Golden and I had continued our chat for a good while until she had to call it a night. But she had also promised to come again in four days. Well, no surprises there, I was rather looking forward to it. It has been a really long time since I had been in such high spirits. Like a foal counting the days until its birthday. And today had been the day.

As soon as work was done, I had rushed through the snow to get home.

I opened the door, quickly stepped in and used my kirin magic to float my winter jacket on the rack. Golden had said last time we had seen each other, that she would come when she finished work. But I had no idea when that exactly would be. But since I wanted to be ready for my guest of honour, I had to be fast to get things done. In the end, not only did I enjoy the enjoy the times I had spent with Golden, but she was also the only pony here who I could see myself becoming friends with.

So, I went straight to the kitchen and started to prepare. This time I also wanted to serve some little tea cakes that we could enjoy with our hot drink. Luckily, I still had some matcha powder left to give it some nice flavour. The powder was quickly running out, and I wouldn’t be able to get anymore until spring, when my garden was blooming again. But for Golden I was more than willing to use some of what I have left.

Instead of making one big cake, I went with multiple small ones so that they were done sooner. But it still gave me enough time to prepare the tea set while they were baking. Just as I was using my magic to take the matcha cakes out of the oven, the now familiar knocking sound came from the entrance.

“Coming!”, I said and placed the hot plate So, I went straight to the kitchen and started to prepare. This time I also wanted to serve some little tea cakes that we could enjoy with our hot drink. Luckily, I still had some matcha powder left to give it some nice flavour. The powder was quickly running out, and I wouldn’t be able to get anymore until spring, when my garden was blooming again. But for Golden I was more than willing to use some of what I have left.

Instead of making one big cake, I went with multiple small ones so that they were done sooner. But it still gave me enough time to prepare the tea set while they were baking. Just as I was using my magic to take the matcha cakes out of the oven, the now familiar knocking sound came from the entrance.

“Coming!”, I said and placed the hot plate safely on the counter.

I walked to the main door and opened it. And was immediately greeted with a snowball to the face.

“Got you!”, Golden laughed.

She balanced a snowball on one of her wings while she used the other one to hide her smirk. With out much success.

“Hey! what was that for?”, I asked while I shook the snow from my face.

“Oh don’t be like that. This is just a little snow. Or are kirins scared of a little water?”, Golden said and threw the other snowball at me.

But this time I was prepared. I grabbed the snowball out of midair with my magic and threw it right back at the sender. Golden only had time to open her eyes in shock before it was her who got hit by the snowball.

“Hey, magic is not fair!”, she objected and spit out some snow.

“Says the one who attacks while I was not prepared”, I said proudly.

“It’s called the element of surprise. But fine, I will let this one slide. Are you coming?”, Golden said, and offered a smile in peace.

“Coming? Where? I thought you came for some more tea?”, I asked confused.

“Sure am. But do you just want to sit around, talk and drink tea? We can do that later. Let us walk around a bit and enjoy the last light of the winter sun. Besides, tea we can have all year, snow we have only for a limited time.”

She had a point. The snowy landscape was very inviting for a stroll and the tea could wait for later. So, I floated my winter jacket back and put it on. And soon after I and Golden trotted side by side through the winter streets.

It was mostly me taking the lead. I didn't want many of the townsponies to see us together and start gossiping about it, so l stuck to alleyways, where we were less likely to encounter passersby.

The two of us just walked in silence through the streets of Maren. Still, it wasn’t an awkward silence. It was more that we enjoyed the moment together. Feeling the chill air, watching the snow filled surroundings and listening to the soft crunching sounds our hoofsteps made.

“In Manehatten we didn’t have so much snow”, Golden said, breaking the silence. “But you can bet that when we did, it was the highlight of the year.”

“It was no different in Hono. Kirins love snow. Especially the young ones. It also made for good levitation magic practice when they had a snowball fight”, I remembered.

“Yes, I remember you told me that all kirins have a horn and the access to magic. No wonder you never heard of the no-magic rule”, Golden said and playfully stuck her tongue out at me.

“I saw you use your wings. Why should I not be allowed to use my magic, but you are allowed to use your wings?”

“Because your magic would give you an unfair advantage. I on my side am not allowed to use my wings to fly. But I am allowed to carry or throw snowballs with them”, Golden explained but I guessed that these words were not entirely true.

“Suuuure. You’re just jealous that you can’t do this”, I said and floated up some snow only to let it drop right on Golden’s head.

she, for her part opened her eyes wide in shock. But she quickly recovered herself.

“Hey! Well, I can do this instead”, she said, extending her wings and gave a strong flap.

A power, that I didn't expect her to have, caused a strong wind and with that the snow in front of her was blown up into a snow tsunami. The whole wave hit me with full force, turning me into a snow kirin with two eyes poking out.

And from that point the snow war had begun. With one laughing pegasus and kirin as the only participants. Sometimes ponies would walk by and give us, two adults acting like foals, a strange look (which was actually very true) but we couldn’t care less. And we didn't stop until the cold winter night had fallen leaving us two fully exhausted and white from snow.

“Brrr, it gets cold when the sun goes down”, Golden said and rubbed her wings at her body but with a huge grin on her face.

“To be fair, you don’t wear much. I only see you walking around with a scarf”, I chuckled and pointed on the blue striped scarf around her neck. The same one she always had.

“I thought my winter fur could handle it. Beside I didn't know that it would end up in a snowball fight”, she responded.

“Here, wait a moment”, I said, took off my winter jacket and floated it to her. “Take this until we’re home.”

“No way! You have to keep yourself warm too”, Golden refused.

“Oh don’t worry about me. I can take a little cold and if it is getting too much you can just make me angry”, I joked.

“What do you mean?”

…

I could have hit myself for this slip-up. I didn’t want to tell Golden about my nirik side. That kirins burst into flames when they become angry. I was too scared that she might get afraid from me, and I would lose the only friend I had.

“Oh you know… When you’re angry you get heated up. Isn’t that a saying you ponies use?”, I tried to play it off.

“Ah yes, I see”, Golden said. “Well, I wouldn’t like to make you angry. So in that case, kind offer but still no. Keep the jacket and instead let us just swiftly go home. If you make some hot tea to warm up, that would already be enough.”

I gave a nod.

Dodged this…

“I have to admit, I never really walked around Maren”, Golden said while holding a cup of steaming tea in her hooves.

“Didn’t have time yet?”, I asked and ate some of the tea cakes.

“A bit of that too yes. But another reason was because I couldn’t find somepony who wanted to come along. And I didn’t feel motivated to go alone”, Golden said.

These words immediately reminded me of my first days in Maren. When I was always asking Creative if he wanted to show me around the village. And it never happened…

“Haven’t you asked somepony else to accompany you?”, I carefully asked.

“I did, but everypony I asked was busy and they would accompany me another time. But to me it felt like there was a different reason. Like they were trying to keep some distance from me”, Golden explained.

I gave a nod.

“Yes, I know what you mean. Before I moved here, I was taught that ponies are creatures of harmony and friendship. But I guess this is not the case. They are reserved, shy, scared and distance towards strangers. Since I've lived here since summer, I haven’t made a single friend so far. Or anything even remotely close” I signed.

Golden slowly placed her cup down and gave me a deep and unreadable look.

“Do you think that all ponies are like this? Reserved and distant I mean.”

Her words made me pause a bit. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing, but I also didn’t know what the right words were. So, I just went with honesty.

“Before I met you, I would have said yes. You are the first pony who is so welcoming. You are the first pony I feel some sort of friendship connection with. But maybe… you are just an exception. So… I don’t know…”

Golden kept up her stare for a while but then gave a deep sigh.

“I’m sad that you think that way. But I do understand why you think that way. Believe me when I say that the rest of Equestria is different. I guess from all the pony places you could move to, Maren was the wrong one. Don’t get me wrong, they are friendly and kind here. But it takes a long time to get through their thick shell and build up a friendship. Before I left Manehattan I heard that the inhabitants of Maren were a little shy. But that it was this bad surprised me. It’s not because you’re a kirin. I haven't been here as long as you have, but I can also feel what you mean.”

I looked into my teacup like I could somehow find the answers within.

“I know that they are not racist. They don’t try to hurt me. It’s just the way they are. But that doesn’t mean I do not feel left out and lonely.” I then looked back at Golden. “What would you recommend I do?”

This time it was Golden who had to think before answering.

“I would say, you cannot change how the ponies in Maren think or act. But don’t treat the world like it does you. Don't let your surroundings get you down or even change who you are. Be loyal to yourself. It’s simpler to face the world and your problems when you are yourself and not when you are somekirin you are not.”

I let her words sink into me and in the end, I had to admit she was right. I recalled the first time I met Golden and the only reason why she was here was because I wanted to treat her like… I would treat her. And not like the rest of Maren would.

“But, or course, it is easy for me to say this. I didn't had such problems like you. For me it was easy find a good friend here”, Golden finished and gave me a smile.

Author's Note

I am sorry for the one-week delay. Christmas time had been busy for me and I just could get another chapter done. For now, the chapters should come regular again.

Thank you all for reading and feel free to give all sort of reviews.