SnowFlake Fields

The trip to Snowflake's home was overbearing under the harsh sunny days light. The air was thick with heat, heavy and unwanted. SnowFlake felt intimidated by this dense dry weather as if the townsfolk glares were shifted to the sun. It did not take long for the odd assortment of pony, Dragon and deer to reach SnowFlakes door. She quickly nudged it open allowing the Alicorn and Dragon into her home first. The entry room was covered in endless stacks of journals. Bundles of scrolls and large collections of dried plants were homed in woven leaf baskets which snuggled in various corners. Refreshingly the air smelt of foreign teas left to collect dust and the ground was protected by a layer of deep green thick moss.  Small spots of white flowers puckered where the windows allowed sunlight in.

Twilight inhaled through her nostrils and thoughts of her old library flooded her memories. A tinge of sadness over took the pony, how she missed her books. So many lost within the flames of battle. The Alicorn could not help to look around disparate to distract herself. She stepped forward and spotted a book with a misleading title.

"Supernaturals: Natural Remedies and Cure-alls- That Are Simply Super."

SnowFlake turned around with a smile on her face.

"My Uncle Mossy gave that to me! It's a very fascinating book."

"It was extremely useful back in my home town when my friends and I foolishly stumbled into some Laughing Joke."

"The plant invaded this area, it took forever to get under control again."

The pony looked around and nodded to the plants.

"You seem to really enjoy vegetation."

"I want to help people decorate with nature. To love it as much as I do, it's really a wonderful topic."

Twilight smiled thinking about how her friends would have loved to meet SnowFlake. Rarity would indulge herself in the rugs, fascinated by how well it was laid out. Fluttershy would not doubt ramble on with the deer about the local wild animals. Rainbow Dash would be dumbfounded a creature could fly without wings. Apple Jack would want to know about the trees, maybe even partake in their local harvests. Pinkie Pie, well that party pony sure would liven the place up. How she missed her friends.

The two chatted more about plants and books as SnowFlake lead the two into her spare bedroom. It had a round bed carved out of the wall from an old tree stump. The bed was covered in pillows of all sizes and blankets with colors that ranged from greens and blues which. The floor was also covered in the strange moss with the walls hidden by shelves hollowed out from wooden branches. These shelves housed books, veils and dried flowers giving it a homey feeling to the Alicorn. In the corner was a smaller bed, big enough for Spike with a pillow and blanket already tucked away. A dresser was propped under a round carved window which out-looked the forest behind them. Spike looked into the woods nervously and voiced his concerns to SnowFlake.

"Aren't you worried about the creatures hiding in the woods?"

"Why would we? We stay out of their territory, they stay out of ours. Besides, everyone knows most nightly creatures hate Honey Moss."

Twilight looked to the ground, the moss they were walking on was protecting them- without magic! She was fascinated, this town ran so differently than PonyVille or Canterlot.

"Honey Moss?"

"Yes, Honey Moss is what I planted in my home since I live on the edge of town. It produces a fragrance we personally cannot smell but the predators cannot stand. My uncle taught me this trick."

"You seem to look up to your uncle." Twilight chimed in. The Pony was informed about Mossy River. The deer who sent a scroll to Celesta through the Wonderbolts rookie. She was highly curious about this deer. He clearly had influence among the residents of this town.

"I do."

The three stood in silence, and SnowFlake looked away before turning back. She was never good at keeping a conversation going.

"It's around lunch time, I'll prepare something for the three of us as you two settle in."

With that statement the deer closed the rooms door, and Spike plopped onto Twilight bed.

"I donno about this Twi, this town seems tense."

"Oh spike, I don't know what to do either, that went exactly as Princess Celesta said it would."

Twilight trotted over to the window and looked out into the green lush woods.

"Uh, how's that a bad thing? I mean, she did say it would be difficult."

"I just wish my friends could be here, how am I going to get this town to accept ponies if it's just me."

"Twilight, you're the Princess of Friendship. And Magic, that's got to count for something."

Twilight turned to the young Dragon, she let her head hang low to the ground and whispered:

"Without my friends?"

***

Butter Zoom was standing out near the large willow tree where he often found SnowFlake at. He was looking over the large scar that had formed. It was ugly, browning to a black gritty color. It was not natural. He could not put his hoof on it, but the deer knew whoever caused this was sending a warning. He could not help but think about SnowFlake- this was her tree, her reading spot. He heard someone approaching him, and he stepped away from the willows shade to find out. Maple Field was before him, her long locks lacking any small budding flowers.

"Butter Zoom. Is everything planned for tonight?"

"Yes your grace, all council-members have been called upon."

She raised her head high, looking down upon him. He knew he had left something out and quickly spat the desired response.

"Your special guest will also be joining us soon."

The two deer glanced around, the suns bright beams covering their coats.

"Excellent. Did you give Mossy River the false report?"

Zoom nodded his head, looking down to the small flowers.

"Your grandmother will be so proud of you. Her health hasn't been well since..."

Maple Field looked to the willow tree, her eyes locked upon it's bark, taking note of the crippling scar.

"...her disagreement."

***

Mossy River stood before his home with the mountain casting a shadow far beyond where he stood. The elder noticed mossy patches and ivy  were growing thicker than normal. He nudged a piece of moss at the base of the mountain and for a moment everything appeared fine. Then the color slowly shifted to a bright sickening green.  Mossy looked grimly to the response. He heard a crackle from the woods, curiously he turned to look. Bright yellow eyes peered through, sharply observing the deer's motions.

Mossy raised his head to the creature, and it stepped forward into the sun light. It's wooden legs cracked as the beast crouched low, shoulder blades rippling like water. A low growl came from it's leafy covered throat, almost sounding like wind howls. The timber wolf was huge and very old. Possibly the leader of it's pack.

"What troubles you forest creature?" Mossy spoke has his neck craned upward, antlers high- warning.

The wolf stopped, and laid down still growling towards mossy, it's snot pointing to the blackened moss. Soon it's ears perked high and the wolf turned to the look past the forest to where the meadow lay. It's teeth soon became exposed, the lips cranked apart and the wolf snapped it's jaw releasing a loud bark. Mossy looked with the wolf, one of the most dominate creatures of the forest- warning him of danger.

As Mossy glanced back to look at the wolf, it had already slipped back into the woods. Scratch marks in the dirt and chunks of grass kicked up. Encounters with wolves were not rare to River, however, never had one been so unsettled.  Been so concerned of it's territory it warned Mossy. This had to be looked into.

The deer ran fast along the dirt trail, to the meadow. The path birthed opened to the green lush meadow, a soft breeze was tickling the grass and flora. In the distance Mossy spotted three figures, two of which he knew simply by the color of their coats. The third however was foreign. The third was covered in dulled gray fur, with dark blue tail that flowed downward to the ground, ending with hints of lighter blue woven between the hairs. A horse, strong was looking towards Maple Fields. Upon this horses head was deep blue strains that dangled to one side, messy and unkempt. The light blue strains spotting the mane as well. Her snot was thin, and her nose flared as he spoke what Mossy could not here. Her hoofs were a dark deep blue as well, as she tapped her hind leg, as if her time was being wasted. Mossy soon noticed a horn was poking through the messy hair, sharp twisting boldly above. However, it has some purple cord wrapped around it with a star like shaped gem fixed near the middle that connected to the ponies forehead.

The hoof stopped tapping, and the pony smiled to Maple. Maple then barked something out loud and Butter Zoom, the poor fool, turned sharp and ran from under the willow tree. Mossy could only guess that Maple was plotting something. The deer slowly crept closer, not making a sound. He wanted to see the unicorns cutie mark. They were very telling of the owners, however, once he got close enough the blood drained from his face. Upon the flake, almost unnoticeable upon the stone colored fur was a wilted flower. A fainted green stem twisting into a point. The petals were a dark grey, crinkled and mangled. Crimson red thorns covered the stem, bold among the fainted colors. Mossy started to walk backwards, he knew that cutie mark. One of few he was warned of when Celesta informed him that Discords rein may have let some horrors past Cerberus.

The pony's ears pointed upward and turned. Mossy and her eyes met. Maple raised her head high and looked to Mossy, her lips curled into a grin. She said something to the pony, a spark came from it's horn, a dark blue canvas soon covered Mossy. His vision grew fuzzy as his knees began to feel weak. He knelt down into the flowers, watching two figures get closer to him. Their shadows soon covering him.

"Oh Father, why didn't you just stay under your mountain."

A deep, crackling voice responded. Sharp and strong with tone- almost filled with too much pride.

"Is he the one who knows?"

"Don't worry Blizzard Snap. He hardly does anything now a days."

"So Twilight is with your daughter?"

"I doubt Twilight was warned of you."

"Princess of Friendship..."

"And Magic."

"...and Magic."

The world grew dark, silent, and cold. So very cold for Mossy River.