It was a cold night in the Everfree forest. Not that it wasn't usually but tonight it had brought about a new meaning to the word cold
Ice hung from the trees in miniature displays of glowing crystals. The cold treasures tore into the darkness with such force that the streaks of light ripped through. These beams grazed along the forest highlighting the chaotic harmony of nature.
Many of the animals had gone into hibernation already leaving only a blissful silence to ring out through the looming trees.
Wind made it's way between the woven pathways of the forest. A silent gust to warn off those who are willing to listen. A so call 'foe' such as the Timber wolves know when to listen to be able to survive. Even a creature with such brash intentions needs a moment of serenity.
Though the quiet caused a good illusion, it could also be a sign of alertness. A predator not willing to take any chances or drop any hints of its presence could be lurking behind any tree at any time too. That was the one problem with the Everfree forest. You have to learn to expect the unexpected. Or even in some cases, accept kill or be killed too.
Anypony would be absolutely crazy to be anywhere near the forest at this time of night!
Yet one such pony still remained at the entrance of a large cave that looked out to the silhouettes the night brought.
His name: Burning Axe.
Nights like this were perfect for him to step out of the depths of his rock home to greet the night like an old friend. No noises, no monsters, no dangers, no worries!
Breath condensed in in front of his separately coloured eyes to dance into the sky, joining the many stars above (just another sign to tell him how cold it was, in case he hadn't noticed already). His forelegs were pressing onto the hard stone cold flooring below... well it would be stone cold... it was stone!
Nature always has a way to either help you or completely take the mickey.
The only protection from the cold he had was a single deep purple scarf that wrapped around his neck. That was ok though; he was used to the cold by now.
Another wind caused his brown feathers to ruffle slightly joining in with the rhythm of which he currently found himself in. Closing his eyes, he felt himself get in touch with the soft serenity of nature.
He loved it when the wind raked its way through his red and orange mane. His body yearned for the freedom of which the wind could give him. He used to believe that the wind was there to take ponies pain away on it's back and save them from the troubles of this world. But alas, fairy tales are fairy tales and reality is reality. There is no point in trying to get his hopes up on something you can't even trust in.
But something about the wind still pleased the colt within him, filling him with only a sliver of hope once again. It was if it was calling out to him just to say...
"ACHOO!"
Wait, what?
Burning snapped his eyes open to seek out the small disturbance in his present state of peace. The blue and green orbs scanned the sky for any intruders about but finding no success, his gaze swept across the frosty ground for any sign of life.
A light grey Pegasus mare was grinning in his direction giving him a friendly wave as she made her way closer to the entrance. Bubbles were imprinted on her flank which were brushed by the grey feathers of her wings as she tried to keep the cold away. Her pale yellow mane flew in many different directions, as did her eyes as she tried to fix it back into it's usual style.
She was about halfway there when a particularly strong wind unbalanced the light weight pegasus, causing her to topple over her front hooves and hit her muzzle on the ground below.
"Derpy!" Burning cried rushing to the ponies side. "Are you alright?"
The mare groaned slightly and looked up at her friend. "I think so... is my lip bleeding?" Sticking her lip out, she located the sore spot with her tongue, indicating where he had to examine.
Many ordinary ponies would not be able to tell with just the moonlight to clarify their answer but burning was not an ordinary pony. He had lived in sync with the day and night for a long time.
"No, I don't think so..." As soon as his wing brushed her back, a shiver went up his spine. "Come on, we need to get you warmed up a little..."
Burning had known Derpy for quite a long time now. They had met due to Derpy flying in the wrong direction to deliver a letter and getting hopelessly lost in the forest. Luckily for her, Burning Axe found her before any other animal did. He let her stay in his cave for the night before helping her find her way home when daylight broke through the clouds. During this time, they had discovered that they had quite a lot in common with one another. They were both outcasts, with eyes that were considered 'different' and both enjoyed muffins.
She happened to be the first pony of which he ever confided in, in relation to his... dark past... that he didn't feel he owed an explanation to. Something about talking to the mare just seemed to come more naturally than it did with others. He kind of knew that from her condition that ponies would not have always been understanding or even kind about it either.
After relaying his past events, she never changed her approach to him. She saw it as an unfortunate event that could only be cured by friendship... and muffins...
So, she got him both. A basket of muffins every Saturday and a friend to eat them with.
With that thought in mind, Burning realised something.
"Hey Derpy?"
"Yup?"
"Why are you here? Not that I don't enjoy your company but it's not a Saturday and its really dark out; not to mention cold!" He observed her teeth chatter as he took her a little deeper into the cave. As soon as she had settled herself as best she could, she looked up at him with her good eye and grinned.
"I wouldn't want to leave you all alone, especially seen as its so cold out... plus, on the way, I found a stone that looks like it has a face on it, look!" She pulled out a small rock with a jagged yet unmistakable face like shape on its grey surface. "I think she looks like me! You can keep her if you want! Then you'll look at her and think of me! She's the same colour too!"
Burning chuckled slightly shaking his head in amusement.
"Derpy, you are one of a kind!" A smile found its way onto his face. Though he wasn't the type of pony for socialising, Derpy normally did most of the interacting for him so he was kind of forced out of his comfort zone. Sometimes it could be quite good to have company but at other times he just wanted to be left alone. However, his social skills had improved massively since their meeting and now... being in the presence of another pony wasn't quite as intimidating.
Sitting next to the grey mare, he was alerted to her needs when she sneezed once again.
"Sounds like you're getting a bad cold... I... um.... here!" Without hesitation, he took off the purple scarf and wrapped it around his friends neck. What little comfort it provided seemed to be enough to stop the shivers from running up and down her slim body. Probably because it contained some of his warmth too.
Derpy looked down at the woollen scarf before hugging Burning tightly. "Thank you!"
The sudden gesture caught the stallion off guard. Unused to this much interaction, he slowly put his hooves around her back and patted her lightly. "I-it's alright! R-really! It suits you better than me anyways and... it really brings out your eyes!"
Releasing him from her sneak attack, she nestled herself to the side of the brown body before staring out at the sky above. Her wall eyes simmered like the fire that lit up her heart with joy.
The sky was filled with diamonds that formed patterns and paintings that an artist could only dream of creating. Twinkling stars adorned the black night in a simple bliss between dark and light. Who knew that things so different in every way could end up being so perfect together. Luna's gift lay in the centre of the sky beaming brightly through the blackened forest, making pathways of silver for the dreamers to follow.
"My Mommy used to tell me a story when I was little..." Derpy began. Burning looked down at his side where the mare still snuggled into his fur. "She said, once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who got lost in the woods. She was cold and afraid of what may happen to her so she ran in the direction that she thought was leading her back to home."
She let out a deep sigh and began to close her eyes. "The princess couldn't have been more wrong as it led her to a cave. The owner was said to have a heart blacker than the deepest parts of it. But the princess didn't listen. He had no company, no friends and nopony. He was as cold as the winter snow." Burning's brow knitted together; he knew who she was referencing to. He didn't know if he wanted to hear the rest.
"He thought the world had turned on him so he decided to turn on the world. Luring the princess to his cave, he was about to kill her when a knight in shining armour came to rescue her. He slated the monstrous pony who had tried to kill the princess and they rode away together into a new day." Derpy opened both of her eyes to look up at Burning Axe. "I think that it's all a lie." She stated simply.
The Pegasus looked down at his friend and asked her why she thought this.
Derpy gave him a tired smile. "Because if he truly had nopony, all he needed was a friend..." She nuzzled into his coat and put a hoof on her scarf to make her point. "To make the cold become warmth." And with that, she fell into a deep sleep.
How is it that a mare like Derpy who everyone stereotypes as the ditzy one can sometimes be the most intelligent of all the ponies. Derpy really and truly was one of a kind.
Burning Axe smiled as he looked back on all of his talks with her. In a brisk moment of courage, he ignored the pleas in his head to push her away like he did with everypony and draped a wing over her back.
That's when he felt it. Her body heat radiated underneath his wing and closer to his body. A warmth, not physical, but still present arose in his chest too.
She was right as the cold had become warmth.
With that thought, Burning put his chin atop the mares head and nuzzled into her mane.
"And the princess lived happily ever after." He whispered gently.
