//------------------------------//
// 16. Winter's Dawn 
// Story: One year 
// by PonyFromSpace 
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It had been a week now since Stride had been allowed to return home. He was glad to be back in this trusted environment. The nurse checking up on him every hour had been a tad annoying and he had missed his own bed sheets. Now, he was back in his own bed in his own room. The window which used to give him view on the library, now showed a historical site. He would miss the cosy building. Now, if he wanted books, he had to go to Twilight's rather new castle and that thing gave him the creeps. Sweetie Belle really liked that place. Stride would never know why. Nevertheless, library or castle, he was immobile for now. If he wanted a book, he had to ask somepony to get it for him. He  wasn't going to be walking a long distance anytime soon. He grumbled. Valuable time he could be spending with his friends. 

Luckily, Scootaloo would hang around most of the time and the others would visit him regularly. Even Button Mash had come by, though all he ever wanted to do was play videogames with the joyboy. Not that Stride minded. He enjoyed the games a lot too, just not as much as Button clearly did. 

He sat up on his bed to look around his room again. It was strange. The room had seemed so new, so alien when he had first come here. When he came to explore. Now, it was so familiar. So home. However, the room wasn't perfect either. The crack in the floor bothered him and every time his gaze shifted to the bin, his breath ceased. He was still frustrated by the fact he couldn't remember his song, his masterpiece. Even after ripping it apart, he should've remembered the words. He had read it dozens of times.

By the window, Scootaloo was staring at the memorial for the Golden Oaks library. He wasn't sure what she was thinking, but being in her presence was enough to make him happy.

"Stride," she suddenly perked up, "It's snowing!"
She turned around and beckoned him, "When you can go out again, we can make a snowpony with Rainbow Dash and Tank!"

The colt slid out of his bed and trotted to the window at a gentle pace, minding his injuries. Standing left from her, she felt his warmth radiating from him. He looked outside with that smile. When Scootaloo had first seen that smile, that dreamer's gaze, it had seemed so goofy. It was also the smile she had come to hold dear rather soon. Subtly, it had been fading away. Scootaloo hadn't noticed until it was gone completely. Ever since Nightmare Night, Stride's entire demeanour had been shifting. He had gone from that goofy but jolly colt who saw the beauty in everything, to a closed and sad person, who never seemed to smile uprightly. 

Now, he was back. He was enjoying everything he could and that was something Scootaloo found precious, even though she had never done so herself. He was happy, that was all that mattered, but for some reason, Scootaloo didn't feel like she could be happy with him. Of course, she wouldn't let that show. She had silently promised him she would make sure the last months of his life would be a blast. The most fun time he had ever had. That didn't change the fact it broke her. It was like a wolf trap was encompassing her lungs, ready to slam shut the second Stride's last breath passed his lips, if not sooner. She couldn't help but think of what would happen after. What she would do without him. Sure, she had managed for years without him in her life, but the thought of him actually being dead made her shudder. It was surreal, not how things were supposed to work.

"Don't tortoises hibernate?" Stride remarked, still staring at the dozens of snow flakes, each and every one unique, slowly making their way down to the pavements. Scootaloo thought about that for a second, but shrugged it off, "I don't think they do. Rainbow Dash would've known that, right?"

Stride gave her a little sideways frown, "I guess so," before returning to staring through the dampening glass.
She scooted a little closer to him. He didn't seem to notice. She scooted even closer.
"So, what'ya thinking of?"
He turned towards her, his head arching back when he noticed how close she actually stood.
"How do you know I was thinking?"
She softly bumped his shoulder, "Because you never stop thinking. Besides, I know that face of yours."
He nodded, "I was imagining how great our snowpony would look."

Looking through the window again, they noticed a rather agitated Spike swiping snow off the doorstep of the monument. Even after it had been destroyed, that dragon sure took his job as caretaker serious.

"It's been a while since I last spoke to Spike," Stride remarked, "I wonder if he knows about my issue."
Scootaloo cringed at his choice of words. He had been saying 'my issue' every time he was referring to his untimely death. She hated euphemisms like that. Added, she preferred he didn't mention what would come at all. Living in the moment was what she wanted to do, not having her mind drift off into the depressing.

"Wait, I thought you'd spoken to Twilight about that already," she suddenly noticed, "Wouldn't Spike know of it as well then?"
Stride shook his head, "No, we never spoke to princess Twilight herself. There's just nothing in her skill set that could work."
He was noticeably more grim than earlier. The filly didn't like seeing him so.
Scootaloo figured switching to another subject would be a good idea.

"Do you want me to get you another book tomorrow?" she asked. She moved just that little bit closer to him she needed to go so she could gently lay her wing over his back. She tilted her head towards him and was gleeful he returned the motion. Was it seconds, minutes, hours they stayed in that soft winghug? Scootaloo didn't know and frankly she didn't care.

"So, what do you want to do today?" she asked him without breaking the embrace. They had spent time together like this for the whole week now, playing games, eating in his room, watching films and reading stories together. It was the most time and effort Scootaloo had ever put in anypony and for some reason, she felt that was not just a thing a special somepony would do, but what any friend should do.
"I don't know," the dreamy colt replied, "I think we've exhausted almost everything we can do in this place."
He sighed, "Or maybe my imagination is just slipping away. What do you want to do?"

It had been the first time he had asked her that question without being interrupted by dinner time or his mom making an announcement. She was a bit taken aback. The whole time she had just been tagging along, doing whatever he wanted to do, even though he had told her she didn't have to spend that much time on him. now, she had to think of what she wanted to do herself and frankly, what she thought of made her cheeks go pink. Unfortunately for her, he noticed.

"Are you okay? You seem a bit red. Do you have a fever?"
Scootaloo facehoofed at that, "You really are that oblivious huh? I was blushing."
He arched back a bit, "But... Why were you blushing?"

The filly scolded herself for simply stating that and thought of a way out. Then, she reminded herself she didn't need a way out. 
Stride was her special somepony. She could just tell him now.
"Well, you remember that day when the wind was all roary?"
He raised a brow, "Of course I remember that day."
"Well," Scootaloo drew circles on the floorboards with her hoof, her wing fluttered off Stride's back, "I just thought it a bit unfair Apple Bloom got to share a kiss with you and I, uh, I didn't."

She could see the nervousness flowing over his face, "Well, I- I don't really think I want to be kissed anymore." His expression went from being nervous to that of feeling guilty. Apparently, Scootaloo's disappointment was rather evident.
"I understand... I think," she replied. Of course, she could've seen this coming. 

After being kissed so forcedly, it was no surprise he had been left with some sort of trauma regarding the whole thing. She recalled Rumble trying to kiss her seven times during their venture to Sugar Cube Corner. She had laughed at his frustrated countenance when she declined.
"Perhaps we could play riddles," Scootaloo uttered with a forced smile.





The little bell rang indicating somepony entering the sweetly coloured building. Mrs Cake speeded toward the counter to greet the new customer. The mare appearing before her had been the topic of conversation in the shop for a while now. The gossip string through ponyville had caught blaze as soon as the word came out. The confectioner could never imagine such a thing though. Outliving your child? The cruellest thing that can happen to a parent. She was about to give Storm her condolences, when it occurred to her that it might not do her any good. Instead, she continued treating the mare like any other customer.

"Hello and welcome to Sugar Cube corner," Mrs Cake said with a broad smile. Her eyes shifted to the door to the upstairs. The kids were playing with Pinkie Pie. Nothing bad would happen, right? They didn't look ill or anything this morning. Although Pumpkin had sneezed. She mentally slapped herself for her paranoia. Everything was fine.
"Can I buy some cupcakes please," the friendly mare said in the same tone as always, "A dozen will do."
The baker nodded and reached for the mare's order. See? Everything was going normal. This was a normal mare, who had a problem and was dealing with it just fine on her own. Nothing had changed.

"Can you give me some advice? Mother to mother?" the customer suddenly asked. Mrs Cake almost dropped the pastries.
"Of course," she exclaimed. What was it about? Did she need somepony to cry to? Did she need somepony to carry her?
"I was wondering," Storm started, "Ponies say apples are good for your health, but Stride has been eating a whole lot of apples lately and Apple Bloom just keeps bringing them in. Do you think it's bad for a teenager to eat that much fruit?"

Mrs Cake was a bit phased by the extraordinarily normal question.
"Uhm, well, I uh- I don't really know all that much about teenage diets. My foals are still toddlers."
The pegasus wore a sad grimace, "Yeah, well time is suddenly going to pass by real quick, believe me."
Gulping at that remark, Mrs Cake decided to continue wrapping the order.

"Sorry I can't give you any advice, Storm."
"Don't worry about it. I'll ask Rainbow Dash what she thinks. 
She hangs out with Scootaloo all the time, so she might know something about that."
Mrs Cake nodded, "I wouldn't trust the mare too long with my children, but she sure knows how to keep a healthy diet. 
Have you seen those hips? She most definitely manages to stay in shape."

She frowned at her own belly for a second, but shrugged it off. She wasn't a weatherpony, but a confectioner. She didn't need to worry about an athletic body all that much. She cringed when the raspy voice appeared in the doorway.

"Somepony talking about me?" a grinning Rainbow Dash uttered.
Bloody pegasus hearing, Mrs Cake mumbled under her breath.
"I heard that," Rainbow Dash said with the same jolly tone in her voice. 

Storm gave the baker the bits and slid her order down her saddlebag.
"Do you think there's a thing like too many apples?" Storm asked the new visitor. Rainbow Dash tugged a leash that was connected to her belt and pulled in a tortoise with a propeller on top. The reptile looked sleepy, but then again he always did.

"Too many Apples? Well, I do think it's a bit suspicious Applejack has so many family members, 
but I wouldn't start wishing them away," the cerulean mare replied.
"I meant the fruit. Is it unhealthy to eat too many apples?"
"Oh, of course. You can eat too much of anything."

She tugged the leash again, this time drawing in Tank close enough to stop his propeller and put him on her back.
"I'd like two pieces of banana pie and a cider please," Rainbow Dash placed her order, "We'll be eating it here."
Mrs Cake ducked behind her counter again to comply to her client's wishes.
"Winter's gonna be so awesome!" the mare continued, "Tank and I are gonna build snowponies and hold sled races!"

Storm chuckled at the idea. Despite being an independent and dependable mare, Dash was prone to having the most childlike of thoughts. It reminded her a bit of Stride and how mature he could be the one second, how childish the next. Dr Deep had told her that if he would be getting older, he would keep that combination of maturity and childlikeness. However, Stride would never grow old enough to confirm that. 

The blue mare suddenly turned to face her and said, "Hey, wanna join me for a mug of cider? "
Storm contemplated it. Stride would be able to fare well for a few hours and Scootaloo was with him. They weren't exactly waiting for her... Sure, she could stick around a little longer. She nodded.
"An extra mug of cider please. My treat," Rainbow added to her order. 

The mares took place at a table near the window. Outside, a few pegasi were making some lonely clouds drop the first snow to bedazzle the inhabitants of the small town. Storm put the package of cupcakes on the seat on her left. Rainbow Dash sat in an awkward position, on her behind with her hind legs hanging over the side of the seat, so Tank could sit on her lap.

"What a strange way of sitting," Storm remarked. 
Her friend blushed a bit, realising how clear her affection for her pet was starting to get and put the tortoise next to her, sitting up straight.
"Sorry. It becomes a habit when you hang around ponies like Lyra."

Storm didn't understand why her friend apologised, but dropped the matter. She watched as Rainbow Dash licked her lips in anticipation of the incoming baked goods. Soon enough, Mrs Cake walked up to their table and put the two ordered slices of cake and the cider on the table. Rainbow Dash happily started munching on her pastries.
"Can I ask you something?" Mrs Cake turned to Storm.
"Sure," the pegasus replied. Cake sat down with them at the table.
"Well, since you've had so much more experience with raising children, I was wondering. Is it true they become a bit more, how do I put this, hostile as they get older?"

Storm cringed. She remembered that one time Stride had been angry with her. When he had yelled at her. When he had nearly drowned. She shook it off, then turned to the anticipating mare, "I wouldn't know. Stride is a bit different."
"Different? Oh, of course. It must be weighing down on you all," Mrs Cake said. 

For a second, Storm wanted to cut the conversation short. After all, she hardly felt like talking about such a delicate matter. However, somewhere she felt she needed this. She needed to talk to somepony for once. Sure, she had had a few conversations with Miss Cheerilee, but those were usually restricted to school matters. For once, she could lift some of the weight off her heart.

"It's been tough," she acknowledged, "Especially for him. He just keeps asking these weird existential questions I can't answer."
"Like what?" Rainbow wondered.
"Are immortals really alive? Is time relative? Do ponies have souls? Is it wrong to befriend a pony knowing you'll die? Is it worth having a special somepony if you're never going to get old enough to marry..."
"Jeesh, that's some deep stuff," the mare sitting opposite agreed before digging into the second slice of pie. Tank nuzzled her side. 

Next to them, their pink maned friend nervously clamped her hooves together, 
"Storm, have you ever, you know, considered having a second child?"
Rainbow Dash nearly choked on her cake and turned to the baker with a shocked expression, "You can't just replace him like that!"
The confectioner slammed her hoof to her forehead, "That's not what I meant, Rainbow Dash."
Storm gave them a broken smile, "It has come to mind. In fact, the same year Stride was born we wanted to have him a brother or sister. It had always been Burst's dream of having twins."

Mrs Cake frowned, "Then why don't you have a second foal?"
"We needed the money to care for Stride. We calculated when we would be able to have a second foal, but the doctors said I wouldn't be able to have one anymore by then."
"When is that?" Cake asked.
"Three years ago."

Her friends at the table both seemed uneasy hearing that. Mrs Cake bit her lip and gazed out the window whilst Rainbow Dash stared at what remained of her pie. Eventually, she decided to eat it.

"Have you ever thought of having children?" Storm asked her cerulean copegasus.
The mare choked on her food once again.
"Children, me? I uhm-" her cheeks flushed, "Well, I can't say I've never thought about it..."
Her voice died down a bit as her eyes trailed off into an invisible horizon.

"So, what's stopping you? Having a child is the most wonderful thing there is," Cake remarked.
The cerulean mare's muzzle scrunched, "Well, it's just that- You know, I don't really have a somepony to have a foal with in the first place!"
Storm frowned, "What's in the second place?"

Rainbow's eyes were all over the place, shifting back and forth whilst she drew Tank closer to herself, "I just don't think I could do it. All those months of carrying, only to end in agony? It just sounds so horrible."
"Perhaps it sounds like that," Storm answered, "But I can ensure you it is a beautiful experience."
"Being in pain and vomiting all the time? No thanks. I got to experience that when Applejack once gave me cider with alcohol in it. No fun times."

Mrs Cake snickered, "You flew all across town and declared your love for marshmallows."
"I did not need to be reminded of that," Rainbow Dash grumbled.
"I ensure you it is nothing like that," Storm replied.

The rainbow maned pegasus looked at the floor, "It's just not for me. Besides, I've already got Tank and Scoots to take care of."
"One is a turtle and the other already has a home," Mrs Cake stated, "Girl, if you don't get a stallion soon you'll be alone forever." 
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. She was now practically squeezing the poor reptile.

"Tank is a tortoise and he's way more to me than any stallion could be," Rainbow snapped at the earth pony. 
Mrs Cake met her anger unphased, "A mare then?"
Rainbow Dash planted her face on the table, "Ugh, why does everypony think I'm into mares?"
She got up, emptied her mug of cider in her mouth in a hardly elegant fashion and motioned for Tank to follow her. 
"Do you have a problem with mares into mares?" her questioner asked.
"No! Just-"
"I'm just saying. You need to get looking fast."

Storm shot Mrs Cake a scowl. It was inappropriate to push a mare out of her comfort zone that far. 
She rose up to talk to Rainbow Dash, but the mare swiftly made her way outside with her sleepy tortoise.

"Don't worry about her," Mrs Cake told Storm, "That mare is hard as rock. I've never seen her cry a single tear." Storm had a hard time believing that. Nevertheless, she hoped her friend to be alright. She wasn't very close with anypony in Ponyville, but even if it was only because of some encounters in perilous situations, Rainbow probably was her closest friend.

"Let her have fun with her tortoise all winter," Cake said almost cynically. It only now occurred to Storm how the mare must've felt offended by Rainbow Dash's blunt remarks regarding pregnancy. Nevertheless, Mrs Cake's attitude bothered her.
"I'll make snowponies with the twins," Mrs Cake continued, already set on her way back to the counter.

Storm gazed outside and wondered what it would be like to be alone. At home, Stride was there every day. Burst had to be away for multiple days quite often because of his service. When Stride would be gone, the house would be empty. Was that what it was like for Rainbow Dash? Did she have a roommate? Did she see her parents often? Not many of her friends would be able to come over to a cloud house. Maybe that was why the fastest flyer in Equestria was so close with Tank. She nuzzled and cuddled the reptile a lot. Especially when she was convinced nopony saw them.

Storm bit her lip when she thought of a cruel fact. Tortoises hibernate.





"Winter is never this beautiful in Manehattan. The snow is sticky and dirty there," Stride commented.
He smiled as Scootaloo nuzzled his cheek, "Not even the first winter's snow?"
The redhead colt shrugged, "No. It's all dirty snow. But the snow here looks so soft and pretty."

Scootaloo turned to look outside, her wing wrapped firmly around her friend's back as far as it could. Of course, being a short wing, she couldn't envelop him completely like Rainbow Dash or Storm could do.

"It's always fun to play in the first winter's snow in Ponyville," she almost whispered, 
barely present in thought but strongly feeling the moment.
"I imagine it is," Stride said with a heartbreaking sigh. 
Scootaloo left their embrace and grinned, "You know what? How about I get you some snowflakes?"
"Won't it just melt before it gets here?" Stride replied, hoping he'd be proven wrong.
His orange companion nuzzled him before saying, "Rainbow Dash showed me a trick to prevent that. A little magic." 
She trotted to the door.

"Prepare for winter, Stride. I'm bringing the snow."