Your Smile

by Chocolate milk!

Chapter 1: Your Friendship

Snowflake could feel the fresh breeze blow through her mane as she stepped off the train that had just arrived from Manehattan. The wind brought with it a wave of different smells that were all new to her, after having lived an isolated and controlled life there were many wondrous things she still hadn't had a chance to experience. It was an overwhelming feeling being a part of the world once again. The platform was lively and filled with excited ponies both welcoming and saying their farewells while the railroad workers prepared the steam engine for departure. She had grown accustomed to an existance filled with silence that was only broken by her sister's music or the birds chirping, things had changed so suddenly for her in a very short period of time.

As the voices eventually faded away and ponies started walking home she found herself standing all alone in complete silence once again. It was a horrible feeling of loneliness and fear that washed over her as she tapped the ground nervously with her left hoof in an attempt to find a place to sit. Snowflake could not hear her sister's voice nor could she feel the fragrance of her jasmine perfume.

Being alone was something she truly hated; Snowflake didn't like to depend on other ponies but hearing their voices made her feel safer and less vulnerable. She stood there lost and confused for a while holding her little saddlebag filled with the few belongings the world had given her, trying her best not to be scared.

It was okay, her sister would arrive any moment now and her familiar voice would be heard in the distance as she came running. That's what Snowflake kept telling herself as she shivered in the cold winter air. Then it happened.

The sound of four hooves suddenly hitting the ground at the same time was repeated over and over again on the platform. They went silent for a brief moment; Snowflake could feel the scent of cherries as well as flour and chocolate coming from the mysterious jumping pony. Then suddenly the bouncing started again now approaching her with its hypnotic rhythm. It stopped suddenly just a hoof's length away, then she spoke.

"Hi I'm Pinkie Pie! What's your name?" she asked merrily.

Before she got a chance to answer Snowflake was bombarded with a barrage of questions by Pinkie.

"I haven't seen you around here before, are you visiting? Or maybe you just moved here? Oh, I hope you moved here! This is a wonderful town, you'll love it here. What was it that made you decide to move here? Was it because of Sugarcube Corner or maybe it was the zap apples at the Sweet Apple Acres farm my friend Applejack harvest every year? It's too late for that you silly filly" following her stream of questions and assumptions with a gigglesnort.

"I'm Snowflake" was all she could say while her brain processed everything. Snowflake's social skills were somewhat lacking, she had never met anypony that was as talkative as Pinkie Pie before, most of the time ponies avoided her. She turned away her eyes from the energetic pony and hoped she hadn't noticed just how different they were. Snowflake didn't want to let go of the moment just yet, being treated just like a normal pony meant a lot to her.

"You're a snowflake? That's odd, you don't look like one. Snowflakes are like really small and cold. Maybe you can make some nice snow cones? Oh and Twilight told me every snowflake is unique! I guess that means you're unique. Then again we all are aren't we? I still haven't met anypony like me but maybe she is out there somewhere pretending to be me. Or maybe I'm the pretender! The pretendee, or is it pretendess?"

Snowflake couldn't help but smile at the new pony she had just met, hearing Pinkie Pie talk in such a relaxed way made her somehow feel warm inside. The positive energy seemed to rub off on her.

"N-no I'm not a snowflake my actual name is Snowflake" she stuttered.

Pinkie put her hoof against the nervous mare's cheek.

"You're getting there though, brr! Silly chilly filly!" she exclaimed and wrapped a scarf around Snowflake's neck.

The scarf brought with it the warmth of Pinkie Pie in more ways than one. It warmed the young mare's heart. Kindness was so much different than sympathy.

"B-but won't you get cold without it?" she asked in a worried voice.

"Nah I still got this beanie Rarity made for me, all warm soft and snuggly!"

"Are you this nice to everypony?"

"Nice? I'm just being Pinkie Pie, can't be anything else. But I have given away four other scarfs today; I guess that means I got to ask Rarity to make a few more just for these emergencies."

"You seem to have many friends." -Wait did she wear five of them?-

"Everypony in Ponyville is my friend! Oh, it's snowing. Look, look!"

"I wish I could" said Snowflake when she realized the truth would have to come out. But instead of asking her more about it Pinkie Pie instead grabbed the surprised mare.

"Then feel it! Come on stick your tongue out!"

Snowflake hesitantly put her tongue out, the tiny ice crystals began to land on her tongue right away sending a cold shiver through her body. It was something she had never done before, even as a small filly but it was fun.

"I used to spend all day running around with my tongue out catching them, my tummy would be full by the time I finally got home" Pinkie said and giggled happily.

The world suddenly felt so much different around Snowflake, in just a short while Pinkie Pie had come to change it so drastically. She was no longer afraid; the empty feeling in her heart had started to melt away.

"Let's be friends!"

Snowflake bith her tongue with surprise.

"Y-you hardly even know me."

"Sure I do, I know your name."

"But you don't know if you will like me or not."

"I already like you! Or maybe you don't like me?"

"No! I do like you Pinkie; it's just that im very different from you."

Well duh! We are all different, just like I said before. I like you because you are you, not because you are me."

Isn't friendship about experiencing the world together with somepony you truly care for? Snowflake thought to herself. If she would accept the friendship Pinkie Pie was holding out to her would she feel what the pastry smelling pony felt? Would things change for the better?

"Pinkie will you let me see you?" she asked with a voice that shivered.

"Sure you can! I'm right here so just go ahead."

Snowflake stretched out her hooves and touched Pinkie's face gently. Within her mind she was building a picture of the energetic pony. It was a kind face with deep dimples, she was smiling. When her hooves finally reached Pinkie's nose the energetic pony let out a faint sneeze. They were face to face for a long time, her unseeing eyes staring past Pinkie Pie.

"Ooo pretty!"

"What is?" Snowflake asked while she let her hooves slide off Pinkie's face.

"Your eyes, they are like sapphires."

Colors were something she would never understand since she had never actually seen them before. The crystals in her eyes had cursed her with a never-ending darkness even since she had been born. Maybe it was a blessing to never have seen the world and then losing that part of yourself but Snowflake couldn't help but wonder what colors would be like.

"Thank you Pinkie Pie, you have a beautiful face, you know that?"

The familiar voice she had hoped to hear a while back rang out just behind her. Would she meet Pinkie Pie again? How big was the town of Ponyville? Would she lose this pony? She needed to answer her now, should she accept Pinkie's friendship or continue down the same path she had always been on?

That dear reader is something you will decide. Will you be the voice deep down in her mind that encourages her to take more chances in life or the doubt that keeps her isolated but what she considers to be safe? Ask yourself what you would do. Leave a comment on what you think she should do.

Comments

[Lord Fuzzy the Mad]

The habits of a lifetime cannot be changed in an instant. Perhaps the seed of change can be planted, but it will take time and effort for it to grow. But of course, we have previously seen the persistence of Pinkie Pie. She does not simply allow a new friend to slip by.

[Chocolate milk!]

462340 So true but the wish to change may just be strong enough to allow some ponies to make choices they normally wouldn't do. Pinkie Pie is quite a powerful seed, that is if she gets a chance to grow

[Meliron]

She's ... blind? That's depressing. And she's traveling with her sister but they got seperated? Or is her sister gone for some reason, and Snowflake's alone? That was a little vague. I would say go with Pinkie, but if she IS waiting for her sister then, for obvious reasons, wait for her sister. It wouldn't do to simply abandon your sister, especially when she's probably looking for you. Maybe ask Pinkie to wait with her for her sister?
Imho, I don't think you should create a story based entirely on reader's suggestions for the plot turns. I don't see anything wrong with asking for ideas, but it seems to me like you're giving the reader full control over where the story goes, and I personally am more a fan of the author writing what s/he wants to, and not relying on the audience. I gave you some because you asked, but don't feel obligated to go one way because it is what reader's want. After all, it is your story. Just my two cents.
Also, I think the concept's been done over and over, but I don't think I've ever heard of a blind pony being in that position. Or a blind pony ever. I will be watching this.

[Chocolate milk!]

462427 Her sister lives in Ponyville Oh and it wasn't a choice about whether or not she should leave with Pinkie Pie but more of a choice of accepting her friendship or not. As for the reader's suggestion it was something I was curious about, personally I enjoy reading other peoples opinions and I myself was honestly unsure in which direction I would take the story. Thanks for the feedback, I will try to be more clear when I write from now on.

[Meliron]

462463
Ah that makes more sense. Thanks for clearing that up. In that case, I see no reason why Snowflake shouldn't act at least cordially toward Pinkie. I don't see her as being able to completely open up, at least not instantly. Maybe with help from her sister, but certainly not by herself, especially if she's gone through the tough times you say she has.

I can understand why you took this approach towards this story, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't intrigued by how it will affect it. In any case I wish you luck in your future writing!

[Chocolate milk!]

462501 Thank you, that means a lot to me.

[infinite scratch]

Interesting like the way this story is going.

Since were talking from the perspective of a voice that's in snows head that only knows as much as she does.

Old habits die hard and its understandable that moving to a new place so different than what your used to can be hard and a bit scary, but if she feels lonely then she should do something.

I say get to know pinkie better when the opportunity comes, then decide to be friends or not ( but we all know pinkie pie is innevitable)

[Neoco]

I like the story so far. I agree with Meliron that you should stretch the story out a little bit, maybe even have Snowflake share her troubles and memories with Pinkie. I'm also hoping that more of the Mane 6 will get involved

[DrHouse]

I vote for friendship. I think that it's fairly obvious that Snowflake's older sister is Octavia. Most fics portray Octavia as resentful towards Pinkie for ruining the Gala when she was working there. So if her younger sister were friends with Pinkie, then that would make for a lot of potential drama.

[chaorock]

I think she should accept the friendship. but probably with some more trepidation in her decision. (yes I finally got to use that word in a sentence!)