Chapters Early the next morning, Fleetfoot left for Canterlot. She landed outside the castle and trotted up to the huge gates. Dark Shooter was nowhere to be found.
"Well, he is still mainly a Night Guard, despite being Head Guard. His shift's probably over." Fleetfoot reasoned. She approached the gate and was stopped by the Day Guards.
"What is your business here?" one asked
"I need to thpeak with Princethth Celethtia." Fleetfoot said
"The Princess is very busy, she doesn't have time to speak with civilians. Move along." the second guard responded.
Fleetfoot turned, about to obey and leave. Suddenly, Dark Shooter landed in front of the guards.
"Stand down, she's with me." Dark Shooter commanded, and they stepped to the side. Dark Shooter beckoned with his wing for Fleetfoot to follow him. She smiled and trotted inside, fighting the urge to smirk at the Guards.
"Thank you Dark." Fleetfoot murmured.
"Anytime sis. So, what are you doing here anyway?"
"Thpitfire told me I should tell Princethth Celethtia about my magic. She gave me time off to come."
"She still soft on you?"
"We're dating, what would you expect? Bethideth, outthide of practice she'th nice to everyone. They're her friendth."
"Well, Princess Celestia's meeting some delegates right now, so the guards were right that she was busy. If you really want to talk with royalty, Princess Luna's in the throne room."
"I don't know, I wath nervouth enough about talking to Princethth Celethtia. Princethth Luna ith a whole other thtory."
"But Princess Luna's the one who actually makes more of an effort to connect with her subjects. I should know, I escort her down to Ponyville enough times. She really enjoys the festivals there." Dark Shooter told her
"I know, it'th jutht...she giveth off thith air of intimidation. It'th like she'th trying to make ponieth afraid. I love what she reprethentth but she thcareth me." Fleetfoot admitted
"I guess I could accept that. I get it, she does tend to look a bit intimidating sometime...s" Dark Shooter looked over Fleetfoot's shoulder and stiffened.
"She'th right behind me, ithn't she?" Fleetfoot turned, sure enough, to see the Princess of the Night. She bowed as Dark Shooter saluted.
"Y-your majethty, I didn't mean to be rude-"
"It's alright, I understand. I do tend to intimidate my subjects, although I can assure you it's not my intention. Now, I believe you needed to tell my sister and I something?" Princess Luna asked, giving the brother and sister a soft smile.
"Yeth. But maybe I should show you." Fleetfoot reached out with her wing and touched the wall. She willed the ice to grow out around her wing, and it did. When she pulled away, the ice disappeared.
"Ice Manipulation." Princess Celestia had appeared behind her sister.
"You know about this magic Princess?" Dark Shooter asked
"Yes, although it has been a long time since we've seen it." Princess Celestia replied, looking down at Fleetfoot "You're a Frost, aren't you?"
"Y-yeth, Fleetfoot Frotht." Princess Luna leaned up and whispered into her sister's ear.
"She looks...name...exactly alike..."
"Yes Luna, I'm aware of the similarities." Princess Celestia waved her wing dismissively."Do you know the legend behind your magic?"
"No. Dark and I'th mother took my magic from me when I wath little. I only recently got it back." Fleetfoot answered
"Then come with us. I think it's time you learned."
The Legend of the Four Roses
"Long ago, when Equestria was newly formed, three ponies were given a great task. They needed to create a magical way to dispel curses. Each one infused a rose grown in the royal gardens with their magic. One, a Earth Pony known as Morning Glory, infused a light pink rose with the magic of Spring. Another, a Unicorn called Daylight Beam, enchanted a ruby red rose with the delight of Summer. The last, a Pegasus named Golden Ray, put the power of Autumn in a golden yellow rose. Together the roses had much power."
"Princess, if you don't mind me interrupting, you're forgetting a season." Dark Shooter said.
They were trotting along a hallway with many stained glass windows. They had stopped in front of one that showed a Unicorn, a Pegasus, and an Earth pony standing around three roses of different colors. Princess Celestia smiled and nodded.
"Yes. At that time, Winter was not the wonderful season it is today." Princess Celestia led them further down the hall
"Ponies thought of it as a season of replenishing for the earth. After the Windigos were defeated, the Pegasi still made sure the land was hit with snowstorms. Once the Earth Ponies had harvested enough food for all three tribes to survive, the earth would freeze to have enough time for the land to replenish. But nopony loved Winter the way they do now.
It was that way, until a year that the Cloudsdale citizens hosted a celebration to welcome Spring. Luna and I were young rulers then, and offered to judge the foals of the school on their projects. We would choose one to be displayed in the castle. We had been about to decide, when a very special filly showed up late. She told everypony that Winter was something to be treasured, and appreciated, rather than ignored. When she grew older, we asked her to add a rose to the original trio. By then, she had been gifted with Ice Manipulation. She created the fourth rose with her magic, making it certain that it contained the spirit of Winter."
Princess Celestia came to a halt in front of a stained glass window showing a misshapen snowflake.
"That'th the family cretht." Fleetfoot gasped
"And you said the filly had Ice Manipulation, like our family." Dark Shooter added
"Yes, you are her descendants. She was of the Frost Family." Princess Celestia replied.
"But...where did the magic come from?" Fleetfoot asked, and Princess Luna smiled mysteriously
"For the answer to that question, you will need the Four Season Roses, whose magic protects them. Together, they will give you the truth behind your family's powers."
"Where are they?" Fleetfoot asked. She still wanted to know more. Who was the mare? Why did she have the magic? What exactly did the roses do ?
"We do not know for sure, the roses have most likely been moved by both their own magic and ponies themselves over time. We do know a riddle that contains directions to where the roses were last rumored to be." Princess Celestia answered. Princess Luna closed her eyes and recited it from memory.
"Spring's rose stands
Summer's rose lies
Fall's rose is within
The rose of Winter is hardest of all
"Tho...I'd have to unite the four rotheth?" Fleetfoot asked
"Yes, although it may be hard to decipher the riddle. I know some previous bearers of the Ice Magic have tried. None have ever succeeded." Princess Celestia replied
"I'll have help from my friendth." Fleetfoot answered "Thank you for telling me thith."
After Fleetfoot bowed to them once more, and said goodbye to Dark Shooter, she headed back to Wonderbolt Headquarters. Her mind reeled with curiosity. Among her thoughts, one in particular wormed it's way to the front of them.
"What happened to the mare? If the Princesses knew her, then why didn't either of them mention how she passed? Why didn't they tell us what her name was? And why does this somehow feel connected to my nightmares?" Fleetfoot kept thinking about it as she landed. She then trotted into the Headquarters, looking for her friends.
"You're back." Spitfire came up and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "How'd it go?"
"Good, I think. But the Princeththeth thaid that if I want to know more about them, I need to gather the four rotheth of the theathonth." Fleetfoot replied
"The whats?" Rainbow asked, she and Soarin came up beside Spitfire. The four friends walked to Spitfire's office while Fleetfoot explained.
"They were hidden a long time ago, the Princeththeth think they could help me underthtand more about my magic. I think they might help with my nightmareth too."
"Well, looks like we're on another adventure." Rainbow said jokingly.
"Looks like it." Soarin agreed.
"Ha-ha. You don't have to come you know."
"Are you kidding Fleet? This is cool." Rainbow replied.
"Yeah, I'm definitely in." Soarin added
"What about you?" Fleetfoot asked Spitfire, who smiled at her.
"I'm by your side until the end Fleet. No matter what." Spitfire leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
"So, what's first?" Rainbow asked
"Can we hear the rhyme you told us about?" Soarin asked
"I-I don't want to thay it, my lithp will mangle it." Fleetfoot replied
"Honey, we can always do what you used to when we were little." Spitfire suggested
"What did you guys do? You always leave me out of everything!" Rainbow whined, and Soarin nuzzled her.
"Sorry Dashie, it's just...you're so close to us now that sometimes we forget you didn't grow up with us."
"I'll take it as a compliment on my loyalty. Anyway, what did you used to do?"
"Sometimes Fleet would be too shy to speak in front of the other foals at school, so she'd whisper to one of us what she wanted to say and then we'd say it for her. Ponies usually just assumed she was shy and didn't question it." Spitfire explained, then turned back to Fleet. "Well, what do you think?"
"I guethth that would work." Fleetfoot agreed.
"Okay, so tell me, and I'll tell them." Spitfire nuzzled her gently. Fleetfoot whispered the first verse into Spitfire's ear.
"Spring's rose stands
Spitfire repeated for her. Fleetfoot then told the second and third verses.
"Summer's rose lies
Fall's rose is within
Fleetfoot then told her the fourth and final verse.
"This one's a little different:
The rose of Winter is hardest of all
"Well, that's not so difficult." Rainbow replied
"What?!" they all asked. Rainbow shrugged.
"Yeah. Fleet said that the riddle would lead us to the most recent places they were supposedly. If we go off of that, then Summer and Fall's roses are simple."
"Then what are the answers? Are you trying to test our patience?" Spitfire asked. Rainbow just smirked.
Author's Note
Suspense is killing Spitfire. And you, probably. Sorry about the cliffhanger, but the next chapter will come soon.
~Melody Song
"So?" Spitfire demanded
"Spit, calm down. This isn't even about your family." Soarin laughed a little, then nuzzled Rainbow.
"Okay, so the Summer's rose is a bit weird, but easy enough to understand. It said the rose lies where memories drown. Where would you go to forget all your past mistakes?" Rainbow asked
"Somewhere...safe, maybe? A place that makes you feel comfortable?" Soarin asked
"Yeah, but I mean a place special to Fleetfoot's family." Rainbow replied
"Oh, the Frozen North! Dark Shooter said that your family is magically drawn to it." Spitfire said, turning to Fleetfoot.
"But...it'th the Thummer rothe." Fleetfoot objected. Rainbow sighed and her enthusiasm deflated a little.
"Right. But I think I'm right about the Fall rose."
"What do you know about that then?" Fleetfoot asked
"Well, it says the Fall rose is found in a song where all magic is answered, and concealed in a crowd. I don't know any place more magical and crowded by plants...than the Everfree Forest." Rainbow replied.
They flew down towards the tangled forest. Fleetfoot landed first and looked around.
"Where exactly are we going to look? The Everfree Foretht ith Huge." Fleetfoot said
"This way." Rainbow led Fleetfoot and the others through the forest.
The plants were almost reaching out to touch them. Rainbow stopped in front of a cliff. In front of them was a huge crystal structure. It looked like a clubhouse.
"This is a new thing. I bet that the Fall rose's part of the riddle was referring to what used to be here. Being the Tree of Harmony, an 'answer to all magic' since the magic of Friendship is the most obvious kind of magic. And the forest used to be really thick and overgrown near the Castle of the Two Sisters."
"So you're saying that since the rose is magical, it might have protected itself when this grew, so it's hidden somewhere here." Spitfire realized
"Yeah, basically. Should we spread out, or...?"
"Let's spread out, look for anything that might indicate a fall rose." Spitfire suggested. Fleetfoot ran ahead, looking around. Each plant was crowding over the next, only a few had flowers.
Fleetfoot closed her eyes and whispered the Fall's rose riddle into the air.
"Fall'th rothe ith within
Fleetfoot felt a breeze blow past her, and she opened her eyes. A gust of wind was blowing past the trees, the leaves and plants shivering at the touch. Fleetfoot stepped closer towards it. She then ran after the breeze as it blew faster. Fleetfoot followed it, flying after it down the cliff.
"Fleetfoot!" Spitfire called, following her. Fleetfoot landed on the ground and wandered after the wind. It swirled around the base of the tree, where thousands of roses bloomed and shone in the light coming from the treehouse's base.
"Whoa." Soarin gasped
"Do you know how to find the right one?" Rainbow asked
Fleetfoot stepped forward and began humming under her breath. She then opened her mouth and began to sing.
"I can feel you stirring deep inside my heart
Thousands and thousands of roses start
I'm here for you
Her song was short, but it stirred up the wind, which swirled again, picking up yellow-orange leaves from the ground. The wind swirled into the crowd of blossoms and lifted one high into the air. Fleetfoot took off and reached for it. The flower drifted down and landed in her outstretched hooves.
Fleetfoot examined it. It glowed with it's own light, a golden shine against Fleet's ice blue coat. Fleetfoot flew back down to her friends, holding the rose carefully in one hoof.
"You did it Fleet." Spitfire said as she landed.
"That's definitely the Fall Rose." Rainbow agreed
"Okay. So what's next?" Soarin asked.
"Get thith to thafety. And I think thith giveth me an idea on how to find the otherth."
"That'th what happened." Fleetfoot told them.
"So you didn't get a good look at who it was?" Soarin asked.
They were sitting in the rec room, Spitfire had chased the other Wonderbolts out, urging them into the kitchen. Dark Shooter had joined them, it was his off day. Rainbow was sitting silently next to Soarin on the couch, cuddling up against the stallion. Soarin draped a wing over her.
"No, I didn't."
"Well, you gave me a pretty good idea on who she was talking about." Rainbow spoke at last, sitting up. "When she told you her friend can walk in dreams. I think she was talking about Princess Luna."
"The Princess did mention to me that she can walk in dreams." Dark Shooter agreed.
"Not just that. I've met her on more than one occasion. The figure called it the Dream Realm. Luna calls it the same thing. She says Dream Realm and Waking World." Rainbow said.
"But what about the roses? Do you know what she might be talking about by those?" Spitfire asked.
"Well, what Fleet said about curing heartaches...kind of reminds me...of this old legend my mom used to tell me about." Rainbow admitted.
"Like what?" Fleetfoot sat up a little straighter.
"The legend was, that certain Pegasi used to make cloaks and blankets woven of stars and the night sky. Apparently, they could mend broken hearts and make you forget about the pain of the day before." Rainbow said.
"So, 'where memories drown' could be a reference to the legend. Do you know what it was called?" Dark Shooter asked.
"My mom called it 'The Legend of the Star Weavers'." Rainbow told him.
"Never heard of it." Spitfire said
"Me neither." Fleetfoot agreed. Dark Shooter and Soarin nodded.
"Well, it's definitely a clue." Rainbow said.
"The Star Weavers...it sounds like it could be true." Spitfire murmured.
"And the pony definitely mentioned weaving the thky. But she thaid it wath in a certain place."
"My mom told me the legend so many times, I memorized it, it goes like this:" Rainbow stood and opened her mouth.
"Wait." Spitfire got up and pulled the blinds closed. "It's more dramatic this way."
The others stifled laughter and Fleetfoot shook her head, giggling. Spitfire shrugged and went to the shelves, where books and board games were stacked up. She moved a few aside and pulled out a metal tin, going back to Fleetfoot.
"What is that?" Soarin asked, as Rainbow sat back down next to him, cuddling under his wing.
"It's my..." Spitfire looked around to make sure they were alone. "...it's my stash of cookies. I've got one in my office too. Don't tell the others, okay?"
"Oh, so Spit's got a sweet tooth." Soarin teased
"Shut up Soarin, or I won't give you any." Spitfire snarled playfully, prying open the tin and taking out a cookie.
"Yum, chocolate chip." Fleetfoot said, reaching and taking one.
"Can I talk now?" Rainbow asked
"Oh, yeah, go ahead." Spitfire told her, passing the tin to Soarin.
"Right." Rainbow cleared her throat and began. "The Legend of the Star Weavers."
"Once, when Equestria was young, some of the Pegasi of our ancient Cloudsdale would fly high above the land, higher than any pony else could go, and gather the stars in their hooves. When they returned, they would weave beautiful blankets and cloaks from the stars. However, they always returned the stars to the sky to replenish them, and in return, they'd get enough from the cycle to make their fabrics. It was said that the fabric sparkled with moondust-"
"Wait, I thought you said it was stars." Dark Shooter interrupted, munching on a cookie.
"Will you let me finish?" Rainbow asked him.
"Sorry, go on."
Rainbow nodded, then continued.
"My mother told me, that the reason it was moondust, is because once the stars had no glow. The Moon felt sorry for all the white dots, so one night, he shook himself until all the excess dust he had was covering the stars. Those stars glowed brighter than anything you’d ever seen, and still glow like that today. The cloaks and blankets the Pegasi made of the stars were also said to mend broken hearts. When you were upset and the day had been bad, you had the blanket of stars to cover you. They were said to fill a pony’s dreams with hope, love, peace, and adventure, so you’d never have a nightmare. The star blankets were something special, and so were the ponies who could weave them. It is said that there are still some Pegasi today that can weave the stars. If they could catch them. It takes a very special pony to touch the stars."
"That all lines up with the riddle. 'Where memories drown' is when the ponies gave up their sadness and hurting to the star blankets." Dark Shooter said.
"Or, maybe it's referring to the night sky, where the blankets were made." Soarin said, and Rainbow nodded.
"That doethn't work, it'th not a thpecific place. We can't patrol the thky until we find it."
"True enough, but my mom also used to tell me that the Star Weavers used to go to a certain place in the sky to collect the stars. She said they'd have to go high enough to touch the sky, and be near enough to a surface to land and wind up the stars. But it doesn't make sense."
"Or...they could be talking about a mountain!" Fleetfoot realized, standing up.
"Yes!" Rainbow cried. "It makes sense!"
"Hate to burst you two's bubble, but there are about a dozen mountains around Equestria." Soarin said, and Rainbow sighed, falling back into his hooves.
"Well, they were Pegasi, so maybe a mountain close to Cloudsdale."
"It's a moving city Spits."
"I meant where it is for most of the year, you know, Canterlot ?"
"It'th a thtart." Fleetfoot agreed
"So should we go?" Dark Shooter asked
"Actually, I think maybe we should go at night. The Thtar Blanketth were made from the night, tho we should go at night."
"Agreed." Rainbow said
Author's Note
This will be split into two chapters, sorry. Also sorry for the wait, the next chapter will come sometime next week.
~Melody Song
That night, Fleetfoot led them to the sky above Canterlot.
"Are we going any higher? I'm getting winded." Dark Shooter panted
"That's the altitude, the higher we go the thinner the air gets!" Spitfire called back to him.
"Yeah, Fleet, we're already above the mountain! If this air gets any thinner we're gonna have to bail out." Soarin added
"What are you guys talking about? It's fine. A little cold, but okay!" Rainbow said, pulling to the head of the group.
"What is she talking about...? It's really thin up here." Fleetfoot thought
"She cannot feel the air thinning the same way you cannot feel the cold." A voice responded, and Fleetfoot nearly gasped, before remembering to conserve the air she had left in her lungs.
"Is that you? From my dreams?"
"Yes, it is."
"Why can I hear you? I thought you were only in my dreams?"
"I am connected to you through your powers, I'm part of the reason everyone with the magic is drawn to the North. For now, since you are the first in over a hundred years to try and seek out the roses, I will assist. Think of me as a guide. But I will not always respond, it depends on the energy I have at the moment."
"Okay...so why can't Rainbow feel the thin air and the pressure?"
"Well, have you never wondered how she can so effortlessly rise higher than the rest of you to preform her Sonic Rainboom?"
Fleetfoot's eyes widened. It was true, Rainbow had never complained of any chest pains that usually came with going too high. She was even able to go high enough to reach the speeds required for a Sonic Rainboom.
"Is she crazy? How can she go up this high?!" Dark Shooter gasped, spreading his wings wider and leveling out.
"She-she can't feel the air thinning...but why?" Fleetfoot asked as Soarin and Spitfire joined them.
"The same reason she is the only one of your group of friends to ever hear of the Star Weavers." The mare's voice replied.
"Are you saying she can't feel it...because the sky calls to her the way the ice did to me?" Fleetfoot asked
"...yes, I suppose you could think of it that way."
Fleetfoot looked around, and realized how high they were.
"Fleet...?"
"We're high enough now." Fleetfoot looked up. "Rainbow, thtop!"
"You're going too high Dashie!" Soarin cried out. Rainbow swerved and rejoined them.
"I was fine. How high are we?"
"Too high." Spitfire remarked, letting out a clouded breath.
"If it's high enough we can see our breath, it should be cold enough for your magic to work." Dark Shooter told Fleetfoot.
"He is right. Remember what I said. Sing to it. Call out to the spirit. Urge it to respond and reveal its secrets."
"Right..." Fleetfoot muttered to the voice, then took a breath.
It was hard to take deep breaths in such thin air, but she managed it. Fleetfoot turned and allowed her magic to light up her hooves. Fleetfoot opened her mouth, then began to sing.
"The cold wind is calling,
The misty mountain sings and beckons,
I must ride, I must fly~
Fleetfoot held still for a little bit, and Rainbow glanced around.
"What's wrong? Shouldn't that have worked?"
"Thummer'th Rothe ith in dithguithe, remember?" Fleetfoot reminded her.
"So where is it?" Rainbow asked, swiping at the air.
Suddenly, the night looked tighter, and a swath of silver fabric fell into her hoof.
"What the-?" Spitfire asked
"What is that?" Dark Shooter asked, and Soarin came over for a closer look.
"It...looks like a star!"
"Then...ith the rothe hidden in the thky?" Fleetfoot wondered.
"Only one way to find out..." Spitfire said. Fleetfoot took another breath and continued singing for another verse.
"I must ride, I must fly~
Fleetfoot glanced around, and Rainbow flew up to her.
"Need a hoof?"
"Actually, that might work." Fleetfoot whispered. "Rainbow...try thinging."
"What? But you're supposed to do it!" The voice argued
"Well I have an idea."
"Go on Rainbow." Fleetfoot urged. Rainbow took a deep breath and flew forwards, doing a loop.
"Where the dark woods hide secrets,
Deep water holds the reflections
I hear your every story,
I'm strong as seas are stormy
As Rainbow sang this, her wingtips brushed the inky night and the silver stars were pulled out.
"Rainbow!" Soarin flew forwards.
"What...?" Spitfire gasped
"She-what's happening to her?" Dark Shooter asked.
Fleetfoot watched as the stars trailed after Rainbow. The mare turned to look behind her and reached, winding the stars into her hooves. She pulled them close and continued, eyes wide.
"I must ride, I must fly
I will fly
And touch the stars~
As Rainbow finished, the others realized she had shaped the gathered stars into the image of a rose. The stars lifted from her hooves and glowed with ethereal light. When they stopped glowing, they left behind a rose as red as a ruby. Fleetfoot flew towards Rainbow and reached, lifting the rose from her hooves.
"Summer's rose is cloaked in disguise. It was hidden in the stars." Dark Shooter murmured as he, Soarin, and Spitfire flew up to them.
"And the only pony who would have ever been able to find it...would be thomepony who can weave the thky." Fleetfoot said, looking up at Rainbow.
"Me? You think I'm a star weaver?" Rainbow asked
"Well, it would explain why you know the legend when none of uth have ever heard of it."
"And you'd need to have the ability to go really high to get close enough to weave the stars. Nopony can go higher than you." Soarin added
"I guess...but really?" Rainbow asked, and they all nodded.
"We can talk more about it later. For now, let's get this back to it's fellow season rose." Spitfire said, gesturing to the rose Fleetfoot held gently.
"Yeah, let'th go."
Author's Note
Okay, I completely forgot about that promise about it coming next week. Two weeks isn't that far off though, right? I worked really hard on this though. The song is a re-write of Touch the Sky from Brave
~Melody Song
Author's Note
Sorry, kept forgetting to publish this.
~Melody Song
A New Revelation
Fleetfoot and her friends said goodbye to Dark Shooter over Canterlot to let him fly back to his house there. Now they were back in Wonderbolt HQ. To be more specific, Spitfire's office. Fleetfoot laid the Summer Rose by its fellow, in one of the drawers in Spitfire's desk. The two enchanted roses glowed softly upon reuniting. Spitfire joined her and pressed her muzzle against Fleetfoot's cheek.
"Now that the roses are safe, how about getting some sleep?" Spitfire asked. Rainbow yawned behind them.
"Yeah, I'm ready for bed." she said, leaning against Soarin's side. He put a wing over her.
"Come on Dashie, let's get to bed." Soarin turned and led her out of the room.
"You too Fleety." Spitfire wrapped a wing over Fleetfoot and pulled her out of the office. Fleetfoot nuzzled up against Spitfire and closed her eyes.
"Okay..." she mumbled, hearing Spitfire chuckle softly.
The two entered the Captain's bedroom and Fleetfoot opened her eyes long enough to climb into the bed. Spitfire joined her, and pulled her in close. Fleetfoot snuggled up to her, yawning.
"Goodnight Fleet." Spitfire murmured
"Night Thpitty." Fleetfoot whispered, resting in Spitfire's hooves.
Fleetfoot was running through a snowstorm, chasing after the object again. She tripped and fell through the molten glass again, hooves waving. Before she could cry out and wake up, a white fog surrounded her and she stood in a snowy plain with flurries sweeping around her.
"Why did you have to be so foolish?" Fleetfoot turned to see the same figure as before, as usual, shrouded in snow.
"What do you mean? I got the Thummer Rothe!"
"Yes, and you needed a Star Weaver to do it!"
"Well, my way worked. I don't think I have to remind you that the latht hundred timeth, ponieth from my family failed. You mentioned you knew how they weren't able to."
"Perhaps, but I didn't help them! You disobeyed me!"
"Well, if you're really tho mad then why are you talking to me in the firtht place?!"
"You're still the next generation of Ice Familiars, so it's my duty to try and help."
"Tho are you going to get on with it?" Fleetfoot asked
"Not if you keep disrespecting me!"
Fleetfoot sighed and rubbed her foreleg.
"Look, I'm not trying to dithobey you, but when you're working together to accomplish thomething, it'th important that you lithen to everyone. If thomepony hath a better idea that might work, you need to hear them out."
"Perhaps...I still have a few things to learn, it seems..." the pony murmured "So what did you have in mind?"
"I should be able to accept the help of my friendth, including Rainbow Dash and Thpitfire."
"The Phoenix Mage? She's the exact opposite of everything our powers are! They represent peace, calm, the silence and beauty of a winter night! She represents tension, frustrations, all the unpredictability of a blazing fire!"
"I know. That'th why I love her." Fleetfoot sighed, then looked up. "And why I need her. She putth forward tho many ideath I never would have though of. Our powerth, being oppothite of herth, would mean logic and reathoning. Thpitfire'th tho creative and full of imagination, it'th how she cometh up with tho many amazing flight formationth."
"Well...I suppose if she's that vital..." the mare sighed "I guess she and the Star Weaver could be allowed to help."
"Thank you." Fleetfoot said. "Now, can you tell me about the Rothe of Thpring?"
"Yes..." she stepped closer. "The Rose was moved from its original location by me, when I found it. I needed a place to safely put it-"
"Then why didn't the otherth move?"
"I learned after my failure that the roses returned to their original places. But the Rose of Spring found the place I put them to be much better than it's original."
"Then doeth that mean it'th part of the rhyme ith unreliable?"
"The rhyme changed with it, not in pony's minds but the ancient scriptures that the Royal Sisters made for the Roses. They would have noticed the change. As for the rose, I placed it in a place where I would always remember."
"Where?"
"A place very close to my heart. North, where our Ice powers resonate the most. But near a place named after the first friend I ever made. Who touched my heart in a way few ever did." the mare touched a hoof to her chest.
"They were important enough to have a place named after them?"
"Yes, they were."
"The rhyme mentionth water, and tho did you latht time we thpoke through a dream. Ith it an ocean? Or a thtrait? Oh! Glacierth are riverth of ice, ith that it?!"
"My, you are eager. I was too upon seeking the Spring Rose. One step closer to the answers I needed. You were closer the first time."
"An ocean..." Fleetfoot thought, racking her brain to try and recall any important oceans near the north. But she wasn't that smart. She would need to consult some maps. Fleetfoot looked up and saw the mare was fading.
"You are awakening."
"I figured. Goodbye, friend. What ith your name, anyway?"
"...." The mare hesitated, and Fleetfoot pricked her ears. "...Call me Ice Lily for now. I don't feel ready to tell you my true name."
Fleetfoot opened her eyes slowly, seeing Spitfire still cuddled up against her. Fleetfoot smiled and gave her a soft peck on the lips. Spitfire grunted and her eyes opened. She blinked a moment before focusing.
"Fleet? What's wrong?" Spitfire sat up slightly.
"Nothing..." Fleetfoot said, smiling and snuggling up into Spitfire's chest, wrapping her hooves around her and resting there. "I had another dream, the mare gave me a clue to where the next rothe ith."
"Should we go wake Rainbow and Soarin?" Spitfire asked
"Give them a little longer." Fleetfoot cuddled up and Spitfire put her hooves around her. "I want to thtay like thith for a bit."
Spitfire smiled and hugged her.
"Okay Fleet. Let me know when you're ready."
"Ice Lily?" Rainbow echoed after Fleetfoot finished recounting what happened.
"Yeah. She made it thound like she made it up."
"I wonder what her real name is." Soarin said
"I wish we had some maps so we could see what she was talking about." Spitfire said
"Twilight has a bunch of maps, we can go ask her." Rainbow suggested
"Sure, let'th go!" Fleetfoot leapt up and led them out of Wonderbolt HQ, heading for Ponyville.
Once they landed in the town, Rainbow took them the rest of the way. They spotted a group of five different creatures lounging on the grass by Princess Twilight's Friendship School. Rainbow pushed open the doors of the castle and called out.
"Twi! We need your help!"
Hoofsteps sounded and the Princess emerged from one of the hallways. She smiled.
"Hello Rainbow. Fleetfoot, Spitfire, Soarin, it's good to see you."
"You too Princess." Spitfire gave a polite bow, the others joining her.
"Listen Twi, we need to look at one of your maps of Equestria."
"My maps? Why?"
"It doesn't matter, can you just get them for us?"
"Fine, fine." Princess Twilight rolled her eyes at Rainbow, then led them to some doors that opened into a library. "Give me a minute."
The Princess took off and flew into the air, glancing around before pulling a large book off the shelf and flying down.
"Atlas of Equestria, Volume Six. It's the most recent and includes pictures of other creatures' homelands." Princess Twilight said, setting it down.
Rainbow nodded and made a shooing motion with her wing. Princess Twilight rolled her eyes again but left the room. Fleetfoot pulled the book closer and opened it. She flipped through the pages until she came across a large map of Equestria.
"A body of water...in the north...that ith named after thomepony famouth..." Fleetfoot said
"The only bodies of water near there are the Celestial Sea and the Luna Ocean-well, the North part." Soarin said, tracing his hoof along the bodies of water.
"She thaid I wath clothe when I mentioned an Ocean..." Fleetfoot said.
"Well, a sea is an ocean, right?" Rainbow asked
"Incorrect. Seas are typically smaller and less deep than oceans." Princess Twilight said from behind them.
"I thought I asked you to leave."
"Calm down Rainbow, whatever secret thing you're doing is safe, I only trotted in in time to hear you ask that question." Princess Twilight replied. "I left one of the textbooks I was studying last night in here."
Once the Princess had left again, they turned back to studying the map.
"Did 'Ice Lily' say anything else that might have been a clue?" Spitfire asked
Fleetfoot thought back, but the main bulk of the dream had been their argument over including Rainbow and...
"Thpitfire..."
"What?" Spitfire asked, and Fleetfoot shook her head.
"Thorry, I wath jutht thinking. But yeth, I think she did."
"What did she say?" Soarin asked
"It wathn't exactly a direct clue. But when she and I were talking, our Ice Powerth were brought up. Ice Lily thaid: "They reprethent the thilence and beauty of a winter night." She emphathized nighttime, but when she compared them to...well, Thpitfire'th magic, she didn't mention anything about the daytime. Like she felt more deeply toward the night than the day." Fleetfoot told them.
"The night...and a pony who was her first friend..." Rainbow's eyes scanned the map and she reached to place her hoof on the top left corner of the map. They all leaned over to look.
"The North Luna Ocean?" Spitfire asked
"Luna was her first friend?" Soarin asked, eyes widening.
"It...kinda makes sense. She's got a pretty close relationship with the CMCs...actually, pretty much everypony in Ponyville considers her a friend-maybe not a close one, but a friend." Rainbow said
"It'th ath good a place to thtart ath any. Let'th go." Fleetfoot said, standing.
"Hold it Fleet. You may be immune to the cold but not all of us are." Rainbow said, holding up a hoof to stop her. "And we're going closer to the Frozen North than you were when you ran off. The last time I encountered storm clouds from there my wings nearly froze to my body."
"...Maybe we should get thome warm clotheth..." Fleetfoot said, blushing in embarrassment at forgetting her friends' disadvantage to dealing with the cold.
The group flew back to Wonderbolt HQ after Rainbow borrowed a singular map of Equestria from Princess Twilight. They also stopped at Rainbow's house so she could grab her winter gear.
"Didn't think I'd need winter outfits in the middle of summer." Rainbow joked, carrying the stuff out.
"The rest of our stuff is back at HQ, let's go." Spitfire said, taking the map from Rainbow and leading them back.
They got back and grabbed more winter gear, including flight goggles that had been specially enchanted to withstand ice and snow without freezing and cracking.
"I wish I could wear my regular goggles." Soarin sighed as he put the magically reinforced ones on.
"Well, unless you want your favorite goggles to break, you'll be better off with these." Spitfire replied, reaching with a hoof to push the goggles down from his forehead over his eyes. Soarin swatted at her.
"Come on guyth, you can teathe each other later, let'th go!" Fleetfoot urged, standing at the door.
Spitfire, Soarin, and Rainbow followed her out and Rainbow pulled out the map. She looked down at it and traced her hoof along a path.
"We need to go Northwest." she told them, looking around. "That way!"
The four ponies took off and headed in the direction indicated.
Fleetfoot sped up as they neared the cool, crystal blue waters of the North Luna Ocean. The flight there had taken the whole day, the sun was starting to set.
"Here we are. Any idea where to look?" Spitfire asked
"In the firtht dream, 'Ice Lily' thaid the rothe'th element would be rain."
"We are surrounded by water..." Rainbow said.
"Let me try what we did latht time." Fleetfoot took off and swept over the waters. She took a breath and began.
"Here I am, standing brave
Stars shine bright,
Fleetfoot flew over the water, diving down to skim it with her hoof. A small trail of ice expanded across it, following her, until she swooped up. She turned back and gestured to her friends, smiling.
"Oh, won't you come to me?
Fleetfoot turned back to the water and sang directly to it. They were nearing a smaller alcove of water.
"Please come to me,
I had a dream last night,
Hoofprints in the snow,
Fleetfoot alighted on the snow-covered shore.
"We're not at the Ocean now. Twi's map says this place is called Luna Bay." Rainbow told them, shivering.
Spitfire extended her wings, a ball of flame appearing. She stretched her wings around to her front and held it before them. Rainbow and Soarin stepped closer, holding out their wings and hooves to it.
"Well we can't thtop. It'th here, I know it ith." Fleetfoot stepped closer to the water.
"Am I close?" she asked
"Yes...and you now can learn another trick of the Familiar's trade."
"Which is?"
"Take a step onto the water and will the ice to only form at your hoof."
Fleetfoot took a deep breath and placed a hoof on the rippling water. A small patch of ice emerged there.
"Fleet what are you doing?!" Spitfire called out.
"Trust the magic to hold you and keep walking. Call out to the element again."
Fleetfoot breathed deep and took another step. The ice appeared again. Fleetfoot let out a laugh of achievement and leapt onto the water. Solid ice emerged and supported her. She tilted her head and walked on confidently, not even having to look down to know she was safe. She closed her eyes and continued.
"Come to me
Please come to me
Fleetfoot saw a glowing through her eyelids and opened them. She gasped as she saw it. The water was rising and swirling around near her. She began running towards the rising water, hooves thumping against her ice as she galloped. Fleetfoot shook out her mane to fall around her and sang louder.
"Please come to me!
Come to me
The water lowered, revealing a light pink rose hovering in the center. It shone with an ethereal light. Fleetfoot's eyes widened, and she reached out. Her hoof grazed the rose petals and the rose fell into her outstretched hoof. Fleetfoot took off and carried the rose back to shore.
"Whoah..." Rainbow and Soarin gasped
"So it was the bay, not the ocean..." Rainbow murmured
"That was amazing." Spitfire said, leaning in to nuzzle her.
"Let'th get thith home." Fleetfoot said.
Author's Note
The song is a re-write of Song of the Sea, a Lullaby by Nolwenn Leroy. As for the names, according to some fan-made maps, there are places titled "The Luna Ocean" and "The Celestial Sea."
~Melody Song
Fleetfoot landed back at Wonderbolt HQ late at night, followed by Soarin, Rainbow, and Spitfire. Fleetfoot carried the Rose of Spring straight to Spitfire's office, where she placed it beside the others. It glowed as it was laid beside its sisters.
"Alright, bed." Spitfire ordered "I don't want anypony getting sick from being out in that cold."
"Agreed." Soarin nodded, taking Rainbow by the hoof. "Let's get to bed."
"I can't wait to snuggle down into those comfortable sheets. I don't think I'll ever be warm again." Rainbow shuddered.
Fleetfoot followed them out and went with Spitfire. Unlike the previous time they'd returned late at night, she felt energized. The cold had been...refreshing. She was wide awake.
"I take it you're not tired?" Spitfire asked, seeing the smile on Fleetfoot's face.
"Nope."
Spitfire smiled and took her hoof, leading her to the mess hall.
"Then come on. Let's make some hot chocolate and talk in my room. I know it's summer but I'm still a little cold from that place. Rainbow wasn't kidding when she said the Frozen North was colder than anything we've seen before."
"Okay." Fleetfoot smiled, kissing her on the cheek.
They grabbed some mugs and Spitfire poured the hot chocolate mix into a pot of boiling water. Rather than wait for the stove to heat up, Spitfire just used her magic to heat it. Fleetfoot went to the cabinet and opened it, pulling out a bag of marshmallows. She held them out, shaking the bag with a smile. Spitfire grinned back.
"Come on," Spitfire poured the hot chocolate into the two mugs "Let's get these to my room."
Fleetfoot poured a generous amount of marshmallows into each mug, then put them back. The two left the mess hall, heading for Spitfire's room. They entered and Spitfire set the mugs on the bedside table. Fleetfoot waited for Spitfire to lie down, then joined her. She nuzzled against Spitfire's side and grabbed a blanket, tucking it around them. Spitfire placed her forelegs over it and cuddled down into it. Fleetfoot reached across and picked up their mugs, passing one to Spitfire and taking a careful sip of her own.
"So, we found the third rose." Spitfire said
"Yep. Jutht one more to go." Fleetfoot said, and Spitfire nuzzled her.
"You're one more rose away from knowing the truth behind your powers." Spitfire agreed
"It'th weird to think thith ith almotht over." Fleetfoot took another sip of her drink. "But at leatht everything will be back to normal."
"Yeah." Spitfire leaned across to kiss her cheek.
"I am thtill curiouth about who 'Ice Lily' ith. And how she knowth Princethth Luna."
"I'm sure once you get the last rose it will all make sense." Spitfire said, then stifled a yawn.
"You're tired already?"
"We've had a long day. And I wasn't out in my natural element like you."
"Huh?"
"It tends to give you an energy boost. That's why I like summer, the extra heat gives me more energy for training." Spitfire then yawned again, and tilted the mug, downing the rest of it, licking up the leftover marshmallows.
"How...?"
"Heh. Fire magic gives me a bit more of a tolerance for hot drinks than usual."
Fleetfoot set her mug down too. She put her hooves around Spitfire, who set the mug aside and snuggled up into her, eyes closing.
"Go ahead and thleep. I'm okay. Think I'm jutht gonna watch the thtarth for a bit."
"Mm...okay...night Fleety..." Spitfire mumbled, then began snoring lightly.
Fleetfoot kissed her forehead and stared out the window. She must have nodded off, because the next thing she knew, she was in the field of snow.
"Ice Lily? Are you there?" Fleetfoot called.
A flurry of snowflakes swirled before her and the image of a mare appeared.
"Well done Fleetfoot. You found the third rose."
"I know, one left." Fleetfoot said "But I jutht want to know; how do you know Princethth Luna?"
"...I met her when I was a very young filly. She and I formed a bond over our love of the night. When I went searching for the Roses, Luna was worried I may not return. When I didn't...I do not know fully what happened, but from where I am now, I learned she was overcome with grief. She transformed into a monster out of greed and frustration and rage at my not returning. I was the only pony who understood the night back then."
"You knew her before she became Nightmare Moon?" Fleetfoot asked
"Yes, I did."
"Where are you?"
"...Wouldn't you rather know where the next rose is?"
"You're changing the thubject."
"I just would rather not tell you!" the figure stomped a hoof.
"Alright." Fleetfoot sighed. "Where'th the Rothe of Winter?"
"I managed to locate it before I was lost. As the rhyme says, it is not in a specific location. However, there is one place you can go so that you can find it easier."
"Where?"
"Your Star Weaver friend already mentioned it, when you talked of going to the Luna Ocean. You must go deep into it. From there..."
"What?"
"Your heart already knows the answer."
Fleetfoot stirred and sat up groggily.
"My Star Weaver friend? She means Rainbow...what place did Rainbow-" She opened her eyes wide.
"The Frozen North!" she exclaimed, startling Spitfire awake.
"What? Fleety, what's going on?"
"Ice Lily came to me again. She told me where to find the latht Rothe."
"You want us to go where ?!" Rainbow asked loudly.
The group was flying to Canterlot, to find Dark Shooter, Fleetfoot promising to fill Soarin and Rainbow in on the way. They had a lot to catch him up on.
"I know it theemth weird but the rothe ith there! I know it ith!" Fleetfoot called back as they flew.
"What will your brother think about all this?" Soarin asked
"That'th what we're about to find out."
They landed in Canterlot and began walking. Fleetfoot led them to the castle, where Spitfire stepped up to the two guards outside the gates. One was a Unicorn, the other an Earth Pony.
"We're looking for your fellow guard, Dark Shooter Frost, do you know where he is?"
"Captain Shooter is too busy to bother with you lot."
"Um, 'this lot' happens to be a group of Wonderbolts, a division of the military. Among us is the Captain and Co-Captain, and this is Fleetfoot, Dark Shooter's sister . You should be able to let us in to see him." Rainbow butted in
"Why should we believe you?" one guard asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're not wearing your uniforms."
"Seriously? I get that we all are pretty much unrecognizable without our flight suits, but even without them, Spit and Soar should still be recognized." Fleetfoot thought, confused. It appeared Rainbow Dash had been thinking along the same lines.
"Seriously?" Rainbow groaned. "Well, I'm Rainbow Dash, a friend of Princess Twilight Sparkle, and the bearer of the Element of Loyalty."
They froze, then stepped aside.
"Excuse us, Lady Dash, please, come in." another said
"Thanks. But please, don't call me 'lady'. I may be close with Princess Twilight but it's not my title." Rainbow replied as she trotted through.
"When I came here to get information on my magic I had to get Dark Shooter to vouch for me..." Fleetfoot whispered
"What can I say? It pays to have connections." Rainbow shrugged "But I'm actually surprised they didn't recognize me. My friends and I have come barreling through these doors enough times to save Equestria."
"Here Miss Dash." one guard had followed them, and used his magic to lift his badge and place it against the door.
"Thanks. Forgot about Shining's new security measures." Rainbow said as she entered.
"Shining?" Soarin echoed
"That's Prince Shining Armor, ruler of the Crystal Empire, to you." It was Dark Shooter, trotting up with a grin on his face.
"Very funny." Soarin rolled his eyes.
"Well, he's not wrong. That is his title." Rainbow said
"I know, but there's no need to be so cold." Soarin replied
"I'm technically on duty, so it's kind of my job." Dark Shooter replied with a smirk. "Besides, I need to be professional when discussing my boss."
"You're on duty?" Spitfire asked "But even if you're the captain, aren't you mainly a Night Guard?"
"The Night Guards have a saying: When the Princess of the Night's awake, we're awake."
"So Princess Luna's up? Twi told me she usually sleeps through the day." Rainbow said
"Yeah, I'm escorting her to the Royal Observatory, she's having tea there with a special guest from the Canterlot Elite. I'm just waiting for Princess Luna to finish a discussion with Princess Celestia."
"Dark, we came to talk to you. We have a lot to tell you." Fleetfoot said
"Sorry Fleet, but I have to do this, and-"
"What is the holdup Dark Shooter?" Princess Luna trotted out of the hallway. "Ah, young Fleetfoot Frost. Hello Rainbow Dash, Captain Spitfire, Co-Captain Soarin."
"Your majethty." Fleetfoot, Spitfire, and Soarin bowed to her.
"Hey Luna." Rainbow said, giving a casual wave with her wing. Princess Luna chuckled slightly at her lack of formality.
"So, what brings you all here? I'm afraid if you're seeking an audience with myself or Celestia we both have prior engagements right now."
"Actually, I need to inform Dark Shooter on thome thingth." Fleetfoot replied
"Ah, I see." Princess Luna looked over to him. "Then let's get this escort finished quickly so you may chat with your sister and her friends."
"A-are you sure Princess? I still need to guard you..."
"I'm sure if you post guards outside the Observatory they will be just as capable of watching over us. Whatever Miss Frost needs to tell you must be important-for her to come all the way here. Now come Dark Shooter, we mustn't keep Miss Lily waiting."
Princess Luna and Dark Shooter began trotting down another hallway.
"Wait...Lily?!" Fleetfoot raced after the two.
"Fleet!" Spitfire called out, following, joined by Soarin and Rainbow.
"Princethth, did you thay...Lily?"
"Hmm...yes, I did. Why?" Princess Luna turned to look at her.
"Ith she related to anyone named Ice Lily?"
"...No, not that I am aware of. Miss Lily's full name is Gilded Lily, and she is the niece of Baron Fancy Pants. She is still young, but quite the scholar in astronomy. We've been discussing plans for a charity ball to provide a public observatory."
"Why did you ask about someone named Ice Lily?" Dark Shooter asked
Fleetfoot hesitated, glancing up at the Princess.
"I take it it has something to do with your mission?" Princess Luna asked gently. Fleetfoot nodded shyly.
"It'th not that I don't trutht you...only I need to explain it fully to Dark Shooter firtht..."
"It is of no trouble or offense to me Miss Frost. I understand you wishing to keep this only between those assisting you. I believe I can walk myself to the Observatory, Dark Shooter. Go ahead and let your sister fill you in while I have tea with Lily." Princess Luna said, turning and trotting away.
"Okay." Dark Shooter sighed, looking at them. "Tell me everything."
"...So we have to go to the Frozen North...and the reason you pressed Princess Luna about Miss Lily is because the mare finally told you a name?"
"Yeah, pretty much." Rainbow replied for Fleetfoot. "Though if you ask me, Ice Lily sounds like a code name."
"It doeth. But I wondered if maybe it wath a name of one of her dethcendanth, and that'th why she uthed it."
"Oh...that makes sense." Rainbow agreed.
"Anyway, about the Frozen North..." Dark Shooter sighed "Are you sure it's there Fleet? The Frozen North is a big risk, especially to Pegasi. The weather is wild out there, and it's so cold practically nothing can survive."
"Told ya." Rainbow remarked.
"Dark, I'm sure. Ice Lily told me we'll be clother to finding it there."
"Well...alright." Dark Shooter sighed "But I'm coming with you, I have to protect you sis."
"Deal." Fleetfoot smiled.
"Who's gonna cover for you?" Rainbow asked
"Oh, Sergeant Magnus should be willing to take over for a while. He's a lot more experienced than anyone else here, he can handle my duties."
"Alright then...wait, you don't mean 'Magnus' as in..." Spitfire began
"Oh, look at the time, I need to go escort Princess Luna and Miss Lily out of the Royal Observatory." Dark Shooter stood up and headed out. "Come on you four, we'll leave first thing tomorrow, you should arrange who's going to cover for you back at your HQ."
Fleetfoot wore nothing more than a scarf and some boots, as well as some of the specially enchanted flight goggles. Spitfire wore the same, she'd have her fire to keep her warm. Rainbow and Soarin were bundled up quite a bit more. Dark Shooter met them outside their Headquarters, equally as bundled up.
"Why's that saddlebag glowing?" Dark Shooter asked
"I thought it would be a good idea to bring the other rotheth thith time." Fleetfoot explained, opening the flap to let him see. "They won't get lotht, I'll make sure of it."
"Ready?" Rainbow asked, and they all nodded, Fleetfoot passing Dark Shooter some goggles. "Okay, so first we head for the Crystal Empire, then head west towards Yakyakistan. The Frozen North is easy to stumble into from there."
"Got it." Spitfire nodded, opening her wings. "Alright 'bolts, let's fly."
They'd been flying for hours, and had passed the Crystal Empire just a few minutes before.
"Okay guys! This is technically the Frozen North!" Rainbow called to them
"Ice Lily? Are you there?" Fleetfoot asked
"Hmm? Yes. The North is giving me more energy."
"Where do we go now?"
"Land in the North and sing-wander a bit as you do. Your magic will lead you to where you need to be."
"Okay..."
Fleetfoot swooped down and landed, standing amidst the snow drifts, letting the cold surround her.
"Fleet?" Spitfire landed, followed by Dark Shooter, Rainbow, and Soarin.
"I know what I have to do. You guyth thtay clothe, I have a feeling we could get lotht eathily here."
"You got that right." Rainbow said.
Fleetfoot took a step forward, then took a breath.
"My life is not the typical fairy tale that you'd tell
I'm so alive under these sparkling skies
Fleetfoot found herself drawn towards a mountain, and took off, flying up to it.
"It's like a dream,
Like a friend I think I've always known
It's your turn, it's your time
Fleetfoot landed at the top of the mountain, the others hovering in the air behind her.
"I have always held my secrets deep within
You pretend to be a wasteland,
Show me the key!
As she sang this, the ice began to stick together and form a shape. Her eyes widened.
"Are you the thing I've been searching for
It's time for me to live this dream
I've never felt so sure
I've always been different, normal rules just won't apply
Fleetfoot watched the ice fly off. She dove off the mountain and swooped into the clouds, coming back down and catching sight of it again.
Show me the key!
Show me the key
Fleetfoot stopped in the snow and watched the wisp of ice she had been following.
"Come here now
Please come to me now
I want to find the power,
Fleetfoot finished the song softly, as the others finally caught up with her.
"Where's the rose?" Spitfire asked
"I...thought that worked..." Fleetfoot turned to them. "I'm thorry."
"For what?" Rainbow asked
"I dragged you all up here for nothing. I put you through all of thith and we don't have anything to show for it. And now I'll never know the truth about my magic. I-I never meant for thith to happen, any of it...I jutht wanted anthwerth..."
"Fleet..." Spitfire stepped forward and hugged her. "You are not to blame for this."
"Yeah, you don't have to apologize for anything Fleet, we thought it worked too." Soarin said
Fleetfoot sniffed and pressed her head into Spitfire's shoulder, hugging her marefriend tightly. Then, a glow caught in the corner of Fleetfoot's eye. She turned and her eyes widened. The ice wisp was swirling. It formed the shape of a rose.
"How did the riddle go again?" Rainbow asked, and Dark Shooter replied
"Winter's rose is hardest of all
"Fleet...that's what it took. You braved what you most feared, that you'd never know the truth, and that we'd be disappointed in you if you failed." Rainbow said
"Y-you're right..." Fleetfoot realized.
Fleetfoot pulled away from Spitfire and walked to the rose. However, when she reached out to take it, her hoof slipped right through.
"That's weird...the Rose of Winter shouldn't be an illusion, should it? I mean, the rest are real." Rainbow said
"No, it shouldn't..." Fleetfoot murmured. Then, the rose moved. "I-I think the ice that guardth the rothe ith trying to tell uth where it ith!"
"But...it's not sapient. Or, it shouldn't be." Dark Shooter said
"Sap-what?" Rainbow asked
"Sapient basically means something can think for itself." Soarin explained
"Well, thapient or not, it'th definitely trying to take uth thomewhere. Come on!" Fleetfoot took off running after it.
"Fleet!" Spitfire raced after her.
Fleetfoot raced after the thing, nearly stumbling when Ice Lily suddenly spoke.
"Fleetfoot, stop."
"Why?"
"I...I don't want you following it..."
"You never mentioned the spirits were dangerous so why shouldn't I? Besides, I think it's leading me to the rose."
Ice Lily didn't reply for a minute, then...
"You want answers, I get it. But I just...really don't want you to find the last rose."
"What? Why not? You've supported me this whole time."
"Yes, because I expected the rose to come directly to you, not remain where it is."
"...Is the rose somewhere dangerous?"
"Not...exactly...but...I don't want you to find..."
"Find? Find what?"
"..."
"Ice Lily?"
Fleetfoot shook her head. If Ice Lily wasn't going to give her a clear answer and good reason for why she shouldn't follow the spirit then she'd just ignore her. Fleetfoot continued running until the ice wisp stopped. She looked around. She was standing on a snow hill, and the others were running up behind her.
"Let's not...do that again, kay?" Rainbow asked
Fleetfoot ignored her, looking around. Why did the spirit choose to take her here? Then, she realized the place looked familiar.
"Where have I seen this before...?" Fleetfoot wondered, then..."It's the same hill from my dream!" She began picking her way carefully down the hill.
"Fleet? Where are you going?" Dark Shooter asked
"Thith place, it'th the thame ath the one in my dream...and I think whenever I talk to Ice Lily she'th thtanding...here."
Fleetfoot stood still directly in the center of the pit, and looked around. Then, she saw it.
Author's Note
What did she see, you ask? Sorry, you'll have to find out next chapter. And I know this chapter was long, but it was totally worth it, right?
Anyway, the song in this chapter uses elements from the song Show Yourself from Frozen 2 and Live Your Dream from Ever After High.
~Melody Song
Fleetfoot gazed up at the sight before her. The others caught up, but didn't see it right away.
"Look at all this ice, scattered around." Rainbow said "Makes me cold just thinking about it."
"This place must've been a lake at first, and the water froze over time. Now it's practically a glacier." Soarin said, wrapping a wing over Rainbow.
"Guyth." Fleetfoot called out, not taking her eyes off the shape.
"What is it Fleet?" Spitfire asked, leading the others. They gave large gasps upon finally seeing it.
Directly before them, was a block of ice, a large one. Embedded inside the ice...was a pony. A mare. She had a pale blue coat, and a white mane with highlighter blue stripes in it. The mare's eyes were closed, but she was facing them, reaching out for something. A white rose the color of snow, with a stem as blue as the crystalline ice surrounding both the mare and the rose.
"We have to get them out of there." Fleetfoot said
"Right." Spitfire agreed, stepping forward.
Spitfire's wings and hooves lit up with fire, and she placed them on the ice. It began to melt, but slowly.
"We need to speed this up, it's going to get dark soon, and after it does it will be really cold." Dark Shooter said, looking up.
"Alright then. Stand back everypony." Spitfire took off, and they all backed away.
"What are you going to do?" Soarin asked
"I call this one The Phoenix Ressurection . Just watch." Spitfire replied.
She concentrated her fire until it crept up her legs and down her back. Her mane began to flow, flickering like flames. With a yell, the fire was blasted down. It came into contact with the ice, melting it almost instantly. The fire faded and Spitfire landed, breathing heavily. Dark Shooter raced forward and caught the mare as she fell.
They hadn't been able to see due to the angle but the mare was a Pegasus, with large wings. Her body was covered by a tattered brown cloak, far too thin for weathering the Frozen North. Her cutie mark was visible, just barely. A flower with a blue stem, and a blossom that looked like a snowflake. The mare's eyes remained closed but they could see the slight rise and fall of her flank. She was alive.
"Thpitty, are you okay?" Fleetfoot asked, running to her.
"I...I'm okay. Sorry, that was a lot of power." Spitfire leaned against Fleetfoot, taking deep breaths.
Dark Shooter walked up, the mare slung across his back, and cradling the rose in a wing.
"Fleet..."
"We have the latht one." Fleetfoot gasped, taking it.
"Yeah, but who is this mare? And why was she trapped in the ice with it?" Soarin asked
"We should ask her. But first she needs to wake up." Spitfire said, straightening up.
"That means she should get warm. The Crystal Empire isn't far from here, should we head for that?" Rainbow asked
"No." Fleetfoot said, looking into her bag and placing the last rose inside. "I think...we need to go to Canterlot. If thith pony wath after the latht rothe, and if my hunch ith right, then Princethth Luna will want to thee her."
"Princess Luna? Why her?" Rainbow Dash asked as they flew.
Dark Shooter had the unconcious mare on his back, while the others surrounded him.
"I have a feeling that thith mare ith thomehow connected to Ice Lily. And Ice Lily mentioned having a connection with Princethth Luna. If thith mare doethn't wake up for a while, then the Princethth thtill may be able to tell uth who she ith."
"We're nearly there." Soarin called, gesturing to the mountain peak.
"Come on. Down." Spitfire led them down to the city.
"Spit! Take us directly to the castle, as close as we can get." Dark Shooter directed
"Got it!"
Spitfire turned and they flew down, landing at the gates. Soarin helped Dark Shooter get the mare off his back, then they removed their winter gear, placing it in the saddlebags they'd brought. Dark Shooter then stepped forwards.
"Stand aside guards, and let us pass."
"Yes sir!"
The two guards stationed there saluted and stepped away from the gates. Dark Shooter pulled a badge from his saddlebags and strode forwards, pressing it against the doors, then striding in.
"Where'th Luna?"
"She should be about to wake up. The changing of the guard is about to start." Dark Shooter responded, looking around.
"The what?" Rainbow asked
"It'th a routine for the Canterlot Guardth, when the Night Guard prepareth for the long night ahead, taking the place of the Day Guard, and the Day Guard headth in for a good night'th thleep." Fleetfoot replied
"How do you...?" Soarin started to ask.
"Dark told me."
"Ah, Sergeant Magnus!" Dark Shooter cried, looking towards a pony in golden armor making his way down the hall.
"Flash Magnus?!" Spitfire and Soarin exclaimed as one.
"Hey Magnus!" Rainbow simply called out.
"Captain Shooter!" Flash Magnus saluted him. "Hello Rainbow Dash. Are these fellow comrades of yours?" Flash Magnus asked, looking to Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot.
"Yep. This is Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts, her second-in-command Soarin, and their third-in-command Fleetfoot." Rainbow replied.
"Sergeant, we need an audience with Princess Luna. Do you know where she is?"
"In fact I do. Princess Celestia remarked to me earlier that as an effort to spend more time with her sister, she's arranged to have some tea and dinner with Princess Luna before her shift starts."
"Alright then-"
"But I am under the impression they wish it to be a private affair, and I don't think it'd be right to disturb them."
"I am aware, but this is a important matter. We need to talk with Princess Luna."
"Well...alright Captain. They're in the dining room, go ahead. I'll be overseeing the changing of the guard." Flash Magnus saluted once more before trotting off, giving a friendly nod to Rainbow Dash.
"Come on guys." Dark Shooter led them forwards, Soarin shifting the mare on his back.
"Hurry, she's heavy." Soarin said, and Rainbow slipped in beside him to help. "Thanks Dashie."
"I think she'th waking up." Fleetfoot warned, as the mare shifted.
"Princesses?" Dark Shooter stopped before a room and opened the door.
Princess Celestia looked up from the table where she was seated. Princess Luna was by her side, and stood up.
"Captain Dark Shooter? You disrupted us?" Princess Celestia asked
"I'm sorry your highnesses, but there is an urgent matter we must discuss with Princess Luna."
"We?"
Dark Shooter nodded as Fleetfoot trotted in.
"Your highneththeth, early thith morning my friendth and I thet out for the Frozen North to retrieve the final rothe of the four you told uth would tell me about my magic."
"The Frozen North?" Princess Luna asked, eyes widening.
"Yeth. When we arrived in the afternoon, we thearched and were able to locate the rothe. But it turned out to be an illuthion, to lead uth to the real one."
"The real rose?" Princess Celestia asked, walking to them. "You're saying the rose was unable to come to you?"
"Yeth. It had been concealed in an ice block, and...bethide the rothe...wath..."
Fleetfoot and Dark Shooter stepped to the side, allowing for Rainbow and Soarin to enter the room, Spitfire having taken up the mare on Soarin's other side. Both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna gasped upon seeing her.
"She was reaching out for the rose, and Fleetfoot thinks that she's connected to them in some way."
"You are correct." Princess Luna walked forwards, using her magic to lift the mare off the three's backs. She laid her gently on the carpeted floor.
"Who is she?" Spitfire asked, trotting forwards
"Ith...ith her name Ice Lily?" Fleetfoot asked softly.
"No. Why would you think that?" Princess Luna asked
"...A mare hath been entering my dreamth thince I thtarted looking for the rotheth. She called herthelf Ice Lily and told me she knew where the rotheth were. She wath right about them every time. She fell thilent ath I neared the Winter Rothe, but she thtill thtayed with me. She thtarted coming after an original nightmare, of running through thnow, falling, and thinking into molten glathth."
"But...but that's impossible. She would not have been able to sneak past me." Luna murmured.
"She told me in one dream 'if my old friend were to walk through your dreamth she would not thee me'."
"So it seems she hasn't lost her teasing nature, hmm Luna?" Celestia asked
"So you do know who she is?" Soarin asked
"Indeed." Luna said, and Rainbow gasped, making them turn to look.
The mare had stirred, and was opening her eyes.
"Oh..." Fleetfoot breathed softly, as her eyes opened fully.
The mare's eyes were faded out, the blue colored irises blinking sightlessly at them. She was blind. Princess Luna stepped forwards and rested a hoof on the mare's head, running it down her muzzle, off the bridge of her nose. Then she rested her hoof under the mare's chin.
"Huh?" The mare spoke.
"Th-that's Ice Lily's voice!" Fleetfoot realized, but didn't speak out. Princess Luna had already told her the mare wasn't named Ice Lily.
Princess Luna used her magic to set the mare upright, on her hooves. The mare wobbled and extended her wings for balance. They saw her pressing her hooves along the carpet, feeling it.
"Where am I?" she asked.
The mare looked around, as though she couldn't see the others. Fleetfoot reminded herself that she really couldn't see them. Princess Luna reached and touched a hoof against the mare's.
"Who's there?" the mare turned and looked in the general direction of Princess Luna.
Rather than respond, Princess Luna took a breath and began singing, softly.
"Sundown, Sundown,
The moon begins to rise
Sundown, sundown,
We raise our hooves
Sundown, Sundown,
Don't fear now, my friend
The mare gasped softly. "Luna?"
"Welcome home, Snowdrop." Luna said, smiling at her softly.
Author's Note
Snowdrop does not belong to me
~Melody Song
"Snowdrop? You mean the pony from the legend of the first snowflake?" Soarin asked
"Not all legends are false." Princess Luna told him.
"Yeah, I mean, the Star Weavers are a legend and yet, here I am." Rainbow shrugged.
"Luna!" Snowdrop flung her hooves around Princess Luna's neck, burying her head into the Alicorn's neck. "I thought you were gone! I thought I was gone! I-I..."
"Snowdrop...how I've missed you." Luna put a hoof around the mare.
"Thnowdrop?" Fleetfoot stepped forwards. "You told me you were Ice Lily."
Snowdrop pulled back and looked to her. She cocked her head. "Fleetfoot Frost?"
"Yeth."
"I'm sorry I lied to you about my name. But you must understand, I thought everyone I knew was gone. That it wouldn't matter if you didn't know my real name. You wouldn't have recognized it anyway."
"But...Luna's immortal." Rainbow said, blatantly disregarding Princess Luna's title.
"Whoever you are, clearly you know Luna well to risk not calling her by title...but as for your question...I thought she had been banished."
"Name's Rainbow Dash. But, how do you know about Nightmare Moon? I thought you were trapped in ice." Rainbow said, not noticing Princess Luna flinch at the mention of her dark side.
"...You're related to Fleetfoot, aren't you?" Spitfire asked
"What?" Soarin asked, looking at her.
"You told Fleet in her dreams that you're an ancestor of her, and have guided others in her family that looked for the roses. That means you have ice magic too. It also means that at some point you also questioned where they came from, or something like that, sending you on a quest for the roses. I also think Fleet's original dream is connected to you too. You were telling her how you got trapped in that ice." Spitfire reasoned
"...You...are not completely wrong. But your friend's question should be answered first. You see, most ponies are not aware, but water tends to have memory. With the help of my magic, it carried to me images of my only friend being corrupted. Of her banishment into the moon. I didn't think she'd ever return, so I shut off my magic to that one use. I simply used it to preserve myself, and only sought the outside world if I sensed one of my descendants searching for the roses."
"So you are her ancestor." Spitfire said
"Yes. But you were wrong at one point."
"That you're also technically Dark Shooter's ancestor? Since they're brother and sister?" Rainbow asked, as Dark Shooter stepped closer to Fleetfoot.
"While that may be true, it is not what I meant." Snowdrop blinked sightlessly. "I did not search for the roses for me. I searched for my daughter."
"Your daughter?" They all asked as one. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna however, said nothing. Luna released Snowdrop from her hug and stood by her side.
"Yes. The story, however, really starts long before that."
Snowdrop took a deep breath, looking down. It had to be better than looking up and possibly not looking in the right direction, Fleetfoot told herself.
"When I was a young filly, I changed the way ponies saw winter. In return, one night the Winter Spirits came to me. They granted me the magic of an Ice Familiar. I used it to help make unique and beautiful snowflakes each year. I worked well with my powers for many years, at peace with my blindness. Enough even to use my magic to craft the Rose of Winter and allow it to hide itself alongside the other three. Until I met...him. I courted a lovely stallion in my early adulthood and when I found myself expecting his child, I was full of joy. But he was less so. Apparently, my blindness allowed him to sneak around behind my back and court another mare. He left me for her once I told him I was carrying his foal."
"Snowdrop, you don't have to explain this." Princess Luna wrapped a wing over the mare and nosed her.
"I must." Snowdrop raised her head, eyes tearing up. "I had his child, a beautiful young filly-or so I was told by Luna and my mother. She had my blue coat and her father's light purple mane. Although it was unlike his in that it seemed to be frosted by the white of my own mane. She was lucky to be born with sight, unlike me. I named her-"
"Ice Lily." Fleetfoot and Dark Shooter spoke in unison with Snowdrop.
"What-?"
"We guessed that you would use the name of someone close to you as an alias. Ponies not used to sneaking and lying tend to do that." Dark Shooter replied
"That sounds like something I'd expect from a changeling." Rainbow said "Well, Thorax's brother, anyway."
"My Night Guards are taught with the basics of sneaking and infiltration. Learning the basic tactics of thieves so they can pick apart their missions is common knowledge." Princess Luna replied
"Basically, we treat it like a secret code." Dark Shooter added.
"Well, yes. I named my filly Ice Lily. It was in the early years of her life that I realized she was born with the gift of an Ice Familiar. But as time went on, I feared for the safety of my child. Would she continue to pass on Winter's Gift? I knew some previous gifts, such as Phoenix Mages, originally started out with the best of intentions, only to become viewed as curses. I worried, and I also worried that I would be unable to be a good mother without my eyes. I knew the roses could grant healing spells, or even answers to the questions I had."
"Her mother and I both tried to dissuade her from going." Princess Luna added "She refused to stop."
"I set out for the roses, returning home with a new one each time. Ice Lily encouraged me. She was proud that her mother had managed to do so much. She also knew I had my heart set in helping her. Then, when she was nine years old, I left for the last time."
"And you failed to retrieve the rothe, getting trapped in the procethth." Fleetfoot finished.
"Yes. I used my magic's connection to water to watch my daughter grow. It was like viewing a dream. She was thankfully never made aware of Luna's plight. My mother took good care of her for the rest of her lifespan. Then my daughter continued on her own. She found a lovely husband, Perma Frost, who succeeded where her father had not. They had a family and many, many years passed by. Then your mother was born. She was one of the first in our family to inherit the traits of my daughter's father."
"I think that's obvious." Dark Shooter sighed
"Luckily, it seems she did not pass this on to her children." Snowdrop smiled. "I am proud of you both. You, Fleetfoot, for succeeding in gathering the roses and figuring all this out. And you, Dark Shooter, for staying by your sister's side."
"Snowdrop, all these years...I thought you were gone." Princess Luna nuzzled Snowdrop gently.
"Princesses, if you don't mind, it's past the time for the moon to finish rising, don't you think?" Spitfire asked, looking out the window.
"Quite right Ms Flare." Princess Celestia said, laughing slightly. "Come Luna, we can take Snowdrop to a guest room near yours before turning in for the night. And Captain Shooter, if you would like for your sister and her friends to stay for the night we can arrange something."
"Oh, it's no trouble your majesty. We'll just head home." Spitfire assured them.
"I wish you well, young Frost." Princess Luna said
"You still have the roses, don't you Fleetfoot?" Snowdrop asked
"Yeth, I do."
"Hey, yeah. What are you going to do with them now if we already know where your powers came from?" Soarin asked
Author's Note
Hey guys. Hope you enjoyed that story I made for Snowdrop. Again, she does not belong to me.
~Melody Song
Fleetfoot hesitated, then smiled.
"I do thtill want the wisheth. But I would like to wait."
The four Wonderbolts headed back to their HQ. Once they landed, Rainbow and Soarin headed to bed. Spitfire and Fleetfoot, however, went to Spitfire's office.
"So what are you going to do with the roses?" Spitfire asked, as Fleetfoot laid them out on the table.
"...I'm going to athk...if you and I thtay together."
"Fleety..." Spitfire nuzzled her "You don't need to ask such a silly question."
"What do you mean? What if, one day you want to move on?"
"To who?" Spitfire laughed slightly. "And anyway Fleety, you shouldn't worry about the future. Or else you'll miss the present."
"Yeah..." Fleetfoot smiled. "But I wath altho going to athk...if it could fix my lithp."
"What?" Spitfire stared at her. "But Fleety, why?"
"Thome ponieth can be happy with their handicapth, like Thnowdrop. She'th lathted tho long without proper thight. But me...my lithp hath alwayth been like a curthe. Becauthe no matter how hard I try, I will alwayth have it. And I don't want it. I want to thound normal. It'th like Thnowdrop with her filly. She wanted to be able to thee her filly. Well, what if I want to be able to talk to our friendth? To talk to fanth comfortably without being afraid of what they'll think!"
"Oh Fleety..." Spitfire leaned over and kissed the smaller mare. Fleetfoot pressed back, then they separated. Spitfire stared at her in determination. "Fleety, you are perfect. You are beautiful, and strong, and smart. And your lisp...it makes you sound so sweet. You can talk to our friends. And you know what they hear when you do?"
"A thtupid lithp that maketh it impoththible to thay half their nameth properly?"
"No. They don't hear anything else but you." Spitfire kissed her head. "They hear only your voice. And they can understand you, clear as crystal. They hear you singing, and talking, and laughing. Most of all, they hear you being no one but yourself. You speak clearly and confidently. Not once since you met me and Soarin did we ever have to ask you to repeat yourself. And that hasn't changed."
"But what about our fanth?"
"Their opinions don't matter. They can dislike your lisp or love it. But I'm sure most of them will accept it. And besides, if they don't, they'll have to answer to me ." Spitfire said, and Fleetfoot giggled softly.
"Tho...you're thaying I shouldn't athk that?"
"...How about you sleep on it? If you do decide tomorrow, to change your voice, I will support you. Whether or not you do or don't, we all will. And I will always love you."
Spitfire touched her nose to Fleetfoot's, and Fleetfoot pressed back. She let a small sob escape, and fell into the hooves of her marefriend.
"Fleety...?"
"I want to go to bed. I-I need to...I need your love..."
"I'm here Fleety." Spitfire lifted Fleetfoot and carried her out of the office, bridal style. She made sure to shut and lock the door behind her before carrying Fleetfoot to their bedroom. "Don't worry, you're okay."
Author's Note
Guys, I need your opinions on this:
Should Fleetfoot ask to fix her lisp or leave it the way it is? Keep in mind, this is only for this story, your decisions on this won't affect how I write Fleetfoot with her lisp in other stories.
Leave your answers in the comments below. I hope to hear from you all.
~Melody Song
"Why are we going to Canterlot?" Rainbow asked as they took off, heading for the mountain city.
"Becauthe Dark Shooter needth to hear thith." Fleetfoot replied
They made it there quickly and landed. Dark Shooter seemed to have been expecting them, he was waiting at the gate to the castle.
"Fleet, you're here. Princess Luna said you'd be coming, I don't know why she thought you would." Dark Shooter said, trotting to them.
"Well, we're here. And we brought the rotheth." Fleetfoot said
They walked into the castle with little trouble, seeing as Dark Shooter was with them, and the guards had likely learned their lesson from attempting to halt them before. Dark Shooter led them to the throne room, where Princess Celestia sat, waiting. As they stood before her, Princess Luna entered. Trotting beside her, now without her brown cloak, was Snowdrop. She seemed perfectly at home, as though this was where she was always meant to be.
"Ah, young Miss Frost. I take it you've brought the roses of the seasons?" Princess Luna asked
"Yeth, your highnethth." Fleetfoot opened her saddlebags and pulled out the four roses.
Rainbow took the Summer Rose, Soarin held the Spring Rose, Spitfire the Fall Rose, and Fleetfoot held up the Rose of Winter. The roses glowed with an ethereal light, and lifted from their holder. Their stems intertwined, forming a bouquet. Fleetfoot watched them lower into her hooves.
"What now?" Rainbow asked
"You ask it your questions or tell it your wish." Princess Luna said
Fleetfoot took a breath. "Where did the magic of the Ice Familiarth come from? I know the Winter Thpiritth gave them to Thnowdrop but where did they come from before then?"
The flowers glowed, and a genderless voice echoed around the throne room.
"The Winter Spirits gifted the magic of Ice Familiars to a young filly known as Snowdrop. Before that, they came from the creatures known as the Sperarum Glacialis Noctibus. They simply called themselves the Glacials. They were a breed of ponies with the ability to manipulate ice. All were Pegasi, but their coats were shades of white or blue, same with their eyes and manes. They lived for a long time, but gradually began to lessen in population size. In a last attempt to save their kind, they sent their magic to the wind of the Winter Spirits, to find someone who would treasure it and pass it on to their descendants. It was gifted to Snowdrop, because she loved the night and while she could not see the stars, or the snow that fell, she knew they were there. And she knew she could wish on them, be they magic or not."
"Wow." Dark Shooter breathed.
"So that is where the powers came from." Snowdrop said.
"Have you any more questions?" Princess Luna asked kindly. Fleetfoot nodded, and looked up at the roses again.
"...Will I get a happily ever after?" Fleetfoot asked "Doeth everything turn out okay?"
"Yes. Your happily ever after will come. You will no longer be held in the grasp of your parents and you will forever be protected by those you love."
Fleetfoot breathed a sigh of relief. "One more thing...ith it poththible for you to fix my lithp?"
"Yes, it is."
"Fleet..." Spitfire stepped forwards
Fleetfoot sighed. She wanted to be whole, to have no problems with speech. But there was really no point. What Spitfire had said was true. Everyone she knew and cared for understood her. They loved her despite her lisp and never needed her to repeat herself. They didn't care that she had a speech defect, they loved her for who she was.
"Alright...then ith it poththible..." Fleetfoot looked over at Snowdrop. "For you to grant thomepony thight?"
"Fleetfoot, you don't have to do this." Snowdrop trotted forwards, wings outstretched to feel what was to the side of her, so she wouldn't run into anything.
"She does not, no." Luna was at Snowdrop's side instantly. "But can you honestly say you don't deserve to see after all these years? To see the world? To see the stars?" Luna lowered her head down to brush her muzzle against Snowdrop's. "To see me?"
"I would love nothing more Lulu." Snowdrop replied "But I have lived my whole life not seeing. I know my blindness is a disadvantage, and I long to see you myself. But I am used to this and I require no more than your voice and your wing around me." Snowdrop replied, pressing against her.
Fleetfoot smiled at them, then turned to Spitfire and nuzzled her. "I can thay the thame for you. It'th why I..." Fleetfoot pressed against Spitfire. "I'm not going to fix my lithp."
Spitfire pulled Fleetfoot close, kissing her. They let go of each other after a minute and looked over at the roses, which began to glow. Luna wrapped a wing securely around Snowdrop as a wind began to blow and the bouquet glowed brighter. As quickly as the wind had come, it had disappeared. They all rubbed their eyes and looked up. The roses were gone.
"Where'd they go?" Rainbow asked
"Back to their hiding places, I imagine." Snowdrop replied, Rainbow's question telling her what had happened.
"But why?" Soarin asked
"It seems they realized they were no longer needed." Celestia replied
"So what now? Sis?" Dark Shooter trotted to Spitfire and Fleetfoot.
"We go home." Fleetfoot said, nuzzling Spitfire.
"You four are free to go if you wish." Luna agreed, leaning down to nuzzle Snowdrop, who smiled back. "I believe Snowdrop asked me to give her a tour of the city, so we will escort you out."
"Thank you Princethth." Fleetfoot said as they headed out of the throne room, leaving Dark Shooter and Celestia behind.
"It is no trouble, and please Miss Frost, I think it's time you called me Luna." she said, giving Fleetfoot a soft smile.
"Alright...Luna." Fleetfoot said as they reached the entrance to the castle and spread their wings to take off.
The four pegasi took to the air, waving down to Luna and Snowdrop. Luna waved in response as Snowdrop opened her wings and hovered in midair, to be level with Luna.
"Is it just me or do those two look like a couple?" Rainbow asked
"You thee it too?" Fleetfoot asked, smiling. "Yeah. I could tell from the way they interacted. Kind of like how Thpit and I uthed to be, before we thtarted dating."
"So...does that mean if they start dating then you'll be related to a Princess?" Rainbow asked, and Fleetfoot's eyes widened.
"I didn't think of that..." Fleetfoot said, and Rainbow grinned.
"Awesome, I'll have two royal friends." she said, prompting laughter from the others. "What?"
"Nothing Rainbow." Fleetfoot sighed "I'm jutht glad that everything'th okay."
"Me too honey." Spitfire nuzzled her. Fleetfoot smiled, nuzzling back.
"Love you."
"Love you too Fleety."
Author's Note
Just an Epilogue and we're done guys. I hope you all liked this chapter, and what I have in store for the epilogue.
~Melody Song
Fleetfoot smiled and nestled closer to the warmth at her side. She wrapped her hooves around the pony and nuzzled against their chest fluff. She kissed the pony's chest softly, relishing in the taste of hot peppers that stung her lips.
"Mm...honey, did you try feeding the kidth pepperth again ?"
"Mm, well...so what if I did? Crys and Blaze wanted to taste."
"Ugh...you're going to be the death of them, letting them have whatever they want." Fleetfoot opened her eyes and looked up, smiling softly at the fire-themed mare at her side.
Spitfire smiled back, leaning down slightly to kiss the smaller mare on the forehead. As she moved, her hoof brushed against a silver band on Fleetfoot's left hoof. It had an engraving on it of a horseshoe with a flame behind it. Spitfire wore an identical one in gold on her own left hoof.
Fleetfoot smiled and pulled herself up slightly in bed to be level with the other mare. She leaned in, eyes closing slightly as she began to kiss her loving wife. As Spitfire wrapped her hooves around Fleetfoot, there was a soft fluttering behind them and a 'thump' as something heavy hit the bed.
"Mommy, mama! Come on, it's morning! It's morning, it's morning!" the high-picthed voice of a filly cried.
Spitfire groaned and glared at Fleetfoot. "I may have let them have hot peppers, but you're the one who let them eat that chocolate cake last night."
"Oh, come on honey. The lookth on their faceth were worth it. Bethideth, it'th almotht Hearth'th Warming, and they were good." Fleetfoot nuzzled Spitfire gently, as the filly scrambled up the bed, snuggling up between the two.
The filly in question was a young Pegasus with an ice blue coat and beautiful fuchsia almond shaped eyes. Her mane was slicked back in a style similar to Fleetfoot's, and was a snowy white. However, the edges of her mane were orange, like flames. Her wings' outer feathers, unlike the rest of her ice blue wings and coat, were yellow. The little filly cuddled up to Fleetfoot, who slipped her hoof around her.
"Good morning Crythtal." Fleetfoot sighed, nuzzling her daughter.
"Morning mommy, morning mama." the filly said, looking over at Spitfire.
"Crystal, where's your sister?"
"I'm here mama!" another filly came flying into the room and hugged Spitfire as the mare sat up.
This filly had a yellow coat and big brown eyes. Her mane was styled identically to Spitfire's, however, rather than a lighter yellow streak running through the orange, there was a streak of snowy white. Her wings' outer feathers were, in contrast to her sister's, an ice blue.
"Blazing! Come to mama honey!" Spitfire hugged her little girl, who laughed and nuzzled her mother.
"Morning mommy, morning Crythtal."
"Good morning Blazing." Fleetfoot smiled at her.
The two's children beamed at them as they both took off and hovered in midair, watching their mothers. Spitfire sighed and tugged off the blanket, getting out of the bed.
"Alright, alright, we're up."
"Yay!"
"Heh, it'th probably betht anyway Thpit. Aren't we thuppothed to go thee Thnow and Luna today?"
"Ugh...forgot about that." Spitfire sighed "And how many times have I told you Fleet, Princess Luna wouldn't want us to address her so casually."
"Oh, thorry, ma'am. Or do you prefer Captain ?" Fleetfoot teased as she slid out of bed, letting the kids land on her back.
"Ooh..." Crystal said, rearing up to put her front hooves on her mother's head.
"Yeah, Captain Thpitfire. You want uth to call you that too?" Blazing asked
Spitfire whipped around, glaring at all three of them. Fleetfoot gave her a sly smile that she knew made herself look too cute for Spitfire to stay mad at. Spitfire sighed, then turned her attention to the foals. They giggled before flying out of the room.
"Crystal Phoenix and Blazing Winter, you get back here!" Spitfire shouted, rushing out after them.
Fleetfoot laughed as she flew after them, finding Spitfire holding the foals and nuzzling them, making them writhe and squeal with laughter. Fleetfoot walked over and slipped her hooves around Spitfire's neck, kissing her on the cheek.
"...You win honey." Spitfire sighed. "Now let's go, they're probably-"
"Thpitty~"
"Fine...Luna and Snowdrop are probably waiting on us." Spitfire said
"We want breakfast though!" Crystal whined
"How about we get you thome cinnamon rollth from Thugarcube Corner?" Fleetfoot suggested
"Yay!" the foals cheered, flying to the door and waiting eagerly.
"Alright, alright, let's go." Spitfire sighed, but smiled all the same.
Spitfire and Fleetfoot went to their children, Fleetfoot contemplating momentarily that they would never have need for coats, hats, or boots in their family during the winter months. It saved them the hassle of getting the kids dressed. Of course, being children of the Frosts and the Flares, they both had a mix of the Ice Familiar and Phoenix Mage magic. This made them partially resistant to the cold and the heat, so summer and winter weren't problems. And if they were, they could warm or cool themselves down with their magic.
Fleetfoot thought back to the day when Princess Twilight had created that spell, and knew she and Spitfire would both be eternally grateful to the alicorn. She had given them-and couples like them all across Equestria-the chance to have kids of their own. She had brought them both so much joy when she made it possible for the twins to be born. Fleetfoot glanced to a table beside the door, where a picture rested.
It was of them at their wedding. The photo showed herself, Spitfire, Dark Shooter, Luna, Snowdrop, and Celestia. Celestia and Dark Shooter stood beside their respective younger sisters. Fleetfoot stood by Spitfire, wearing the ice blue dress she'd made while on the mountains of the Frozen North so many years ago. Spitfire was wearing a flame-colored suit, their rings on their hooves, newly placed there. Luna stood next to them, Snowdrop by her side. The alicorn had a wing over the blind Pegasus, holding her close at her side. Snowdrop leaned against her, beaming at the camera she could not see.
Fleetfoot smiled and reached out, tracing a hoof against the frame of the picture. She smiled as she remembered that day, then felt a wing on her back.
"Honey?" Fleetfoot glanced over to see Spitfire, who smiled at her softly. "Sent the kids outside to catch snowflakes. Come on, we're waiting for you." Spitfire leaned in and kissed Fleetfoot's cheek.
"Alright, I'm coming." Fleetfoot kissed Spitfire on the cheek in return, then let her trot out the door of their cloud house.
"What the-Crystal, stop making those snowballs! I don't want to see you throwing anything at anypony today, got it missy?" Fleetfoot heard Spitfire say sternly, and giggled softly.
"Okay mama..."
"Sorry sweetie, but Luna is royalty, and despite how laid back she is around our family I don't think she'd appreciate a snowball being thrown at her or her marefriend."
"She ith family mama! Why can't we throw thnow at her? We do at our couthinth all the time!"
Fleetfoot laughed softly, realizing she would probably have to go help Spitfire. She spread her wings, looking at the photo one last time before gliding out the door, shutting the door to the house behind her.
Author's Note
And here we are. The end of this story. I hope you enjoyed this story and this ending. But there will be more to come from me, just not of this storyline. Check out my other stories, and stay tuned for a new one to come...
~Melody Song
Fleetfoot woke up to somepony nuzzling her, shoving her in the side.
"Get off." Fleetfoot moaned, "It'th too early."
"Fleet, it's the same time as we normally get up."
The blankets were yanked off and Fleetfoot was forced to sit up, groggily rubbing her eyes. Spitfire was standing over her, concern evident on her face.
"Are you okay? You're usually up when I go to wake the others." Spitfire asked
"I'm fine Thpitty, I jutht haven't been thleeping well." Fleetfoot said, stifling a yawn.
"If we have to go back to you staying in the sleeping quarters, I'm okay with it. I know I'm not the easiest pony to sleep with." Spitfire began, but Fleetfoot shook her head.
"No Thpitty, it'th not that. I love thleeping with you." Fleetfoot reached over and hugged her. Spitfire wrapped her own wings around her in return.
"Then what's the problem? Come on, you can tell me honey." Spitfire kissed her cheek gently.
"Well, I've kind of been having bad dreamth. It doethn't have anything to do with uth being together." Fleetfoot told her
"Alright, if you're still okay for practice, then I won't push it. But if you're too tired to fly properly I'm going to have to look into it. Okay?"
"Okay. Thank you baby-" Fleetfoot cut herself off, stifling a yawn. Spitfire nuzzled her gently.
"Get ready for practice, we're meeting outside with the others in ten minutes." Spitfire said. Fleetfoot nodded and kissed her gently in response.
"Great job today 'bolts! Go hit the mess hall for lunch!" Spitfire called, and they all headed inside. Fleetfoot stayed outside for a while, watching the sky.
"What do you want?" she murmured, talking to her nightmares as the memory of what she'd dreamed entered her thoughts. "Whatever it ith, why ith it me that you're calling? I'm no hero." she muttered
"Fleet, you okay?" Rainbow's voice snapped her back into reality, and Fleetfoot turned to face her.
"Yeah, fine. Jutht thinking." Fleetfoot answered.
"Fleet, you sure?" Soarin trotted up beside Rainbow "We can go get Spitfire if-"
"No, I'm okay. I don't need to bother her with anything."
"Well, talking to yourself is kind of..." Rainbow trailed off.
"What?" Fleetfoot asked
"Nevermind. I was just going to make a joke about Twilight but you don't know her well enough to get it." Rainbow replied
"Can you guyth leave me alone for a little bit? Pleathe?" Fleetfoot asked, turning back to the sky.
"Of course. Come on Dashie, let's go eat." their hoofsteps sounded behind her as they left.
"Don't call me that!" came Rainbow's flustered response
"You know you love it." Soarin's cheeky response had apparently rendered Rainbow speechless, because the only sound was the door opening and closing behind them.
The memories flickered at the edge of her vision, tempting Fleetfoot into their grasp. She closed her eyes and allowed them to flood her gaze. Running through snow, chasing something. Then, tripping and tumbling...into a shape that resembled clear, molten glass. An ice blue thing drifted by. She reached for it, feeling the glass hardening around her, trapping the air in her lungs, covering her muzzle. Her eyes closed and...nothing. Fleetfoot opened her eyes and sang under her breath.
"Every time I close my eyes
Shut it out
But this nightmare's calling me
"Okay nightmare,
Pull me closer in
You want me to follow
Take me to you
I'm here, just let me
Just tell me what you want
Every time I shake it off
These dreams won't stop
This nightmare's calling me
"Fleet." Spitfire landed beside her.
"You heard all that, didn't you?"
"Yeah. Tell me what's going on, please." Spitfire urged
"Thpitty, It'th fine. I think I'm jutht a little rethtlethth." Fleetfoot said. Spitfire shook her head, but she didn't say anything else about it.
Fleetfoot woke up from the nightmare again, crying and hugging herself. Hooves wrapped around her and she sank into Spitfire's embrace.
"I'm here Fleety, don't worry. It was only a dream." Spitfire kissed her forehead gently and Fleetfoot sobbed into her chest.
"I-it wath tho real." Fleetfoot cried, and Spitfire hugged her close.
"I think...maybe the powers are trying to tell you something. I was talking with my mom recently, she said when I was born, she had to take me to Princess Celestia to tell her about my magic. Maybe the nightmares are your powers' way of telling you to do the same?"
"Maybe. It doethn't feel like that though." Fleetfoot sniffled, looking up at her marefriend.
"Well, then who better to talk to than the Princess of the Night?" Spitfire asked, and Fleetfoot nodded, nuzzling up close.
Fleetfoot shifted in bed. Her mind was swimming with thoughts. And dreams.
Fleetfoot stood alone in a barren field of snow. She saw a shape, and turned.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"A friend." The shape told her. "I am here to tell you of the next rose."
"What do you know about the rotheth of the theathonth?" Fleetfoot demanded, and the shape winced.
"I am sorry to hear your voice affliction."
"My lithp? Okay, if you're going to be that way, I'm not going to lithten to what you have to thay." Fleetfoot turned and started to walk away, though she could see nothing but snow.
"I know where the next rose is. The rose of Summer."
Fleetfoot stopped and turned back.
"You were right, when you told your friends you have an inkling of how to get to the others. You must speak the riddle, in the place the roses may lurk. Sing to the element of nature that guards them, urge it to reveal the rose by telling it who you are. Summer's will be Light. Spring's: Rain, and Winter: Ice."
Fleetfoot narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"Why should I believe you?"
"I once sought the roses, same as you. I'm sorry to say it was for a selfish reason. But you and I...we aren't so different. Both of us are-were, in my case-looking for answers." the blur told her.
"Are...are you in my head? You knew what I thaid to my friendth."
"I am always with you. You and I cannot speak to each other outside the Dream Realm. And if my old friend were to walk through your subconsciousness, she would not see me."
"Why?"
"Because what you see now...is a mere memory. A shadow of my true self, hidden in the ponies of your family, the ones with power, like me."
"Then...where are you?"
"I am safe. Preserved. Untouched. But I will probably never be freed, my body rests in a place far too cold for anyone to withstand." The shape told her, inching closer. "Even Ice Familiars, like you and I."
"Ice Familiar?"
"It is what our power was known as long ago."
"If you come clother, and tell me your name, maybe I can try to find you." Fleetfoot urged.
"No, I can't. I have to go. But...Summer's rose will be found where ponies used to weave the sky to take away their heartache. Spring's stands in a place where only the purest water lies. In a river, perhaps."
"Wait, no, come back!" Fleetfoot ran towards her, only catching a blur of ice blue before she dissolved into the dream. "No!"
"Fleet, wake up!"
Fleetfoot shot straight up in bed, and Spitfire's hooves wrapped around her. Fleetfoot buried her head into Spitfire's chest fur. Spitfire rubbed her back gently.
"Baby, it's okay, it was just a dream."
"No, there wath thith mare...Thpitty..." Fleetfoot looked up at Spitfire, eyes wide. "She told me where the rotheth of Thummer and Thpring are."
