around; the Mistress must have circled around to enclose her. “No creature hasss ever ssstood againssst me. What makesss you ssso ssspecial?”
Snowdrop breathed a heavy sigh, relishing the cool cavern air like the sun rising on a summer’s day. She bowed her head. “I’ll tell you my secret, Mistress of Stone,” she said quietly. She lifted her head again, to hopefully stare at her company’s face. “But only if you tell me your secrets first.”
The hiss filled the cavern again. “And what would you have me tell you, little one? Ssspeak, before I change my mind and decide you would make a delicious sssnack.”
Something brushed against Snowdrop’s legs. It was bumpy and grooved; slick, but not slippery. She shivered at the touch.
“I-I just want to know… who are you?”
“‘Who are you?’ That’sss your quessstion?”
“Um…” Snowdrop shivered again. “Why shouldn’t it be? Isn’t it polite to know who you’re talking to?”
The Mistress of Stone hissed again. Her coils wrapped tighter around Snowdrop. “Not a word about my appearance? Why I turn creaturesss to ssstone?”
“We’ll get there. Just… let’s start simple, okay? Look, I’ll go first.” Snowdrop spread her wings and floated up out of the coils. “My name’s Snowdrop. I’m ten years old, and I come from Cloudsdale. It’s a big floating city in the sky, made of clouds.”
She backed up through the air and touched down on the ground. “What’s your name?”
Seconds passed in silence before she heard a long sigh.
“Very well… Sssnowdrop. I was once known asss Tibasssumu, although Jiwembele would sssuit me better now.”
Something clicked in Snowdrop’s mind. “Jiwembele… that’s a pretty name. What does it mean?”
“Forget it. Besssides, it’sss my turn for a question.” Jiwembele’s body dragged along the ground again; Snowdrop imagined a giant undulating mass. “What busssinesss did you and your foolishhh princessss have to tressspasss into my domain? Did you ssseek to ressscue your fellow poniesss? Or to ssstrike me down like the monssster I am taken for?”
Snowdrop recoiled. “No!” she shouted. “We never wanted to hurt anyone! We just wanted to find out what petrified Miss Zeeganga back in Zebrica! The trail led here, we followed it, I stared down the Cockatrice…” Snowdrop lowered her voice. “I mean it. Princess Luna and I didn’t come here to attack you. The whole time, she thought it was the Cockatrice. We didn’t even know you were here, I promise.”
Jiwembele hissed. “A likely ssstory.”
“It’s true!” Snowdrop pressed. “Princess Luna never told me anything until it already happened. I think… I think she might have been testing me. She kept saying that only I could do what the others couldn’t—”
“And why isss that?” Jiwembele slithered up to Snowdrop and hissed; Snowdrop smelled her hot, rotting breath and backed up a few steps. “Sssnowdrop, the Lunar Princesssess’s ssspecial little sssnowflake. Tell me now—how you can resissst me when I freeze all that I lay eyesss upon?”
“Eyes.”
“What about them? You have them. You shhhould be as cold and ssstill as the othersss.”
Snowdrop shook her head. “You’re wrong. And now I know why. Think about it. It’s not when you lay your gaze upon others that they freeze. It’s when they lay their gaze upon you.” She stamped a hoof and lifted her head. “Do you understand? You can’t petrify me… because I’ve been blind since birth. I can’t see you.”
She exhaled. “There. That’s my secret. Now please tell me yours?”
All was quiet. Time ticked on. Despite the cold, Snowdrop started to sweat. “Jiwembele? Are you still there?” She ventured forward a few steps, her hooves clacking loudly. “Did I say something wrong? Are you okay?”
Silence.
“Jiwembele? You’re scaring me. Talk to me, please!”
She bristled as a pair of sharp claws grasped her on both sides and lifted her into the air. “J-Jiwembele? What are you doing?”
The biting chill returned. Snowdrop cringed and squeezed her eyes shut. “P-please put me down. It’s so cold…”
“You ssspeak the truth, my little blind friend.”
Jiwembele set Snowdrop on the ground. She looked up as the cold receded.
“Your eyesss… they are beautiful. Like cloudsss of diamondsss, reflecting everything. Even the power of my chaotic curssse is asss nothing to you.”
Snowdrop heard a sniff; a curious plink reached her ears, the sound directly in front of her.
“Never before, after all thessse yearsss… It hasss been… s-ssso long sssince I have… ssspoken to another.”
Jiwembele’s sobs soon filled Snowdrop’s ears.
“Oh, goodness,” Snowdrop said. “Please don’t cry! I’ll stay and talk as long as you like.” She reached forward and touched one of the bumpy, scaly coils. “Don’t be sad. Just talk. I’m a great listener.”
A single claw ran along her back and through her mane. The claw lifted her front curl before letting it fall. There was another sniff, and then…
“Very well. I’ll tell you my ssstory. Lisssten well, for I wasss not alwaysss thisss way. It wasss a wicked ssspirit who cassst thisss curssse on me…”
In the dark, quiet cavern, Jiwembele wove her tale of woe: how she had been propositioned by the mad god, for he was so taken with her beauty and desired her for his own. How she had told him in no uncertain terms that she would ‘rather stare at a boulder for the rest of her days, than waste another second meeting his gaze.’ How she had gone missing, foalnapped by the mad god himself, who transformed her into such a hideous creature and ironically ‘blessed’ her with exactly what she wished for.
“He dessstroyed my life, that creature mossst vile. Every bird and beassst I laid eyesss upon ever after… all it took wasss my look and they would never sssee again, move again. Never breathe, never blink. I know not how to reverssse it, or how to ssswitch it off. These passst yearsss have been the loneliessst exissstence imaginable.
“But a few daysss ago, I finally dared to ssseek out help from wissse Zeeganga. Alasss, ssshe made the missstake of looking me in the eyesss, and… sssurely you know how that went. And then, three foalishhh poniesss entered my lair, brandishhhing their ssspears… They were the lucky onesss, for it wasss the Cockatrice—my only friend, for it ssshares my curse—who caught them off-guard before they ever laid eyesss upon me. But you were able to free them.”
Snowdrop sat and listened, just as she promised. The day passed unnoticed, and as Jiwembele shared her story, everything fell into place.
When she finished, Snowdrop took a deep breath and let it go. She stretched out her front legs and arched her back, hearing and feeling a few satisfying pops.
“You know, you’re not the only one who knows loneliness,” she said. “While your curse made you retreat into this darkness, I’ve lived in a darkness of my own. Inescapable. My own personal prison that I can never run from. I’ve never had any friends, simply because I can’t see. I’ve always been behind the other fillies and colts in school. They’d tease me about it all the time. I’ve never been to sleepovers, or played any sports… I’ve never even been able to read any books.
“But if there’s one thing I am good at—one thing I can do better than anypony else—it’s listening. It lets me tell and hear stories. Sounds guide me where I walk. And I also have a great sense of touch. I feel the temperature rise and fall before anypony else. I sense vibrations in the ground and the clouds when others walk nearby.
“Two winters ago, I was outside my house, just listening to the stars twinkle. I was upset about life. The Princesses were coming to visit, and all the foals in my class were so excited to give them their own special presents. But I had nothing to give. Nothing to make. I’d never felt so…”
Snowdrop wiped her muzzle and pressed on. “So helpless. I just wanted to do something—to really make a difference, you know? But what could a blind filly like me possibly do for the Princesses?
“So out on a cold winter’s night, with only twelve hours before the Princesses’s visit, I made a wish to the stars. Just to light my way. And the stars heard me! I heard them twinkle… and then one of them fell right out of the sky! Finally I knew what I could do for the Princesses. When I showed them my fallen star, my special snowflake, they loved it! Especially Princess Luna…”
She sighed. “I wish you hadn’t f-frozen her. She’s the best f-friend I’ve ever had.” Her eyes grew hot; her vision would have blurred.
“Sssnowdrop. I am ssso sssorry about that. But you mussst underssstand: ssshe wasss telling you to run, I felt threatened, I—I jussst wanted to protect myssself. Had I known you weren’t planning to hurt me, I never…”
She let out a long, low hiss. “That doesss it. No more hiding.”
Snowdrop felt Jiwembele’s claws grip her. Once they let her go, she stood upon bumpy scales. “What are you doing, Jiwembele?” she asked, opting to lay down on what she realised must be the creature’s back.
“I’m ending thisss once and for all,” Jiwembele responded. “We’re heading back to Zebricaaa.”
Snowdrop clung to Jiwembele’s undulating stony body as she weaved through the snow. It was a curious sensation, that of moving back and forth, left and right. It reminded her of being on a swing set, only moving sideways instead of up and down. The afternoon wore on.
“Zebrica liesss before usss. Let’sss finishhh thisss.”
“We're there?” Snowdrop looked up at her guide. “You’re really sure about this? You know they might not listen—”
“No, Sssnowdrop, my friend. I appreciate your kindnessss today, but I mussst atone for my transgressionsss. If they don’t listen to usss… perhapsss my death will free your Princessss.”
“But—”
“It mussst be ssso! I will hear no more about it.” Jiwembele grabbed Snowdrop and lifted her down to the slushy ground. “I trussst you to keep your word, if only to sssave your Princessss. Whatever happensss, I… am grateful to have met you, little one.”
Snowdrop sighed, then nodded and looked up. “It was… interesting to meet you too, Jiwembele. Don’t worry—I promise we’ll find a way to help you. Oh!”
“‘Oh’?”
“Yes, ‘oh’.” Snowdrop gripped the knot around her barrel and pulled. “Take this. Use it to cover your eyes, so you can’t petrify anyone else.” Without a second thought, she held her cloak in front of her. “It’s extra special, so take good care of it, okay?”
Jiwembele ran a single talon gently through Snowdrop’s snowy mane before taking the little cloak. “Of courssse I will. And from thisss day forth, whatever happensss—or doesssn’t—to me in the future, little blind Sssnowdrop will alwaysss have a ssspecial place in my heart.”
She laughed then, as they began their final approach to Zebrica. “Fate has a twisssted sssense of humour. Imagine: two blind creaturesss able to see far more about each other than even their own familiesss…”
On the outskirts of Zebrica, an armoured pegasus lowered his telescope. “Look! Something’s coming!”
Vanguard took the offered device and looked to the east where Sharp Eye pointed. Something was rustling among the trees… something large and stone-grey.
“Private Eye, warn the villagers,” Vanguard ordered him. “Tell them to have their defensive magic ready.”
As Sharp Eye saluted, spread his wings, and streaked back toward the village proper, Vanguard faced Gale. “Private Gale, we are to assume that Princess Luna and her charge have fallen prey to this monster. Return to Canterlot immediately and summon Princess Celestia here. Make haste!”
“Yes, Sir!”
Once Gale vanished over the plains and canopy mere seconds later, Vanguard raised the telescope and peered down its sight. The creature seemed to sway from side to side as it approached: tall, grey, and unlike anything he had ever seen. Every second it drew closer, moving through the treeline, never in full view. At a rough guess, it had to be at least ten metres long.
He gripped the spear resting at his side. If this is the creature we were sent to eliminate, it will taste steel for its last meal.
I swear on Princess Luna…
“Almossst there now. We are about to exit the treesss. Are you ready?”
Snowdrop nodded. “Mhm. Let’s go. You should cover your eyes now, if you can slither straight without crashing into anything.”
Jiwembele snorted, but slipped Snowdrop’s cloak over her eyes anyway. “Oh, you naive little pony. Like you, I do not require my eyesss to sssee. You ussse your earsss… I have my tongue.”
She hissed again, and this time Snowdrop listened a little harder; the hiss came with a few rapid breaks.
“Sssnowdrop, you shhhould get on top of my head. It will be better if the Zebricans sssee usss together. Besidesss, one of your Princesss’s guardsss is ssstanding watch, waiting for usss. He isss armed, ready, and waiting.”
“Oh no!” Snowdrop flapped her wings and moved forward onto Jiwembele’s head. “I hope he doesn’t attack us. I’ll call out to him when we get closer.”
An odd sensation ran through Snowdrop, giving her the shivers. She wrapped her forelegs around her body and clenched.
“Urgh. We just passed through the barrier,” she said once her bones stopped quivering. “That should tell them we’re friendly, right?”
“Charge!”
The thundering sound of hooves and catcalling in a foreign language broke the evening tranquility.
“Sssnowdrop, I’m sssorry about thisss. Forgive me.”
“Huh? Sorry for—hey! What? Aaargh!”
Snowdrop tumbled through the air, one of Jiwembele’s claws having stealthily snuck up and flung her away. She crashed into the snow and came up spluttering, her ears and mouth full of slush.
“Jiwembele!”
Her words were lost in a frenzy of stamping and yelling. Whipcracks snapped the night air in half. The whizz of lassos being twirled and thrown mingled with the slosh of a large body struggling back and forth.
“Jiwembele! Please, everyone, stop it!” Snowdrop screamed at the top of her lungs. She zipped through the air, wings a-blurring. “She’s not the enemy!”
A magical force brought her flight to a halt. Frozen in midair, Snowdrop strained against her bindings. With a yelp she beat her wings harder as the yelling and screaming died down.
“Please! Stop it! You’re hurting her!”
“‘Her’?”
The aura binding Snowdrop disappeared. She rushed forward.
“Whoa, Snowdrop. Hold on a minute. You’re running right at it!”
Strong, rough hooves clamped her shoulders, holding her in place. “Calm down, little one,” the voice said. “It’s okay. The beast is under control. There’s no need to be frightened anymore.”
“I’m not frightened of her!” Snowdrop yelled. “I’m frightened for her! You’re making a terrible mistake—she’s not what you think she is!”
“Commander Vanguard, if I may. Should we hear what she has to say?”
Snowdrop gasped. “Miss Kuongoza! Please, she’s not a monster. Tell everyone to let her go. You don’t want to do this!”
“Do what, exactly?” Vanguard asked, still keeping a firm hold on the squirming filly. “We have apprehended the creature we believe is responsible for the petrification of Medicine Mare Zeeganga, and—assuming by her lack of presence—Her Royal Highness the Princess Luna as well. It must face judgement for these heinous crimes.”
Snowdrop gasped. “J-judgement? No! I mean it, she’s not your enemy. I mean, yes, she did those things, but—”
“Aha! Even the blind filly can see the truth. This creature is guilty!” Vanguard proclaimed, eliciting a multitude of cheers. “Let us waste no more time. Private Eye, my spear.”
“No!
With an adrenaline-fueled effort, Snowdrop wrenched herself free of Vanguard’s grip and flapped as hard as she could, not stopping until she met slick, smooth scales. She followed her ears up toward Jiwembele’s ragged breathing; as she galloped, she ran a hoof along the body, every so often feeling another coil of rope. She pressed her head against Jiwembele’s chest. Finding the racing heartbeat, she positioned herself over it and put her hooves forward.
“If you want to k-kill my friend,” she said, her eyes growing hot again, “you’ll h-have to go through m-me to do it.”
A collective gasp filled the air.
“This is madness!” came Sharp Eye’s voice. “Snowdrop, why are you defending this… abomination? You said it yourself—it petrified one of the Royal Sisters. It must be destroyed, lest it continue to spread its reign of terror.”
“I… I… why aren’t any of you listening to me?”
Snowdrop’s shriek summoned silence. She panted heavily, her chest heaving and tears splashing around her.
“Silence, everyone. I will decide this creature’s fate.”
The powerful voice rocked Snowdrop to the core. But as she did against Jiwembele and the Cockatrice’s sight, she stood strong. One by one, the sound of ponies dropping to the ground reached her ears.
“Perhaps we could all let the filly plead her case.”
A hoof gently touched Snowdrop’s chin and lifted up her head.
“Before we send this creature to Tartarus without a single testimony to defend it.”
Vanguard’s voice rose up again at her words. “B-but… Your Highness, surely if we destroy this creature, your sister would be freed, and all the others—”
His voice faltered. Snowdrop heard movement, and whispering.
“I… very well, Your Highness. Come, everyone. We have work to do.”
“That’s the last of them, Your Highness. Princess Luna and every bird, squirrel, snake, and other petrified creature we could find have been extracted from the cave.”
Celestia nodded. “Thank you, Commander Vanguard. At ease.”
Vanguard saluted and sat down on a log near the roaring fire pit, a waiting cup of spiced cocoa passed to him by a zebra mare. The stars in the velvet sky twinkled high above; the moon joined them in high waxing. Zebras and soldiers alike had gathered together and entered the cave over the past two hours, all of them retrieving every statue they could find—except the Chimera.
“Best not to have that one around the others, I think,” Celestia had said to Snowdrop, who nodded and shivered with the memory of its grotesque appearance. She was seated next to Jiwembele, who remained restrained but no longer under guard.
“The commander just told Princess Celestia they’ve recovered every petrified animal,” Snowdrop whispered to her blindfolded friend, ears perked. “I think she’s about to try something.”
“‘Sssomething,’ you sssay,” Jiwembele said. “I hope this ‘sssomething’ doesss not involve a decapitation, or sssome other righteousss dispensssing of jussstice.”
“Hey, calm down,” Snowdrop said as she ran a hoof over Jiwembele’s jagged neck. “If she was going to execute you, it would have already happened. Have a little faith in the Princess.”
“Psssh.”
Snowdrop rolled her eyes and giggled.
“Citizens of Zebrica!”
“Oh! Here she goes.” Snowdrop nudged Jiwembele’s neck.
“Today, my sister, Princess Luna, entered your village with the intention of finding—and dispelling the effects of—a wild Cockatrice, which she was certain had petrified your medicine mare, along with three of her own personal Royal Guardsponies. Against my wishes, she also brought her friend, Snowdrop, a small filly, with her for the ride.
“Here in the forest, the pair of them discovered a far more terrible truth about the petrified ponies that we could never have predicted. After defeating the Cockatrice by besting its stare with her own, Snowdrop herself released my sister’s Guardsponies from their imprisonment. She then went on to not only find and unmask the identity of the real culprit, but in a completely unprecedented move, befriended the creature even after it petrified Princess Luna right in front of her.”
Snowdrop needed no eyes to know that every eye had turned to her.
“Although I made my disapproval of this mission known to my sister, there is every possibility that, in this case, her defiance may have been warranted. Now, the creature lies ready and awaiting judgement for her actions. But, perhaps that judgement should be administered by… an impartial judge. One that has absolutely nothing to do with the situation. Or rather… six impartial judges.”
A murmur ran through the crowd.
Snowdrop tilted her head. “Six judges?”
The murmur became a gasp.
“Everyone, shield your eyes,” Celestia declared, having dropped her Royal Canterlot Voice. “I suspect I know the outcome of this judgement, but you should nevertheless be prepared for anything.”
“Sssnowdrop. You need to move out of the way.”
“Huh?” Snowdrop turned to Jiwembele. “Why?”
“Becaussse, the Princessss isss pointing sssix multicoloured jewelsss directly at me. I believe ssshe intendsss to blassst me with sssome kind of powerful magic. Ah ah—” she shushed Snowdrop, who had begun to protest “—I feel no malevolence coming from them. Jussst… let thisss play out.”
Snowdrop closed her mouth and nodded. After a quick nuzzle, she backed away.
“In the name of Harmony…”
Snowdrop’s fur began to tingle.
“I release you from your curse!”
Her fur bristled and stood on end. Awed shouts ensued everywhere as an enormous explosion rocked the village. The sound of magic ricocheted absolutely everywhere; Snowdrop looked around, completely disoriented by beams of power pinging this way and that, bouncing everywhere.
As abruptly as it began, the explosions receded. In their place, hundreds of chirps, barks, howls, and other sounds took their place. Zebras everywhere gasped and shouted, cheered and laughed as the once-frozen Everfree wildlife awoke from varying years of deep stasis.
“Sister? Snowdrop? The Elements?”
Snowdrop’s ears perked again. She set off, uncaring of the chaotic cacophony as she threw herself into Luna’s waiting embrace.
“You’re awake! You’re awake!” she shouted over and over again, unable to control the deluge cascading down her cheeks.
“That’s not all who’s awake,” Celestia said, joining in with the embrace. “Snowdrop… you should see to your new friend. She’s undergone quite the transformation, after all.”
“Jiwembele?” Snowdrop lifted a hoof to her mouth. “Is she all right?”
“Perhaps we can… open your eyes again, my friend?” Luna offered.
Snowdrop nodded, and soon enough, her body was in Luna’s saddle and her eyes behind Luna’s. Together, they approached a young, frazzled zebra mare, surrounded by others all wearing expressions of utmost shock.
Luna stopped just before the mare and held out a hoof. “Jiwembele, I presume?”
The mare shook her head and beamed a moonlit smile that Snowdrop would never forget.
“I am stone-sighted Jiwembele no more, my friends.” Her smile grew wider.
“Tibasumu, daughter of Kuongoza, is now free to live again.”