> A little drop of snow. > by grammar404 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue: A Speck of Snow > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Far north, the skies were filled with twinkling stars. The colourful aurora waved like tails of a celestial god. The moon hung high above the mountain, its pleasing light covers the land. Far into the woods of the icy mountains, a pony galloped with a torch on its mouth. Behind the pony, inside the dark woods came a long howl. Four ferocious looking dire wolves emerged, running after the pony. The mare bore no horn, nor wing, but she had the muscle to carry herself with ease. Her cloak flapped over her saddlebags as the northern winds increase in strength. Running along a cliff, the mare spots a cave a few meters high. The side was steep but the mare was able to climb it. Unfortunately one of the dire wolves had scratched one of her hind legs, leaving a trail of blood. The large mare let out a sigh of relief as she dropped her torch and fell on her belly. She made it. The dire wolves growl beneath her. A chilling gale blew her russet mane and sent shivers pass her fluffy caramel coloured coat. The mare decided to move inside the cave, careful with her injured leg. Her eyes wandered the walls and ceilings, decorated with crystal formations. At the end of the cave has three glowing sapphires, placed in a positions of a triangle. The mare shrugged off the stones and attended her wound. She dropped her saddlebags by the wall. She unclasped the cover of one and grabbed a bandage from within. She wrapped it over the wound, which had not stopped bleeding. She just wished it wont lead into an infection. The harsh gales outside is still audible but the mare could not feel its cold embrace. The mare grabbed a small container from her saddlebags and chugged its contents. The hot cider filled her with warmth as she patted the other side of her saddlebag. The medicines from the Crystal Empire would surely help their village, just as the new seeds imported from Equestria would. The mare could feel her eyelids getting heavier as she let out a yawn. Using her saddlebag as a sort of pillow, she drifted to sleep. Unknown to her, the blood trail she made was affecting the sapphire stones. The stones glowed as the blood was sucked right in the middle of it, forming a small bubble of red life. A filly was reborn. Rosie hammer woke up with a yawn. She stretched her fore legs up in the air then she heard a thump, and a small yelp. Rosie looked beside her to see a pegasus filly, her coat was a light colour of blue and her curly hair was white and blue. The mare let out a shriek of surprise. The filly's eyes widened and she ran in around circles while giving a shriek of herself. "Where am I? What's happening?" She said while running around. A bit Confused, Rosie tried to calm the frantic filly. "H – h – hey, stop!" The filly stopped and glared at the wall. "Who's there?" A bit more confused, Rosie tried to direct the wee filly towards her. "Um.. I'm over here." The filly's eyes widened before she hopped and turned to glare at Rosie. "H - hi! My name is Rosie, what's yours?" Rosie said in a calm voice. The filly's glare softened. "Snowdrop.. Snowdrop..." After saying her name the second time. The filly's face turned to a worry, her former act of bravery gone. Rosie looked at her with worry, thinking if something was wrong. "Why? What's wrong? Was it something I said?" The mare was pretty sure she just tried to be friendly. "I can't remember..." Snowdrop whispered. Tears threatening to fall down from her eyes. Rosie walked slowly towards the filly. "Hey, is something wrong?" "I can't remember..." Rosie cocked her head. "Say that again?" "I can't remember anything besides my name!" "Come on! Just glide down and I'll catch ya!" Rosie shouted. She was standing below the cliff, waiting for Snowdrop to get herself down. "But I told you! I'm blind, I can't see!" The filly shouted back. Her face was full of uncertainty of the unknown. "That's why you should trust me and glide down!" Rosie had decided to take Snowdrop into their village. It seems, the filly cannot remember anything besides her name and the basic stuff like Equish and the like. Hopefully there was someone who knows her in the village, a relative perhaps, but that does not defer the question of: why is she here, and why she cannot remember much? But the mare decided to push the questions aside from now and focus on getting back home. She would not pay for another night stay in the forest. "O – okay! I'm going now!" Snowdrop said. Biting her lip, she readied her wings. "Alright! I'll prepare to catch you." Snowdrop jumped off the edge and glided down softly. Rosie's eyes widened. "No! Stop, you're travelling faster than I expected! You're heading straight to a tree!" She said. Trying to catch up on the gliding filly. Given the new information, Snowdrop panicked and lost control. She plummeted into the snow barely missing the tree by a few inches. She raised her head from the thick snow. Rosie came running to help her. "I'm so sorry, I thought you'll simply glide down, I never thought you'll glide straight to a tree and beyond. " She tittered. "I – it's okay. Umm... Can you help me up?" "Oh, yeah! Sure." Rosie lifted Snowdrop from the pile of snow and began to whisk off the snows on her mane and back. "Lets get these off too." She wiped the one on Snowdrop's muzzle too. Snowdrop flinched at that, closing one of her eyes. Rosie giggled, finding the whole spectacle cute. After cleaning Snowdrop's muzzle off with snow, she gently tapped it with her hoof. "Boop." The russet maned mare chuckled. "Come on, let's go." Rosie offered her hoof which the filly gladly accepted. The two walked through the forest, vastly covered with snow. The tall pine trees stretched high in the sky, protecting little critters from cold winds. The blue sky was mostly clear of clouds, only two or three were floating high above. Mountains stood tall in the horizon. A filly hummed a beautiful tune as she was guided by her new found friend. "Um... Hey?" Rosie said. Still looking forward, keeping her steps in sync with the filly's muffled clops. "Hmm?" Snowdrop replied, stopping her humming song. "Aren't you cold? You can have my cloak if you want." "No, I'm fine. I don't feel cold." Rosie turned her head to look at Snowdrop and raised an eyebrow. "Really?" She returned her gaze back to the path ahead. "Huh," she blinked. "Your coat is less thicker than ours, so I thought you might be feeling the chill more than me." Snowdrop continued to hum. "Say," Snowdrop stopped to hum and turned her head towards Rosie. "Huh?" "What else can you remember?" Snowdrop turned her head forward. "Nothing, really. All I remember is my name and how I fell on the cold stone. I was pretty exhausted, I don't know why. I heard you snoring quite a bit so I headed towards you." The filly blushed as she cocked her head downward. "You were quite warm and soft so I've fallen asleep without knowing." She turned her head towards Rosie. "I hope you're not mad." Rosie chuckled. "Why would I be mad? You're a lost filly and you needed some company. I'm just glad that I had found you. It'll be worse if the dire wolves had found you. So, it's alright. Right?" Snowdrop giggled which made Rosie giggle too. The two stopped at the top of a hill, overlooking a valley. A circle wall of tall and pointy woods protected the village, and a straight wall at its back protected more of its inhabitants. "Why'd we stop?" Snowdrop asked. "We're almost there. Come on." Rosie resume to walk with Snowdrop in one hoof. Then from the woodland behind them came a long piercing howl. From behind the trees came the dire wolves. Their mouths drooled with saliva as they showed their pointy teeth. Rosie's eyes widened in fear. "Impossible!" She yanked Snowdrop onto her back,getting a surprised yelp from the pegasus filly. "What? What's happening?" Snowdrop asked. "We'd have to get to the gates quickly!" Rosie took a running stance. "Hold on!" The russet maned mare shot through the tundra as fast as she can. The filly on her back grimaced, with her eyes closes, while holding on for dear life. The wolves howled once more and began pursuit of the two. A delicious meal of two was all they can see. > Chapter 1: Arriving at Twin Frost Village > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Running as fast as she could, Rosie galloped through the tundra. The dire wolves growled behind her, getting louder and louder. She dared to take a look and immediately regretted it, as her eyes widened and she increased her speed. The wolves were gaining on them. The wolves continued their pursuit, growling as to mock their prey. Snowdrop shrieked, she was terrified. Her gripped on Rosie tightened. The wooden walls of the village grew taller as they approached its gates. "Hey! Anyone! Help!" Rosie shouted over her throat. "Open the gates! Please!" They were a few meters from the walls now. Rosie was panting as she continued her run. She looked over at Snowdrop, who was clinging tightly with her eyes clenched. She returned her gaze onto the wall. Just in time as two pegasi in armour flew over the thick wooden wall and swooped them off the cold ice. From the walls projectiles were hurled, thrown, and shot to the grim creatures below. Some hit its mark, two dire wolves lay dead in front of the gates as the others ran back to the woods. Arrows were sticking out of the dead wolves' hides, and their muscle was bruised and swollen by rocks. The pegasi guards gently dropped the two ponies beneath the gate house. Rosie landed on her haunch and let out a sigh. Holding her pounding chest with one hoof. After she finished she looked over to Snowdrop. The filly was still trembling. "Hey," Rosie said gently. "We're safe now. We made it to the village." The mare pulled the pegasus filly beside her, who embraced her hind leg; eyes still clenched. Rosie giggled and pulled the filly into an embrace. "It's alright, it's alright." She cooed to the nearly traumatised filly. Snowdrop's eyes opened and her breathing came less tensed. But she did not let go of the large, warm mare locked in an embrace with her. That, until muffled hoofsteps came closer and closer. Rosie stood up and placed Snowdrop on her back. The filly buried her face into Rosie's mane and hugged her shoulders. "Hi, Glacier." Rosie said, smiling sheepishly. "Dear Goddess, Rosie. What happened out there? We were worried when you hadn't returned last night." The voice was firm and has a commanding tone. A mare clad in Iron armour, with a few black furs to keep warmth, stood in front of Rosie. The mare has a navy-blue and light baby-blue coloured mane and alabaster coat. "You know that the mountains are dangerous at night, Glacier." Rosie's eyebrows furrowed and her face turned serious. "But something weird happened today." "I can tell." Glacier chuckled before her smile faded as she realised Rosie was serious. "Let's talk over at my office." Then she noticed something shift on Rosie's back. A little filly had fallen asleep on the mare's back. Using her cloak as some sort of a blanket as the top of her head was buried under Rosie's mane. The filly looked peaceful as it gave a quiet, and cute snores. "Who's she?" Glacier said quietly. Pointing at Snowdrop's sleeping body. "Her name is Snowdrop. I came across her while resting at a cave in an elevated cliff." Rosie stared at the filly for a moment, giving her a sympathetic look before turning back to her friend. "Would you like to drop her off before we proceed?" "No, it's okay. She's fine." Glacier shrugged, turning around to head to her office. "As you say so." Rosie looked at Snowdrop once more and smiled a little, before following behind Glacier. The little filly behind her back shifted and continued snoring. In a room in the guards barracks, a few meters from the gatehouse, two mares and a sleeping filly was in an office separated from the guards living quarters. Glacier set her helmet down her table, which was adjacent to the door, and sat upon her wooden chair. While, Rosie walked in front of it; eyeing the furnitures and decoratives of the room. The place was lighted by a light gemstone placed at the centre of the ceiling, accompanied by the shimmering light from the windowsills. Various swords and shields adored the walls, paintings of heroic and great guard chief hang beside them. There were also pot of plants at each corner of the room. And two beside the door. Glacier sighed. "So, what's this weird thing you were talking about?" "Were you outside when I was running for the gate?" "No." Glacier raised an eyebrow. "So you didn't see it?" "See what?" "The dire wolves, Glacier!" Rosie exclaimed. she quickly placed a hoof on her mouth, remembering the slumbering form of the filly on her back. She turn her head to see Snowdrop shift position. Her next words came quietly, but the tense in each had not disappeared. "They attacked in the day,glacier!" "But that's impossible!" The guardsmare frowned. "Dire wolves don't go out in the day. They hunt at night as they are afraid of the light." "I'm sure of what I saw, Glacier. We were at the edge of the woods when they came from the shadows. We were almost turned into a wolf's breakfast if it wasn't for your pegasi stationed at the wall." "I better give those two a drink then." She leaned forward, "If what you say is true then we have to tighten up the defences here in the outer wall. And double the patrol around the perimeter walls." Glacier shifted her weight. "You have the medicine and the seeds, right?" Rosie nodded. "Yes, I have them right here." She patted the right side of her saddlebag. "Good," Glacier stood from her chair and walked towards the door, she twisted the knob and pushed it open. "I got to inform the others and the village elders about what you said. You better go home and get settled. Go see your father first before going to the hospital and Mrs. Farmwood's farm." She step out of the door and peeked slightly towards Rosie. "And Rose? Consider what I said a while back. Please retire from being a runner and find a new job." After that she trotted through the hallway on her way to the gatehouse. Rosie had a sad look on her face, her eyes pointed at the floor. She sighed. "I can't Glace." The sound of pounding metal rang through the hot air that escaped the open door to a workshop. Rosie went in, the room's warmth greeted her as it made itself known. The pounding sound grew louder as she made her way to the forge. The clanking noise had woken the small pegasus filly riding on the mare's back. As Rosie walked closer to the grey coated earth pony, who was hammering an iron ingot. Rosie stopped, the stallion, still oblivious of her presence, continued to hammer down the ingot, which was held by tongs. Rubbing the stars off her eyes, Snowdrop then yawned; stretching her back and forelegs. The hammering stopped. The grey coated stallion froze mid way. Rosie smiled. "Hi, father." The stallion slowly turned around to face her. "R – Rosie?" Rosie chuckled. "Rosie it is you!" The stallion exclaimed. Wiping off the sweat off his brown mane and dropped his tool. He ran to embrace Rosie, wrapping his forelegs around her neck and shoulder. "Oh, my daughter! I was worried sick when you haven't returned yesterday." He pulled out of their embrace, locking eyes with her for a second before cocking his head as he spot Snowdrop. "And who's this cute little filly?" He asked. Gesturing Snowdrop with a hoof. "Oh," she looked at Snowdrop, who stared at her in return. "Her name is Snowdrop. I found her on my way home. Snowdrop ,meet my father Steel forge, he's the village's blacksmith." "Umm.. Hi." Snowdrop shied away into Rosie's mane. The father and daughter chuckled. Steel forged sighed. "You look exhausted. I won't ask about what happened right now. But I just want to know if you're okay?" He placed a hoof on Rosie's shoulder and looked at her with understanding eyes, and a little smile. The russet haired mare giggled then she nodded. "Yes, father. I'm alright." "Well!" Her father exclaimed. He turned around to hammer the ingot. Rosie eyed the small bandage she wrapped around the scratch, it has healed now. "You two better get inside and rest. I'll tell your mother that you returned, but I'll be sure she doesn't disturb you." Steel Forge smiled. Rosie nodded. "Yes, father." She then walked into their house, on her way to her bedroom. Rosie dropped Snowdrop on the bed. She stretched wide on all four as she jumped to her bed, she sighed her exhaustion off. She took a deep breath and released, a smile forming on her face. Snowdrop sat on her bum and asked, "Umm.. Rosie?" "Yes, Snowdrop?" Rosie replied, keeping her gaze caught in the ceiling. "Are we safe now?" The russet haired mare shifted her position to have s better look at the blind filly. "For the most part, yes." Snowdrop raised an eyebrow. "Most part?" "The dire-wolves have been really hostile towards the village in this past few months. The nights are much more dangerous than before. They tend to try and climb the wall, which a few had almost done. So we mostly keep inside the village during the night, and they send runners, like me, to get stuffs that the village can't produce by itself. Such as modern medicines, new books for the foals, and new techniques for the pony races that reside here in Twin Frost." Snowdrop pouted and cocked her head down. "I wish that those wolves don't bother us anymore. " "That goes for all of us." The mare chuckled. "Tell me, Snowdrop, can you read?" Snowdrop blinked. "I – I don't think so since I'm bli–" "No!" Rosie interjected. "Not read, Read! But hoof reading!" "Hoof reading?" "Yeah!" The mare smiled. "I thought that if you could, then we can adjust if we ever want you to go to school." "Oh..." "Say, do you know anyone that is related to you?" Snowdrop lay comfortably on the bed."N – no." "Well, I'll be sure to ask around if anyone knows you." "Rosie, do you hate me?" Rosie chuckled. "No!" "W – would you leave me when we don't find my relatives here?" The mare blinked and stared at Snowdrop. "Of course not! Why do you think that?" Snowdrop sniffed, her lips trembling and her eyes were threatening to cry. She wrapped her hooves on her face. Rosie gave a light smile, her face calm and sympathetic. "Come here." She took the filly closer to her and the two was locked in an embrace. "If we don't find anyone of your relatives, I'll be sure to take care of you." > Chapter II: The next morning. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Snowdrop..." Huh? "Snowdrop.." This voice, it sound so familiar... "Snowdrop." "Huh?" Snowdrop gasped. She opened her eyes to see that she was laying on top of a grassy hill, just below a shady willow tree. The sun was out and the wind felt relaxing as they touched her fur. "Oh good, you're awake!" "I – I – I can see!" Snowdrop smiled. "Of course you can, you silly filly." The mare giggled. Snowdrop looked at the mare beside her, her mane was pink with a few white stripes, her coat was a pale shade of yellow, and her eyes... those pair of baby blue eyes; they felt so calming, sweet, and reassuring like so... so — Motherly! "Now come, the others await us." She said as she stood up. She smiled at Snowdrop and started to walk down the hill. "W – wait!" Snowdrop began to follow the mare, but as she continued it seems like the primrose coloured mare was slipping away. She ran, in hopes of catching up, but the mare was just out of grasp. The mare stopped and turned to Snowdrop. "Snowdrop, hurry up my little filly." "W – wait!" The mare started to shrink, along with every thing; leaving Snowdrop in a large expanse of darkness. "No! Don't go, wait for me! Please!" Tears ran down her cheeks, she continued to run nonetheless; as there was nothing else left. "Please! Don't leave me!" 'Snowdrop.... ' the mare's voice echoed through the vast void around her. "My little pony, we have come to save thee from thy nightmare!" A new voice boomed through the blank space. It was also familiar to her but she can't put her hoof into it. 'Snowdrop, wake up. We are waiting for you.' Snowdrop frantically looked around, but there was nothing. 'Snowdrop...' The sound of beating wings came behind her and its owner landed with a thud. "Little filly, we have come to save thee from thy nightmare's horrors, may thee turn around and face us so we can come to know thee?" 'Wake up!' She gasped as she sat up. Sweat dribbled from her forehead. Snowdrop panted. Her heart, pounding in her chest, felt like it was going to burst out. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. "What was that dream?" she tried to think about it but the dream was quickly fading into longterm memory. Snowdrop shook her head, dismissing it as a simple nightmare. The familiar voices though, the words now incomprehensible, still felt familiar to her. But no matter. Snowdrop decided to focus on her current situation. She was still in Rosie's care it seems, as the loud snores of the mare was to indicate it. She rubbed the sleepiness off her eyes, letting out a long yawn. She stretched her forelegs, groaning in the process. Her head turned towards the door as a series of knocks came from it. "Rosie," a female voice said; "I heard from your father that you're back. Breakfast is ready, dear. Do come out." Snowdrop decided to help and open the door for Rosie's mother. She pushed her blanket off and hopped onto the floorboard. She cautiously made her way where the voice came. The mare knocked again while the little filly made her way towards the door. "Rosie? Dear, are you awake? Would you like me to come back a bit later?" Snowdrop was sure that she was now standing in front of the door. She reached above her and poked around until she found the knob, she twisted it and pulled the door ajar. "Rosie! Go–" the mare seemed shocked, she placed a hoof on her chest to support that. "Oh! Uh – uh... Hi! My husband said something about her having a company but expected less, like a dog or something. But this?" The mare's voice was tainted with amusement; "What is your name foal?" "I'm Snowdrop." "Snowdrop? What a pretty name. You can call me Ms. Butterscotch. Now, come Snowdrop, breakfast is waiting." The mare took a look at Rosie's sleeping form then nodded. She walked back towards the kitchen. Snowdrop followed, her ears twitched as she tried to guess and mimic the mare's steps to avoid furnitures and stuff. The said mare; however, noticed the filly's slow pace and thought that something was wrong. She trotted up to Snowdrop and asked, "Is there something wrong Snowdrop?" "Uh... No.. There's nothing wrong." "Then what's with the speed slowpoke?" The mare chuckled at her own joke. It seems she does not find it that funny herself. "I can't see, so I'm trying my best to keep up... sorry." The filly gave a sheepish smile. "Oh.." The mare chuckled nervously. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes darted left and right. She fanned her face with her hoof. "Is that so? Phew, why is suddenly hot in here?" "It is?" Snowdrop's eyes widened in an innocent look of confusion and shock. "How come I can't feel it?" She raised an eyebrow, and tapped her chin in thought. "Am I turning numb too?" "What? N – n – no! You're perfectly fine, dear! It's just me being silly and all." She tittered; "How about we continue our way into the kitchen? Come give me your hoof and we'll be off." Snowdrop took the mare's outstretched foreleg and made their way into the kitchen. Rosie groggily woke up. She was laying on her back, the soft mattress made it hard for her to leave it. She cracked an eye open. Yes, she was in her room; in her house. She closed her eye and grinned. Yup, she made it. She had the medicine and the seeds that she was asked to get. Although, she had a filly with her named Snowdrop. Yes, the little pegasus filly. The filly who was absent from where she had slept beside her. There was only an empty space on the bed. Empty space. Rosie sat up, with wide eyes. "Snowdrop?" Rosie surveyed the room. No sign of the pegasus filly. When her eyes landed upon the open door, Rosie sighed. She must have gone to the restroom. She was about lay back on the bed when she remembered that Snowdrop was blind. "How is she suppose to find where the rest room's at?" To her curiosity. Rosie decided to perish the thought of sleeping in today to go and look for the wee pegasus filly. She pushed her blanket of and fixed the bed. Nodding in satisfaction, she stepped outside and closed the door to her room. The smell of pancakes and haycons lingered through the corridor. She sniffed the luscious aroma which made her stomach grumble. She moaned, thinking of its delicious flavour when she finally get a bite in those grubs. Rosie made her way towards the kitchen, occasionally glancing around in hopes of spotting the little filly. When she passed the archway that lead to the kitchen, she was greeted by the sound of a flaming stove as her mother played with the pan, flipping the pancakes and haycons high up the ceiling. She sat on the table when she turned her head just beside her, Snowdrop was happily chewing on a plate full of haycons. Her cheeks was puffy as her grin. She took another bite on one of those haycons, and moaned as its flavour burst in her mouth. Her mother saw her with a side glance. "Good morning dear." Butterscotch said, flipping the contents of the pan. "Good morning mum." The cream coated unicorn mare turned the stove off and made her way to the table. Her red mane was tied into a bun. A batch of freshly cooked pancakes and haycons sat on a plate on her hoof. She levitated a few on her daughter's plate then sat on a chair opposite to Rosie's. As the russet maned mare ate her grub, her mother took a few bites then took a deep breath. "So, care to tell me how'd you came into possession of this foal?" Said Butterscotch, in a rather—serious tone. "Shnohdroph?" Asked Rosie, mouth full of grub. "Meh?" "Yes, her. Snowdrop, sweetie, continue eating, pay no attention to us. This is grown up talk." The filly nodded. "So, who's the stallion?" Rosie almost choked on her food. "S-stallion? There's no stallion, mum!" The russet maned mare leaned closer to her mother. "I found her somewhere in a cave." "In a cave? How can that be, are you sure?" "I am!" She then proceeded to tell her tale to her mother. Butterscotch gasped in shock every time her daughter would talk about their encounter with the dire-wolves. It took her a moment to take it all in, she then sighed in relief. "Well, I am glad you're safe. I'm sorry I was not here when you returned." "It's alright mum." They smiled. "Now, don't let me keep you from your food. Its your favourite see?" "Delicious Haycons." Said Rosie, in-between chews. Rosie walked through the village's snow covered cobblestone path, Snowdrop walked beside her; keeping aware of her older companion's presence. It was an early morning, the sun brought warmth upon the cold land. After eating their breakfast and helping out in some house chores, Butterscotch decided that, Rosie must go to the village hall and ask for the little filly's information. Hopefully to find her parents or relative. But what Rosie could not fathom was, why would a family leave a filly in a cave all by herself? That is just one of some questions that plagues the mare's mind. Rosie passed by a group of fillies and colts running around and playing in snow, Snowdrop, however, shied under Rosie's legs. The mare looked at the filly and gave a small smile, pulling her close to her. The village hall was not easy to miss, it was the tallest building in the village. Stretching high up in the sky, it was a famous spot for pegasi's for a date; standing at the centre of of the village and all. Though, Rosie wished to experience the sight, she knew she could not without any wings. Or a really large trampoline that like the one she saw in the Crystal Empire. The two passed the tall opened doors, moving across fellow ponies who was going in the opposite direction. There were three counters with only two available. The line was short, but the place was no dull. No, the village hall was the most beautiful building here in the village, second was the local inn. The place was warmly lit, potted plants and comfortable sits were placed carefully. After all, with a village this far out, they would like to at least give travellers a warm welcome, and perhaps a reason to stay or come again. After a few minutes of waiting in line, Rosie stood in front of an older unicorn mare. Her mane was a soft touch of yellow, her coat was a light shade of brown. A quill for a cutie-mark was pasted on her flank. A large pair of glasses adorned her muzzle, over her sharp blue eyes. She wore a kind smile, her demeanour radiated with a jolly atmosphere. "Hi!" Said she. "How can I be of assistance?" "Hello," Rosie smiled. "I'm here to ask for some information about a pegasus filly." "Okie dokie!" The mare took a form from under the stall. "Just fill this up and come back later." The mare's eyes wandered for a bit. "Care to tell on what is your relationship with this individual?" "I'm acting as her guardian for now." Rosie answered. "And where is this wee filly?" "Oh! Here she is." Rosie lifted Snowdrop up the counter. "Say hello, Snowdrop." "Hello." "Awe," the mare made a cutesy face. "You're adorable!" "Thanks! What's your name?" Rosie giggled. "My name is Bright Quill. Say, Snowdrop, want to see some magic?" Bright Quill asked enthusiastically. "Uhhhmmm..." Snowdrop's ears lay downcast. "Ah, no. She can't see, she has an... inborn eye problem?" "Oh! How horrible!" Bright Quill held Snowdrop's face, making the little filly do a funny pouty face. "Such a poor cute thing like you." Then she continued talking baby talks to the filly. That, until somepony from the line behind Rosie coughed. Bright Quill stopped her antics and blushed, rubbing her mane, with an embarrassed look. Cough. She straitened herself and spoke professionally. "We'll see what we can find. As I said, come back later, perhaps this evening. Maybe we had found some by then." Rosie nodded. "Alright, thanks." Rosie waved goodbye to the unicorn mare, who returned the gesture. Snowdrop waved too, which made Bright Quill perk up and smile. > Chapter III: Finishing The Errands, Then There's Him. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coco puff was walking back home from another failed attempt at gaining a cutie-mark. He's latest 'shenanigan' was to acquire a tree climbing mark, it maybe a silly one but colts his age already have cutie-marks. And he doesn't. So, Coco tried many ways to gain a mark but most ended in mishaps that only caused him to get into trouble. He sighed, a cloud of white smoke formed and faded. His head was hanged low and his chocolate coloured mane danced with the flow of the northern winds. Piles of snow littered his lighter brown coat here and there. The tree that he had scaled was carrying a hefty amount of the stuff. Finally, he stopped in front of a door with a sign, of coffee and bread, at the top right of it. He pushed the wooden door open with an ample force to present his irritation. When the door slammed, a few ponies sent a glance at him then carried on with their businesses. It was not the first time he went home to his family's shop from a failed crusade. When he stepped inside, he saw his sister, Cookie Dough— A pale brown coated mare with brown mane that swirled into locks at the end, looking at him with a bit of anger and sympathy. He was used to it, Cookie understood why he was acting this way, she was saddened by the fact that her little brother was a late 'marked'. "At it again, eh?" His sister said. "Ended like the others, I presume?" He nodded. And his sister smiled. "Go and git a mug of coffee, and milk, there's someone ah'd like ya to meet." Coco nodded again, and headed to the kitchen, oblivious of the two ponies his sister was hosting. A few minutes later. Coco has a tray of a milk and a coffee on his back, which he carried to the table her sister was waiting. When he stood before his sister, whom placed them in front of their respective owners, he was still oblivious of the two. Coco let out a tired sigh, closing his eyes and hanging his head lower in a depressed state. Despite of his brother's antics, Cookie remained to look joyful, she knew that after he finally meets Rosie, he'll probably brighten up. Coco idolised the town's runner, traversing the dangerous tundra for the betterment of the village was 'awesome' he would say. Rosie was a busy mare, after she became the village's runner she barely had the time to talk to Cookie anymore, at least Glacier got to talk to her more often. The three of them was the best of friends during their foalhood, life 's just gets busy when your older. Anyway, when she told her brother about her relationship with Rosie, he thought she was joking. Well, she would like to see the look on his face! "Well, what kind of crusading did you do today?" "Ah tried to climb a tree, ah was hoping to at least git a tree climbing cutie-mark." He sighed. "Why'd you like a tree climbing cutie-mark?" His sister smirked. The colt raised his head to scowl at his sister. "Because I have tried everything! I tried to climb rocks, houses, and the walls!" "But have you tried baking?" Coco huffed and looked away. "I don't like baking." Then he struck a pose. "I'd like to be a runner, just like Ms. Rosie." "Is that so?" Coco turned to see a russet maned mare wearing a smile that matched her sister's. Rosie Hammer, the fastest runner ever since Light Foot the first runner the village ever had. The earthpony colt's mouth hang agape as he stared, bewildered, at the chuckling mare. "We seem to have broken him, Cookie." Cookie put a hoof over her muzzle with faux worry. "Oh Goddess! Don't tell my mother." The two laughed. Snowdrop let out a satisfied sigh, placing a now empty mug of milk on the table. Rosie shuffled the filly's mane then looked at her best friend. "Here," said she, handing over a bag of seeds to Cookie. "It's the seeds your mother and her group requested." Cookie nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Rosie, I pass my gratitude on their behalf." Rosie waved a hoof. "No probs. It's my job after all." She then tapped Snowdrop's shoulder. "Come on, Snowdrop, let's go." Snowdrop moved her head towards Rosie then nodded. The two said their farewells and was now stepping out the door, leaving a still-dumbstruck Coco. Shaking his head, Coco ran on his hooves to catch up on the two mares. Cookie merely sighed when her brother slammed the door open and ran outside, turning a round to get back to her work. "How'd you get your cutie-mark?" "What does it mean?" "What's your favourite food?" Rosie's eye twitched. It has been a while since they left the coffee shop. Cookie's little brother, Coco Puff, had been following her on her way to the hospital. It was a long way too. Rosie answered some of his questions but now he was asking at a rapid pace that she couldn't be anything buy a little bit annoyed. Snowdrop... Well, Snowdrop just had that innocent grin on her face. 'How could this filly endure this sugar induced colt ?' Then, finally they reached the hospital, one of the few modernised facilities here gifted by the new Crystal Empire. Rosie pushed the glass doors open and walked into the lobby, the two foals right behind her tail. She went up to the counter to talk to a pink coated nurse with a red mane tied into a pair of buns. "Hi!" Said Rosie with a bright smile on her face, "I want to see doctor Bandaged wound, please? Also, I am here to deliver these medicines as requested by the head nurse." The nurse mare had her head on some papers when she replied. "Yes, of course give me a minute." She then looked up before smiling. "You're miss Rosie, the town's top runner right?" Rosie nodded. "Well, I'll ring in the doctor and call Mrs. Healthcare. You may want to sit, I'll just come and get you when the doctor is available to meet you." Rosie nodded in acknowledgement, she then turned her head to the foals next to her. "Come on you two, let's go wait over there." With Snowdrop in hoof and the brown Colt following close behind, Rosie started her walk to the waiting area. Snowdrop, who'd been looking curios, had her eyes squinted a bit and her ears twitching agitatedly. "Rosie?" She asked, "where are we? And why does it smell funny?" "We're in a hospital, Snowdrop." Rosie replied in a calm voice. "What's a hospital?" Coco cocked an eyebrow. "You don't know what's a hospital?" Snowdrop's ears fell flat on her sides. "Ummm... No?" The brown Colt chuckled. "Hospitals are where sick people go, you silly. How come you don't know this? It's like common sense for everypony." Snowdrop's head fell downcast as she pouted. "Well, everything feels foreign to me but also familiar at the same time." Coco puff had a perplexed look on his face. "Giiiirrrrll say what? You lost me..." He made a circling gesture with his hoof, "somewhere... somewhere there." Snowdrop moaned, while Rosie letted out a huff. "It's because Snowdrop seemed to lost most of her memories when I found her. So she feels familiar with things but doesn't actually remember them. Does that make sense?" The colt tapped his chin. "Yaaaaannooope!" Rosie sighed. Thankfully they had arrived and sat on the comfortable coaches that the hospital provided. After a few minutes of waiting, the nurse that Rosie talked to arrived. "Doctor Bandaged wound just finished treating a patient, he is eager to help you as a thanks for bringing the medicine in such a short period of time since it was commissioned." "Awesome. so, should we go?" "Yes, Dr. Bandaged would be in exam room 4, if you would follow me..." The nurse turned with the three following her tail. During this trip, Snowdrop experience the sound of the ill. She would hear ponies cough, moan, groan, and sometimes sniff their falling snots. It was a much familiar sounds than the others she had come in contact to. Suddenly a voice she recognised as the mare in her dream echoed through her head. "Snowdrop, ready for your yearly check up?" "Yup! I'm looking forward to meet Ms. Scarlet again!" "And?" "Aaanndd, maybe the treats that she has too." "Snowdrop," The filly whipped her head to the source of the sound. "Huh?" "We're here, you were acting weird just now. Is something the matter?" Rosie asked with a concerned look. "Ahh... No." Snowdrop replied, before Rosie could say another word Snowdrop continued. "We should go, umm... Yeah." Rosie was hesitantly looking at the filly before nodding. "Alright then." She said before walking in. Snowdrop followed the sound of hoof step. Coco walked behind her. "Hey, are sure you're okay? You seemed a lot different from your mood earlier." The light brown colt pointed out. "It's..." Snowdrop paused. "It's nothing really." Then they continued. There in the exam room, looking through files, was a blue coated unicorn stallion with red flowing mane. He raised his head when Rosie came close enough. "Ah! The stampeding messenger, Rosie Hammer! I'm Dr. Bandaged Wound, how may I help you..?"