SnowFlake Fields

There is a small doe hiding in the shade of an old willow tree. The tree towers above, long whimsical leafs dance with the slightest of breezes. The bark is ancient scared with a black gritty slash that shows decay. SnowFlake knows this tree will not last much longer, but she finds comfort in its shade. These tree has provided the deer with many years of wonder, from it's foliage in autumn, to its protective umbrella during rain storms. Those gifts however pale in comparison to something SnowFlake saw many moons ago. The storm clouds were rolling fast, lightening licked downwards trying to taste many trees and thunder clashed only seconds apart.

SnowFlake had been caught in the downpour as she headed back to town. Her fur was damp from the rain, causing even her bones to feel a chill. As rain pounded in waves without letting up, each burst of lighting was so bright all shadows were vanquished. The experience was both inspiring to the deer as it was terrifying. However, she knew better, for flash floods never lasted long.

Then, watching the clouds, she saw something moving fast. It was brightly colored, perhaps a faint blue, but then another blur whipped by. This time a bright, unmistakable yellow creature zoomed around. Creatures were flying around the clouds corralling the puffs with great beats of their wings . The shapes were fuzzy to the deer as they resided far beyond her eye sight. Until another popped above the other two who whizzed about. This one was orange, bright blazing like the sun with white messy hair twisting upward. SnowFlake distinguished commands being shouted above the clouds booming sounds.

A crash overtook the orange one as it feel high speeds towards the meadow, with one wing flapping hard as the other wing limped as if broken. The creature's form was even clearer now, SnowFlake could even see it's eyes were pure white, with small hints of gray. She was caught by how clear they looked, but even more so what the creature was- it was a pony! SnowFlake moved away from the willows trunk with her ears pointing forward forgetting about how cold she was. Ponyies! They aren't allowed here she thought as she leaned closer, hidden behind the trees long leafs.

The orange creature landed in a splash as mud covered its hind legs and the wing which drooped awkwardly down. The Pegasus looked back to the others, straightened it's stance and roared:

"You get those clouds to Hollow Shades pronto! Direct Orders!"

The other two ponies only stopped for a second then began pushing the clouds away. Soon the sky was clear, but the pony had not moved from where it landed. It only stared at the where the clouds left. SnowFlake looked closer, and noticed a small pin was hooked onto a green vest, a golden lightning bolt coming from a white shiny cloud. Did this pony control the weather? She pondered. She looked more, and above it's hind legs, a perfectly shaped dark cloud was there, with three tear drops of water falling from it's curves.

Unexpectedly, as if from experience, the pony whipped around and looked straight at SnowFlake. The deer coward downward close to the ground and curled herself close to the trees tough bark.

"I see you hiding under that willow."

Silence.

"I mean you no harm, my wing has been disclosed by moving the clouds, our team was too small."

SnowFlake lifted her head.

The pony took a step closer, her hoofs crunching upon small blooming flowers.

"I am a part of the WonderBolts, is there a town nearby?"

Soon the pony was close the dangling leafs, looking down at SnowFlake. The Pony’s soft facial expression shifted to awe when the wind blew and the curtain of vegetation was removed. The two hoofed creatures stared at each other.

"You're a deer."

SnowFlake slowly nodded and stood up at once.

"I am SnowFlake. Follow me... I can't take you to the village."

"And why not?"

SnowFlake looked around, making sure they truly were alone.

"Pony folk are not allowed in the town, but I can bring you to my uncle. He's our... doctor, but lives near this meadow on a rocky cliff behind Canterlot."

"I'm Orange Twist by the way."

"SnowFlake Fields. Follow me please."

***

The walk to the mountain was accompanied by hums of birds and forest chatter. Snowflake had so many questions, however walked in silence. She glanced back once or twice, trying to get a peek at Oranges cutie mark. Her mother once told her that cutie marks are like deer horns, they show the future, past and present all at once. SnowFlake never really understood what that meant, but as much as that statement brought wonder, it also reminded SnowFlake her horns were rather small. The sun was beginning to set, and the mud from the rain began to crackle under their hoofs as it dried.

Orange naturally walked much faster than the deer and kept trying to slow her pace, but as the sun went down the pony's fears grew. The filly looked to the woods, and for a moment swore she saw eyes looking back at her. She moved closer to the deer, then remembered that she was being lead, and backed off. A dull pain from her shoulder was making her jittery. Oh, if the other Pegasus saw her like this she'd be the laughing stock for weeks. The deer suddenly stopped and looked to the woods herself.

"It's about another ten minutes if we keep walking, however, if you can manage to run that would help a lot. I don't like the sounds coming from those trees."

"I can handle running."

SnowFlake turned to look back at Orange, glancing over to the pony's' slummed wing.

"Will moving your shoulder-"

But before the deer could reply the pony darted off in a fast bolt, leaving behind a small trail of orange- just for a fraction of a second. SnowFlake galloped fast after her in a panic. Kicking up chunks of dirt and grass. Whatever was rustling in the woods gave a small cackle, and faded back into nothingness.

***

"Don't... Don't run off. Again."

SnowFlake wheezed as she caught up with Orange who stood before the mountains backside. The cliff was un-naturally sharp, and almost a straight upwards body of slate rock. Moss grew up the incline rather easily and ivy of many breeds clung to the small cracks. No sign of a house to the common looker, but SnowFlake knew better than that.

"I'm sorry, I just... I don't like the forest." Orange stammered, embarrassed she lost her cool.

"My uncle lives here, let me get the door for you."

The deer smugly trotted past the pony and knocked her hoof on the flat rock in front of them. Nothing seemly happened but then part of the rock shivered and swung backwards, revealing a hatched door.

Before them was a tall, slender deer. His coat a dusty brown no longer shinned. Unlike SnowFlake his ears were rimmed with short black hairs and white ruffles on the inside. His mussel was as black as his small marbled eyes. Long antlers curved and bent like the ivy on the rocks into two three branched wonders. Orange looked closer noticed bits of moss was growing on the deer's antlers. She was sure he had become a part of the mountain. He looked between the two ladies and turned around, nodding them into his house without a word.

His home was carved from the mountain, and the walls were lined with various containers made from wood and rocks.The air smelt of many blooming flowers mixed with mint and feathers of all colors were tied in bunched hung from the ceiling. On the back wall was displayed a mask of black and white strips in a strange circular pattern. It stuck out among the natural colors in the room, leading Orange to stare at it a bit longer than the rest. The Elderly deer noticed and spoke, his voice soothing, almost as if a stream of water gifted him its tune.

"That was from a dear friend of mine, her rhyming ability ever impeccable."

"Uncle, this is Orange Twist. Orange Twist, this is Mossy River."

Moosy tilted his head acknowledging the pony, his antlers bowing downward brushing against the feathers above.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Orange Twist, what brings you to my home?"

The pony shifted her wing around, which limped against her side.

"I seemed to have dislocated it during the cloud round up."

"An easy fix, let me mix you a small brew."

***

It did not take lone for Mossy to shift around his home and produce a small amount of pink liquid. It was held in a tiny wooden bowl, and smelled of sugary mints. Twist took a deep breath of the elixir and her dull pain soon faded. She looked to River, and he nodded with a smile. She took a sip and then puckered her lips close together as her eyes squinted.

"Ugh that tastes awful!"

"Just because something smells good, doesn't make it good." Mossy chuckled, collecting the bowl to clean later.

Orange rolled her shoulder, and sure enough, the wing was connected once more. She smiled and flapped her wings excited, however, in the moment she forgot they where and feathers soon rained down upon the three. Moosy sighed deeply, then turned to SnowFlake.

"Snowy, you can head on home, there's something I would like to discuss with Miss Twist."

SnowFlake gave her uncle a puzzled looked, but she was used to his mysterious antics and nodded.

"Have a good day, I need to get back."

Twist looked to SnowFlake, and voiced her concerns.

"But its well into the night by now, it's dangerous in the woods."

SnowFlake smiled, and trotted out the door, her horns reflecting a bit of the moon light. Her shadow was cast behind her like a cloak.

"Reindeer can fly too!"

And with that the deer raised from the ground, kicking her legs as if running and nodding her head up and down.

Moosy smiled, then turned back to the pony, noticing her pin of rank.

"Well now Miss Twist, I have a message for one of your Princesses."