The still silence of the town was what woke Rose up that morning. There was always something going on outside in the morning, but not today, and that was different enough to pull her from sleep. Is that clock wrong again? she wondered. Its short hand pointed to the IX; there should have been ponies causing ruckus at this hour.

She pulled herself from bed, despite the cold. “Right…” Rose said, in sudden realization. Snow was everywhere! At least a foot of it on the ground, on roofs and in streets, on window sills and in potted plants, in courtyards and on stoops. A certain kind of beauty was spread over the town, serene for this moment. The kids would wake up soon though, to enjoy their snowy Sunday…

Rose put on her sweater again, and went to the kitchen. Daisy and Lily must have been out on some errand, they were nowhere to be found. She cooked up some oatmeal for breakfast, and huddled near the stove as she ate. I hope portable heaters exist one day, Rose thought, eyeing the falling snow outside. But it was her day off, she wasn’t about to spend it moping around. No, Rose had other plans in mind.

Very quickly, she made sure no chores needed to be done around the shop. All was well in the greenhouse, as well as it could be in this weather. Rose’s teeth chattered in the few short steps between the greenhouse and the green-painted shop, and she could feel numbness in her hooves. What a nasty day to be out in! At this rate, she’d need socks or even boots to keep warm… Hopefully, that wouldn’t be necessary, going outside wasn’t in her intentions again. Back in the kitchen, she made a mug of hot chocolate, and retreated to her own room. She took a book from her self, and wrapped up in a heavy wool blanket.

It was time to get comfy.

“So what exactly was it you saw last night?” Pinkie asked.

“Well, Rosey had gone to the library for some reason.” Daisy began, looking uncomfortable. Lily nodded, trying to give her a sign to continue. The three were in Sugarcube Corner, warm and safe from the freezing snows outside. “And… she gave Twilight a book.”

“Lots of ponies give Twilight books.” said Lily.

“This wasn’t just any book, Lily. It was that ratty old one she loves so much.” Daisy rubbed a hoof on a leg, and glanced away. “You know Rosey really loves that thing, even if she can’t read a word in it.”

“She gave away that plantarum book?!” Lily gasped at the notion, and Pinkie gasped too.

“No way!” Pinkie exclaimed, before narrowing her eyes in thought. “What’s a plantarum?”

“It’s got something to do with plants.” said Lily.

“I knew that. So, Rose gave away her plantarum book to Twilight…” Pinkie frowned. “How do you know this?”

“Because I saw it.” said Daisy. “Rosey told Twilight that it meant a lot to her, and that she wanted her to take good care of it! Like she was… going away, or something!”

“Hmm…” Pinkie put a hoof to her chin. “Not good, not good…”

“Why?” asked Lily, leaning forward.

“Do you think-” Daisy stopped herself from saying anymore. That was the most serious of all topics, Lily knew. If Rosey really is depressed… Then… Then she might… Lily shuddered, and closer her eyes tightly, in the vain hope to banish those dark thoughts.

“It doesn’t look good.” muttered Pinkie, standing up. She paced about the store, strange expressions passing over her. “We need an expert in these matters!”

“Does such a pony exist?” Lily asked.

“Yes, he does… Follow me!” With that, Pinkie darted out of the store, into the storm.

“The things we do for love...” sighed Daisy.

“Sit down on your chair, and look to your kin. With my eyes you will see, with my ears you will hear. You have troubled my night and questioned my strength, now you will learn not to mock the Mistress of Fate!”

Nightmare Moon set Prince Aurelian on his father’s throne, placed upon the tallest peak in the land, and forced him to behold the torment she would send at his lover and his family through.

Far off, Princess Bractea, sister of Aurelian and now rightful Queen of the Unicorns, led her people to safety after the death of their King, by the light of the stars alone. Somewhere in the world, the moon did shine, but it was not on Equestria. “Truly, this is a dark hour,” Bractea said to her companions.

“All is not lost,” said Nivosa the Pegasus. “I see a glimmer on the horizon. Celestia still fights for us!”

“We’re not finished yet.” Valeria of the earth-ponies said. “So long as we trust in each other, not even this unending night can defeat us.”

“Then I know I am in true company. I will not take up my father’s crown until the tyranny of the Moon is overthrown, and my brother freed from her cold grasp. This I swear to the stars above!”

“I am with you!” Nivosa presented her blade.

“To whatever end there may be for us, I am with you.” Valeria bowed. “I will not rest until our Quest is fulfilled.”

Ugly and cruel creatures emerged from their holes, seeing the power of the hated sun vanish; in their hearts was only hate to the ponies of Equestria. But no monster could assail Bractea’s subjects, she and her companions drove them all back. Between the fighting and running, Valeria’s thoughts turned often to Prince Aurelian. Doubt and worry weighed heavily on her mind, and her heart was pained to be so far from him…

Rose stopped reading, sipping the last of her no-longer-so-hot chocolate. “Tyranny of the Moon...” she said to herself. This summer’s disruption by the return of the very same Nightmare Moon was still fresh in memory. Would the redeemed Princess Luna, a fairytale character not seven months ago, react harshly to her portrayal in the historical fiction genre? Because this book was definitely historical fiction, Rose was sure that not even Celestia controlled the fates of ponies, let alone her lesser sister.... Luna wasn’t going to hunt down the author, was she? Since Nightmare Moon turned out to be completely real, then the evil she committed was real too, right? No one ever said a bad word about Celestia, simply because Celestia had never done wrong, unlike Luna. Should Luna be called out for her past sins?

Those were big questions for a simple merchant like Rose. She was happy to be left to her romantic adventure novels.

“Mister Waddle! Mister Waddle! MISTER WADDLE!” Pinkie Pie shrieked, hammering on his front door. The wind was picking up, as was the snowfall, and Lily was sure she was going to get frostbite out there, winter coat grown in or no.

Finally, the old pony opened the door. “Eh..? Miss Pie, is that you?” Lily wasn’t sure if he was grey of fur or just grey with age; his mane was almost completely gone. A rare and unfortunate affliction of stallions, sad as it was. How does he even go outside without being ashamed? Lily wondered.

“Yes, it is!” said Pinkie. “Can we come in?”

“Uh, sure, I don’t see why not.” Mister Waddle stood aside, and let the three mares in. “I know you Miss Pie, but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten your friends’ names.”

“Oh, this is Daisy, and this is Lilly! They’re from the Valley family!” Pinkie said, pointing to each sister in turn.

“Ah, the Valley girls! Your parents moved out to… Hmm, where was it again? No matter, I just remember them handing that flower shop over to you and that cousin of yours. I’ve forgotten her name too, I’m afraid.”

Lily could see that the old stallion’s memory wasn’t as sharp as it used to be. He was one of the town elders, perhaps the town eldest, not counting the Apple’s grandmother. “That’d be Roseluck. And it’s her we’re here to talk about.” she said.

“Well, do sit down. I wasn’t expecting guests on such a nasty day, but I’ve got a warm fire and hot tea…” Mister Waddle led them to his sitting room, where, true to his word, there was a cozy fire going. But it was the amount of royal portraits that caught Lily off-guard. Picture after picture of Princess Celestia, all framed and all covering each and every wall.

“You’re a very loyal subject, Mister Waddle.” Daisy remarked, looking at what seemed to be an ancient icon of their beloved monarch, with the words DOMINA CELESTIA inscribed below.

“Yes, I am.” Mister Waddle agreed. “Most ponies are content to thrive under the rule of our Princess, but some of us have joined her in her sacred mission to bring joy and goodwill to all ponies of Equestria. I spent thirty years learning of the troubles of the mind and helping where I could.”

“Like a psychologist?” asked Lily.

“And a bit more.” The old stallion smiled knowingly, though Lily didn’t know what could be more than a psychologist. They were a strange lot anyway… rather like this pony, come to think of it. “Miss Pinkie here is an inadvertent member of our holy fellowship, spreading cheer where she will.” Pinkie beamed at them.

“Mister Waddle was a great help when I first came here. He knows everything there is to know about the darker side of the pony mind!” The great grin slipped off her face then, and Pinkie grew grimly serious. “Which is exactly why we’re here, Mister Waddle.”

“Yes,” said Daisy, “our cousin Roseluck… Well, we’re very worried about her.”

“Well, I’ve been retired from official business for some time, excluding funeral work, but… if Miss Pie thought it was important enough, I’ll hear you out.”

Daisy and Pinkie told Mister Waddle about everything that had been happening with Rose, the strange behavior and the glumness that had fallen over her.

“It sounds like a classic case of winter depression to me.” Mister Waddle said, when he’d heard them out. “A vacation to sunnier climes would do her good.”

“That’s not all, sir.” Daisy said. “You see, she’s started giving away important possessions of hers.”

“It’s not a light matter when she leaves her favorite book with another pony.” Lily added.

“Ah… That is… troubling.” The old stallion frowned in thought. He leaned forward in his chair, and gestured for the three to come closer. “In my experience, depressed ponies that start giving away such valuable possessions might be coming close to…”

“To?” Lily dreaded what he was going to say, it was too terrible to imagine.

“To suicide!” whispered Mister Waddle.

Pinkie and Lily gasped again in horror, and Daisy fainted outright. Then, Lily had a horrible, horrible revelation:

“Pinkie… We left Rose alone at home!”

Rose put down her book. This is starting to get a bit improper, she thought. Would ponies like Valeria and Aurelian have been so bold in their courtship, in those ancient times? She didn’t think so. “Why is it so hard to find wholesome romance?” asked Rose aloud. “Does anyone have any decency-”

The front door crashed open downstairs, and she heard rapid hoofsteps on the stairs. What’s got Daisy and Lily in such a hurry? Maybe it was just that cold outside, the storm was getting worse… And then her bedroom door crashed open too.

“Don’t do it Rose!” wailed Daisy, flinging herself onto Rose’s bed where she sat.

“What- ack!” Daisy caught her in her hooves like a snake constricting a mouse. Except, snakes didn’t cry as they strangled their meal. “Lily!” gasped Rose. “Help!”

Instead, Lily jumped onto her bed too, eyes wide in fear. “Don’t worry, Rose, we’re here to help now!” If they were trying to comfort her, it wasn’t working. If they were so upset, why were they concerned with her?

“Get off of here, you’re covered in snow! What happened anyway?” Rose asked, trying to wriggle away from Daisy before she cracked a rib.

“We- we-” Daisy sobbed, unable to speak further.

“We thought you were dead!” said Lily.

“Dead?! What in the name of Celestia are you talking about? You’re the ones out running around in a snowstorm-”

“With how dark and depressed you’ve been this week, we thought you were going to- to- to-” Lily shivered in horror, and swallowed nervously, “to kill yourself.” She nearly whispered those final words.

Bewilderment struck Rose, and now it was her turn to feel worried. “What? No! I’m not depressed! Where did you get that idea?”

“You’ve just been acting so different from usual, and- and- Pinkie Pie said-” Lily shut her eyes tightly, shaking her head and sending half-melted snowflakes flying from her mane. “Oh, it’s just too awful!”

“Pinkie Pie said!” Rose sighed. Suddenly, everything made a lot more sense, now that the town clown was involved. Good at heart as she might be, Pinkie Pie was hardly a brain surgeon! She didn’t know anything about mental health! Before she could stop herself, Rose muttered: “Maybe I should kill myself, it’d save me the trouble of dealing with you two fools...”

Lily looked aghast, and Daisy swooned, falling straight off the bed.

Author's Note

It's an hour till New Year's here, so enjoy my last upload of 2014. Have some dramatic ponies being dramatic.

I tried my hand at writing a mediocre romance/fantasy here, and it's precisely fantasy. Long-time John Hood readers should not take it to be in any way a part of the ongoing events of Snowyverse.