Author's Note
I thought up this little story after watching the new MLP winter special. I wrote this in a few hours, so don't expect too much. I hope you enjoy
Snow way out
Opaline layed back against her throne as she waited for her 'friend' to return with that dragon. The alicorn stood up when she saw the door in front of her slowly sliding open. Soon a small light blue unicorn with a long curly mane walked through the door and into her throne room. Her whole body was shivering. An annoyed look appeared on Opaline's face when the dragon was nowhere to be seen with her.
''Well? Where is my dragon, Misty?'' Opaline asked sternly, ignoring Misty's constant shivering.
''I-I'm so sorry, O-Opaline,'' Misty said, still shivering, ''I-I wanted to get your dragon, I really did! B-But there is all this cold white stuff falling out of the sky outside that makes it harder to head to Maretime Bay. M-Maybe if I-''
''I don't care!'' Opaline said before Misty could finish, ''You are NOT coming back until I see that dragon in your hooves! Now go!''
''B-But I'm so cold. I c-c-can't feel my hooves anymore.'' Misty replied. She sat down and kept rubbing her hooves against each other to keep them warm.
Opaline groaned while she rolled her eyes, ''Fine.''
She got up from her throne and walked over to the round pool in the middle. Her horn started to glow as a small smoke orb appeared out of the water. The smoke cleared to reveal some winter clothes, including a small winter hat, gloves and a scarf.
''Take it.'' Opaline said as she used her magic to levitate the winter clothes to Misty.
The unicorn didn't waste anytime and dressed herself up. She looked down at her reflection inside the pool, admiring herself.
''Thanks, Opaline.'' Misty said to the tall alicorn with a genuine smile.
''I know, I know,'' Opaline said with a sly smile on her face, ''You are lucky that I'm here to take such good care of you, Misty. You'd simply be lost without me.''
''Y....Yeah.'' Misty replied while looking down somberly.
''Now go before I change my mind about giving you a cutie mark.'' Opaline commanded.
''Right. I won't let you down!'' Misty said before running through the open door and out of the throne room
The scarf, gloves and the winter hat didn't help as much against the cold as she had hoped, but it still was better than having to go through all the cold white stuff without anything at all. Misty couldn't help but wonder what all that white stuff even was. She had never seen anything like it before. Whatever it was, she knew that she had to continue. It could still be a very tough journey.
After about an hour of walking through the cold white stuff, Misty finally saw the familiar sights of Maretime Bay from the top of a hill. The whole place was also covered in the same white stuff. Small lights were burning on the side of the roofs, as well as on big pointy trees that could be seen everywhere.
Misty was awestruck by the beautiful lights, the happy ponies greeting each other and-
'Wait, what am I doing?' Misty thought to herself, ''This is not the time to watch some pretty sights, I need to get that dragon.'' She made her way down to Maretime Bay as carefully as she could.
Misty walked through Maretime Bay with no problem, as most ponies seemed to be more busy decorating the place with more of those beautiful lights while singing together. Misty tried to make her way to the Brighthouse, where Sparky would most likely be,. But she just couldn't ignore the happiness of everypony around her. Singing together, giving each other all sorts of little presents. Why did she feel like going up there and joining the other ponies? The urge only got worse the longer she watched and listened. She slowly started taking a step to a couple of ponies.
''No!'' Misty thought to herself again, ''Gotta stay focus. For Opaline. And for my cutie mark.''
Misty turned her attention back to the Brighthouse, which was still pretty far away. She started walking to the Brighthouse, ignoring all the happy singing coming from every pony she passed by. She didn't join in, but Misty did start humming along a bit. Deep inside Misty knew that Opaline wouldn't want her to do that, but she just couldn't help herself. She stopped humming when she finally reached the Brighthouse. Misty opened the front door and went inside.
Her heart sank. The whole place seemed empty and quiet. And Sparky and the other ponies were nowhere to be seen. But wait, maybe other the ponies in Maretime Bay might know where they are. Misty walked out of the Brighthouse and went back to Maretime Bay.
''Um, excuse me?'' Misty said to a light blue earth pony walking by. She wore even more winter clothers than her.
The light blue earth pony turned her attention to Misty.
''Oh, hello. I don't think I've ever seen you here before,'' The light blue earth pony said, ''What's your name?''
''I...I'm Misty.'' Misty answered nervously.
''Aw, that's an adorable name. I'm Jazz Hooves,'' The light blue pony said, ''It's nice to meet you, Misty. Happy Winter Wishday!''
Misty gave Jazz a confused look, ''Winter what now?''
''Winter Wishday. You never heard of it?'' Jazz Hooves asked curiously.
''Oh, y-yeah of course I have,'' Misty quickly explained in a nervous manner, ''Sorry. Hehehe, I uh....thought you said Window Washday! Uhehehe, silly me.''
''Window Washday?'' Jazz repeated before she started laughing, ''Oh, that's a good one.''
Seeing Jazz laughing gave Misty a very strange, but somewhat happy feeling. She started laughing along with the earth pony for a little bit, but quickly stopped when she reminded why she was here in the first place.
''Say, do you know where Sunny and her friends are?'' Misty asked.
''They're probably in Zephyr Heights to celebrate Pipp and Zipp's Winter Wishday tradition.'' Jazz explained.
Misty's eyes widened. She had heard of that place before and remembered somepony saying that it was incredibly far away from Maretime Bay. How long would it even take to get there on hoof? Many hours, probably even a whole day.
''Are you okay, Misty?'' Jazz asked, noticing the worried expression on Misty's face.
''Oh, y-yes I'm okay. I was uh, just curious.'' Misty answered in the same nervous manner.
''I see,'' Jazz replied, looking a bit confused at the way Misty was talking, ''Say, what's your plan on Winter Wishday? I'm about to go buy a gift for Rocky.''
''What kind of gift?'' Misty asked, getting slightly curious.
''Hmmm, I don't know yet. But I'm sure he'll love it, as long as the gift comes from me.'' Jazz explained with a happy smile.
''He will?'' Misty asked.
''Of course. It's not about the gift itself, it's the thought that counts.'' Jazz said.
''The thought that counts....'' Misty repeated to herself, not fully understanding the meaning of it.
''Are planning to get a gift for somepony as well?'' Jazz asked excitedly.
''Oh! Well, I uh....'' Misty said. She was about to say yes, but quickly realized how big of a mistake that would be.
''It's okay, you don't have to tell me. I was just curious.'' Jazz said, giving Misty a playful wink.
''Right. I uh, think I should go now.'' Misty said as she was already slowly backing away from Jazz.
Misty turned around and was about to walk away, off to Zephyr Heights. She was dreading it already. Jazz saw the somber expression on the unicorn's face and couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
''Misty, wait!'' Jazz said as she walked over to the unicorn.
Misty turned around nervously and saw Jazz standing in front of her.
''I want to give you something before you go,'' Jazz said before she showed Misty a small present, ''Take this.''
''What is it?'' Misty asked.
''Open it and you'll see.'' Jazz answered.
Misty took the present from Jazz and opened it to see what was inside. She looked suprised when she saw a necklace laying at the bottom. A little music note seemed to be attached to it.
''It's a necklace that brings good luck,'' Jazz explained as she could clearly tell from the look on Misty's face that she didn't understand what it was, ''I've always wore it when I was a filly. But now I've been saving it for somepony who really needs it.''
Misty took the necklace out of the box with her magic and put it around her neck. She took a good look at it and thought about what Jazz just told her. Good luck? She could only think of one pony, or alicorn who would need a thing like that.
''Are you sure this necklace brings good luck to whoever wears it?'' Misty asked.
''I know it's not much,'' Jazz said while rubbing the back of her head, ''But like I said, it's the thought that counts. So think of it as a gift from a new friend you just made today.''
''New friend?'' Misty asked again.
''Me, of course,'' Jazz answered, ''I had fun talking with you, Misty. And whatever you're gonna do on Winter Wishday, I know you'll have a great time.''
''Y..Yes, I'm s-sure I will.'' Misty said with a nervous smile.
''Great!'' Jazz said before suddenly giving Misty a warm hug, ''Oh, and also take this!''
Jazz stopped hugging Misty, took off some of her winter clothes and gave it to the cold looking unicorn.
''Why are you giving me these?'' Misty asked.
''You seemed pretty cold,'' Jazz explained, ''And don't worry, I still have plently more where that came from back at Pipp's salon. So you can keep them.''
''Wow. Thank you, Jazz.'' Misty said while putting on the extra winter clothes.
Misty immediately could tell the difference between before and after she started wearing the extra clothes. She almost felt none of the cold around her any longer. A gentle smile appeared on her face.
''Don't mention it. It's what friends do,'' Jazz said with a happy smile on her face, ''Now then, have a happy Winter Wishday, Misty. I hope we'll see each other again somday, but that should be no problem now that you have the necklace. Right?'' She winked at Misty, turned around and started walking further into Maretime Bay.
''Bye, Jazz.'' Misty said, showing a gentle smile on her face.
Once she was gone, Misty looked back at the necklace around her neck. All she could think about was how delighted Opaline would be if she showed this to her. A necklace that brings good luck. It could make getting Sparky much easier if she gave that necklace to Opaline. Misty eagerly made her way out of Maretime Bay, all while she was humming along with the other singing ponies she passed by without even realizing it.
The way back to Opaline's castle felt much shorter as she could already see it a few meters away. The extra winter clothes had made the journey so much easier, not even all the white stuff she had to walk through bothered her anymore. She reached the front door and entered the castle.
Opaline was sleeping on her throne, but got woken up by the sound of a door creaking open. She stood up on her throne and looked at the door of her throne room sliding open again. The tall alicorn kept her eyes at the door, eagerly hoping to see Misty enter with the dragon in her hooves. Her eagerness quickly died down when Misty entered the room, again without carrying a dragon in her hooves.
''I know I know,'' Misty quickly said when she saw that Opaline was already starting to look angry, ''I don't have the dragon yet. But I've got something for you that could help us.''
Misty took the winter clothes with her magic and showed Opaline the necklace around her neck.
Opaline looked unamused, ''What is that?''
''It's a necklace that brings good luck,'' Misty explained proudly, ''With this we'll be able to find Spar- I mean that dragon for sure! Isn't that great?!''
''Good luck? From a necklace?'' Opaline asked while looking unimpressed, ''Where did you get it?''
''Somepony in Maretime Bay gave it to me and told me that it....'' Misty said before she silenced herself immediately.
What had she done? Opaline had already let her know once before that hanging out with other ponies is something that she was not allowed to do. Opaline got up from her throne and walked up to Misty with an intimidating stare.
''And you just believed this pony?'' Opaline asked Misty in a cold manner, ''There is no such thing as a necklace that brings good luck!
''S-Sorry, Opaline!'' Misty said in a panicky manner, ''B-But I know where Sparky is, I swear! I just wanted to-''
''SILENCE!!'' Opaline shouted.
Misty immediately stopped talking and was already slowly crawling back in fear.
''I...I just wanted to help.....'' Misty said in a shaky voice.
''Misty. If you truly wanted to help me, you would have gotten me that dragon and not some stupid, useless necklace from a puny pony!!'' Opaline explained to Misty sternly, ''How hard is that for you to understand?!''
''I-I-I was just-''
''I promised you a cutie mark, I raised you since you were just a filly,'' Opaline said before she ripped the necklace from Misty's neck with her magic, ''And THIS is how you decide to repay me?!''
Opaline used her magic to also remove Misty's winter clothes from her body. She then burned the necklace as well as the winter clothes to a crisp, right in front of the unicorn's eyes. A little tear appeared in Misty's right eye.
''Don't act pathetic, Misty. You only have yourself to blame,'' Opaline said, ''You should be happy that I'm kind enough to still give you another chance. Now get to your room! And do NOT let me see your face again for the rest of the day!''
Misty turned around with her head hung low, walked to the door of her room and didn't look back.
Misty entered her room and shut the door behind her. She walked to her bed, layed her body on the blankets and her head on the pillow as she thought about everything she's been through. All of it was for nothing. Deep down, she did enjoy meeting that kind pony Jazz. And seeing the beautiful snowy sights of Maretime Bay was a truly magical experience. But what did it matter? Opaline still hasn't got her dragon. And without the dragon, she also won't ever get her cutie mark from Opaline. So all she can do is just try harder, no matter how difficult things will be. Misty hugged her pillow tighter than she's ever done as more tears started rolling down her cheeks. A few seconds later, she cried.
