The Mare of the Snow

Chapter One

Once, on a dark night, where the blackened clouds hid the moon as they rained their tears from the sky, a lonely mare was forced into the nearest café during her evening walk. Her mauve mane laid like a wet mop over her eyes, and her baby blue dress was completely soaked. Her peachy coat glistened under the lights hanging from the ceiling. She listened to the sounds of water droplets falling from the ends of her mane until they hit the wooden floor.

She loved to walk through Bloom Park, a wonderful little place where lilies grew, and fillies played. With fall coming to a close, all the trees have nearly lost all of their leaves, and the icy wind has begun to take effect. There was one spot in particular she would always pay a visit to, and that was the large water fountain in the center of the park. Stone statues of two pegasi sculpted in flying positions were spouting water through their mouths and into the hexagonal pool. The mare would always stop by this fountain to stare into the glimmering water, but the floor of the pool also glistened as shiny bits lay at the bottom. She’s watched them collect as the days went by, because she knew they were her coins. Of course she wasn’t the only one that would add to the growing pile of coins, but most of them came from her. She would toss one into the water, and as the ripples formed, she would close her eyes, put her hooves together, and make a wish.

She wished for the same thing every day, and every day she would tell herself that she should stop wasting her time. She knew that such magic doesn’t and will never exist; but still she wished, and sought no end to her frequent trips to the fountain. Every time she spoke her wish in her mind, she would feel shame soon after. She felt childish and silly for ever making such a wish, she felt it pointless to even dream anymore. Despite her constant hammering of this idea into her mind, she felt drawn to try again. To her, it relieved her from the stress of the world, to give her a moments worth of retreat.

Today, on her way to the fountain, she happened to walk into the middle of a game of tag a few young fillies were playing in the center of the park around the fountain. Their dresses blew about in the wind as they chased each other, and their manes had become big poufy messes. The young fillies stopped their game immediately at the sight of her. She was struck with anxiety, and froze in place as they stared at her. “Oh don’t mind me, I’m just passing by.” She finally uttered after a short silence.

“It’s okay Miss!” One said.

“Say, are you busy?” Another asked.

“Me? Well I . . . no, I suppose not.” She said awkwardly.

“We could use another player! Would you like to play with us?” One asked excitedly.

“Why that’s very sweet of you to ask—”

“So will you?” One asked, cutting her sentence off.

“Oh, well you see I don’t think that—”

“You’re it!”

“Catch us if you can!” Another shouted, as they all scampered away behind the hedges that fence the park like a maze.

“Wait! I . . . !” She knew that she couldn’t just let these kids hide and not play along. She saw no harm in it, so she sighed and decided to go on and find them. The mare trotted and searched, and one by one she would find each little filly, tagging them gently as they ‘awed’ with disappointment once they were tagged. She had found two, but the last one seemed elusive. Finally she caught up to the filly and chased her through what seemed like the entire park. The mare tagged her and sat down from exhaustion. All the fillies gathered around her, giggling, and bouncing with so much energy.

“That was fun!” One filly hopped about in the grass.

“Again again!” Another begged.

“No I . . . I really should get going now.” The mare said, still recovering her breath.

“Aww!” They all whined in unison.

“You girls really shouldn’t just talk to random strangers anyway.” The mare explained.

“Well, what’s your name Miss?”

“Meriva, why?”

“Hello Meriva! My name is Cotton Blossom! This is Peach Drops and Periwinkle!” The little filly said happily while introducing the other two. Cotton Blossom had a white coat and creamy mane, and her golden dress shimmered in the sunlight. As she introduced her other two friends, she first held out her little hoof to Peach Drops; whom of which had a blonde mane, and a rich, orange coat that contradicted her indigo dress. Next, she pointed to Periwinkle, whose long bangs of her dark, blue mane nearly drooped over her eyes. Meriva found her name fitting, as her coat was just that, periwinkle. Her white dress reminded Meriva of a similar dress she had in her closet back at her cottage.

“. . . Well, it’s nice to meet you.” Said Meriva.

“Now that we’re not strangers anymore . . . wanna play?!” Cotton Blossom, excitedly holding her little hooves up to her cheeks. Meriva looked at all three of them as they gleamed at her with their big shiny eyes and tiny smiles. She chuckled, and found the first ray of happiness she’s felt in a long time.

“. . . Okay, but just one more game.”

“Two more!” Cotton Blossom shouted.

“Okay, fine.”

“Three more!” Peach Drops added.

“Maybe.” Meriva said with a chuckle. Now getting back to her hooves, she tried to get herself ready for the next round.

“Run!” One of the fillies shouted before they all dispersed. Meriva played a few more rounds of tag with them until she completely wore out. They spent all that time laughing and adorably accusing one or the other of being tagged. Meriva sat down in the grass, panting, as the children bounced around filled to the brim with joy.

“Let’s go again!” Cotton Blossom playfully demanded.

“Yeah! Again! Again!” Peach Drops begged.

“Oh, I don’t know girls.” Meriva still panting.

“Come on Miss, can’t you play just one more? Please?” Periwinkle timidly looking through the spaces between the bangs of her mane.

“Well . . . I don’t see why not!” The children then cheered, and Meriva was happy to see their faces alighted with such smiles; but the clouds up above had other plans. They were gathering like a jigsaw puzzle, fitting perfectly into place, and turning to a heavy gray color, rumbling in the sky. Her home was a bit of a walk away, and she knew that a storm was about to brew, knowing her luck. Before she knew it, the rain began to pour down.

“Uh-oh . . . rain!” Cotton Blossom gallops out of the park, followed by her two friends. Just like that, Meriva’s heart was sliced right in two. The only ponies that were able to give her that moment of retreat, were now retreating themselves. She stood up, still in shock from how swiftly they took off. The cold rain, mixed with the heavy winds, blew dead leaves and drops of the cold hard rain against her face. The dirt roads were empty; she was getting drenched, and her dress became heavier as it collected the rain. She couldn’t take it anymore, so she trotted into Giano’s Café. She knew the owner Giano, he was a kind stallion, and she would consider him a good friend. She knew he wouldn’t have a problem with her staying in there until the storm blew over, so she hurried inside. At the sound of a bell jingling upon opening the door to the café, Meriva was instantly noticed. She was greeted by the shop’s Giano, a relatively middle-aged stallion with a pale coat, black mane, mustache below his snout, and white apron, drying a cup with a dish rag.

“Ah Meriva! What were you doing out in the rain?” He asked, concerned from behind the counter.

“I was just on my way home; then this storm started.” She said, dripping with rain.

“Well come in! Come in! Just take a seat and let me get you a towel to dry off eh?” Meriva took a seat on the rubber sheeted stool and parted her mane out of her lush blue eyes. Good old Giano, always such a kind fellow. In her hoof she held the shiny golden coin she had planned to toss into the fountain, and with the dark atmosphere of the outside, and evil pounding of the rain, she slid it back into her little red handbag. She almost didn’t even want to see it again as she rested her hoof onto the opening of her bag to keep it closed. “Ah, here you go Meriva.” Giano wrapped a big, white towel around her before returning behind the counter. “So, where were you before you decided to head home?”

“. . . Nowhere.”

“Meriva, you know you're not the best liar. I can tell something is bothering you.” Giano was always very good at telling when Meriva was upset. It didn’t matter how big or how small the matter was, he just always sort of knew. Even though he was an earth pony just like Meriva, he had this magical sense about him like any unicorn.

“I just . . .”

“Oh Meriva, don’t start crying now.”

“I’m not.” Meriva now trying to wipe away any tears that may have been beginning to form. “Why would I cry over something so silly?”

“It’s not silly. We’ve talked about this time and time again. Don’t you remember what I said?”

“. . . Yes.”

“You’ll find the right pony someday, or . . . ?” Giano waited for Meriva to finish the sentence.

“He just may find me.” A smile beginning to peak between Meriva’s cheeks.

“Right! Meriva you’ve got your whole life ahead of you! Just because you haven’t found him now doesn’t mean you won’t ‘ever’ find him. Meriva, there’s something you have to understand.”

“And what’s that?”

“A wish is like a promise. Once you make one you should never, under any circumstances, go back on it. As long as you hold it in your heart it will surely shine through someday, you just have to give it time.”

“You’re right, as always. Thanks Giano.” Her smile now fully fledged.

“Hey, that’s what friends are for. Now, would you like a warm cup of coffee?”

“No thanks Giano.”

“Oh come on, it’s on me!” No matter how many times she told him no he still persisted on making her that cup. As he grabbed a clean glass cup from the rack, the jingling of the bell rang behind them. A stallion entered with a hat over his short, black mane, dripping with rain from the edge of the brim. He wore an unbuttoned overcoat around his body revealing his dark gray coat, which left its own trail of water behind him as he took a seat at the counter, one away from Meriva. Giano turned and greeted the stallion. “Welcome! A beautiful night out isn’t it?”

“Yep, it sure is.” He chuckled.

“What’ll ya have?”

“Uhh, one cup, dark please.”

“Comin’ right up.” Giano filled one cup with cream and sugar, and let the coffee machine pour its warm steamy liquid into the cup. He filled another with just the coffee, and brought the two cups to the counter. He slid Meriva her cup, and then the stallion’s.

“That’ll be one bit sir.”

“Sure, umm . . .” He searched his pockets, but then sighed out of frustration. “Ugh, I left my wallet at my cottage.”

“You know what, don’t worry about it. Just take it.”

“No, that’s okay. I don’t want you to think I’m lying or anything just to get a free cup.”

“Oh sir please, I insist.”

“No, that’s alright.”

“Here.” Meriva, breaking into the conversation, handed over the bit she had in her bag to the stallion.

“Oh, but miss I couldn’t I—”

“No, just take it. I want you to have it.”

“. . . Thank you.” He handed over the bit to Giano, as he thanked him for the payment. Giano took one glance at Meriva, then at the stallion, and he felt that this just might be the moment. With his unknown sense he felt that it was about time he left them alone, but not without an attempt at starting a conversation, as it appeared Meriva wouldn’t have started one on her own.

“So, sir, I haven’t seen you around town. Are you new here?”

“Oh, yes I just moved in this morning.”

“Well then welcome! I hope you like it here.”

“Oh I do, it is quite nice—”

“Ah! I just remembered I have to go to the back and clean up the spill from earlier. I’ll be back as soon as I’m finished.” He gave Meriva a subtle wink as he moved into the back of the store. Meriva began to shudder and tried to secretly beckon him back, but he just smiled and left. Leaving Meriva all alone with the stallion, as he sipped his coffee feeling confused about how abruptly Giano just left, and she felt an anxiety she hasn’t felt in a long time. She glanced at him, and tried to force herself to utter just a friendly hello, but her voice could not muster it. Her stomach quivered in fear, and her heart trembled. Until finally, she took a deep breath, and tried her best to sound natural.

“So, you like it here?”

“Hm? Oh yes, it’s such a nice little town. Everypony is quite friendly. . .” A silence then filled the room as Meriva was left with nothing further to say. “Um, thank you.”

“What?”

“Thank you, for paying for my drink. That was very kind of you.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.”

“. . . My name is Dawston by the way.”

“I-It’s nice to meet you, my name’s Meriva.” She said shyly.

“Meriva?” Meriva squirmed in her chair at the sound of Dawston repeating her name. To her it sounded like he was about to criticize her name, and she prepared for it, expecting the worst. Her mind was running so crazily, that she even had to double check herself to be sure that truly was indeed her name. “That’s a nice name, a beautiful name in fact.”

“R-Really?” At that moment they both raised their heads away from their cups and finally made eye contact. As soon as their vision met, they were glued. Without a single blink, it was as if tape were keeping their eyelids open, and a padlock kept their eyes chained to each other. They didn’t know it, but a spark had just ignited within both their hearts, and from here it would grow into a much stronger fire. Giano was right, he was always right.